Abraham Worships God (Gen. 14:17-20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY for 5/30/2006

My Worship Time                                                             Focus:  Abraham Worships God

Bible Reading & Meditation                                    Reference:  Genesis 14:17-20

            Message of the verse:  “17 Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.  19 He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ He gave him a tenth of all.”

            When Abraham returned from the victorious battle he was met by two kings, one represents the world system, and one represented the Lord God Most High.  Melchizedek brought Abraham bread and wine and the king of Sodom brought Abraham a temptation to which Abraham did not yield to it.  Melchizedek also brought a blessing to Abraham and then Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils, but did not keep any for himself.

           

            Bara was the king of Sodom who came to meet Abraham and Bara means gift, while Sodom means burning.  Not to long into the future that is what happened to Sodom and to Bara when God destroyed the two cities by fire and Abraham’s nephew Lot lost all he had by fire including his wife.  Believers should not take gifts from the world as they may end up burning.

           

            Melchizedek means king of righteousness and Salem means peace and this represents God’s kingdom.  Melchizedek was a king and a priest of the Most High God, and there is more said about him in the 110^th Psalm along with in the book of Hebrews, for Jesus Christ is the King and Priest reining in heaven today after the order of Melchizedek.  There is significance in the bread and the wine that was given to Abraham by Melchizedek in that this is what believers partake of in communion. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is interesting how names are so meaningful in the Scriptures and it is also interesting how Jesus Christ is found in all of the Scriptures.  I would have loved to be on the road to Emmaus when the Lord Jesus Christ taught two of His followers about Himself as seen through the OT writers.  As I read and study the OT along with the NT there are times when I can see Jesus in them and this is surely one of those times in this passage that I am studying today.

The Word of God has been refreshing to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord Jesus Christ to direct my path and to give me the grace each day that I need to continue to do His will for my life and also continue to learn contentment so that I will be content in all of my circumstances.