Title: Melchizedek Receives Abraham
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Melchizedek welcomes Abraham (Genesis 14:17-20)
Dear saints! Abraham defeated the Allied Mesopotamian army that was taking his nephew Lot as a captive, and brought back Lot, all his people, and all the stolen goods. At this time, the king of Sodom came out and called Abraham, and Melchizedek king of Salem welcomed him. This morning, I want to share grace by thinking about Melchizedek who received Abraham.
I. mystery man
Melchizedek is a man of mystery. Salem refers to today's Jerusalem area. The king of Salem means the king of peace. Melchizedek is a compound word of Melki and Zedek. It means the king of righteousness. He is a priest of the Most High God. Melchizedek, without parents, without a genealogy, without a beginning or an end, is a mysterious man who resembles the Son of God Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:3). And he always said that he was a priest of God. Biblical scholars interpret this Melchizedek as the appearance of Christ to Abraham before the incarnation. When Abraham received Melchizedek, he received Christ.
II. Tired Abraham
I am very tired now. Abraham led 318 home-bred men in pursuit to rescue Lot, who had been taken captive by the Allied Mesopotamian army. Abraham and his men marched without food for several days without sleep. A bloody battle was fought. Abraham is in his 80s. Now Abraham is exhausted and on the verge of collapse. At this time, Melchizedek welcomed Abraham. Dear all! Today our Lord visits His beloved children and provides for all their needs.
He will provide you with all your physical needs. The God who feeds the birds of the air and coats the lilies that bloom in the field provides for all our needs today.
He provides for all your spiritual needs. Jesus Christ is the true food and the true drink (John 6:55). If you have this one Jesus, you will be satisfied. Even if you have everything in the world, you cannot be satisfied without Jesus. I can't be happy.
What do we need most today? Money, work, health… ? Of course you don't need it. But there is more to it than all of this. What we need the most is God's blessing. When we receive God's blessing, everything will be resolved. Dear all! Aren't we tired today too? Are you not tired of spiritual warfare in a world full of temptations of sin? Everyone is tired these days. News is just a boring story. The Lord is visiting His children who are so tired and weary. He fills in what you need and blesses you When the prophet Elijah was exhausted and lying under the rosemary tree, he sent an angel to caress him and feed him with bread and water so that he could be refreshed. Dear all! When you meet the Lord, all your problems will be solved. I pray that you will meet the Lord who comes at this time. I pray that the Lord gives you comfort and refreshment.
III. Abraham's Response to Melchizedek's Reception
Abraham defeated a large army of over 10,000 men from the Mesopotamian Allied Forces with 318 men. Abraham's victory is a miracle. This is what God did. Abraham clearly knew this. So I gave a tithe of the spoil to Melchizedek, the priest of God. He gave tithes in return for God's grace and God's blessings. Everyone! Tithing is a thank you for God's blessings. I pray that you will receive more blessings and be able to pay more tithes. Also, Abraham gave tithes as a token of giving all of me to the God of blessing, the God of victory. Everyone! What is the core of the God of Tithing? It's not just a tenth. Giving all ten of ten. “All I have belongs to God. All of this has been given by God. Therefore, I give my all to God. I will use it according to the will of God.” It is a confession of faith, giving tithes as a token of devotion.
Where did Melchizedek meet Abraham? Verse 17 reads, “The Valley of Shawe, the Valley of the Kings.” Biblical scholars see the Valley of Sawwe as the valley where the Mount of Olives and the Jerusalem Temple are located. This is the Kidron Valley, and here is the Garden of Gethsemane. The night before Jesus was crucified, he crossed the Kidron Valley and went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He also had the Last Supper with his disciples before going to this Garden of Gethsemane. Just as Melchizedek brought bread and wine to meet Abraham, the Lord met the disciples with bread and wine the night before he died. The Lord gave you bread and wine as a token of giving your all, your flesh and blood. Because of this devotion of the Lord, today we have the forgiveness of sins and a new life.
Everyone! If you are a child of God who has received a new life through this devotion of the Lord, it is very natural for you to give your all to this Lord.
Everyone! What should I give to the Lord who gave me flesh and blood and life? Shouldn't I be dedicated too? The first mark of that dedication is tithing. I bless you that you are truly grateful and devoted saints. In particular, I bless you with a new resolution of devotion during this Lenten season, when you meditate on the sufferings of the Lord.