Weekly Sermon
Genesis 14:18-20 reads, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
In Genesis 13 we find that Abram and Lot had both become rich in flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Yet this created a problem; the land was not able to support both sets of flocks and herds. Thus a strife arose “between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle.” (Genesis 13:7) In order to solve this strife, Abram offered for Lot to separate himself in whatever direction he would choose and then for himself to go in the opposite direction. Even so, we read of Lot’s choice in Genesis 13:10-13 – “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”
Yet eventually Lot moved himself and his family into that wicked city of Sodom. Now, over time Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other two cities of the plain entered into conflict with Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the four kings that were confederate with him. Thus we read in Genesis 14:10-12, “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
When Abram received news of this matter, he gathered a force in order to deliver Lot from captivity. Indeed, the Lord granted Abram a great victory. Even so, we read in Genesis 14:13-16, “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”
Then in Genesis 14:17-20 the account continues, “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abram], and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] tithes of all.”
Now, in Genesis 14:18-20 the Lord our God is called “the most high God” three times. In Genesis 14:19 Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, described Abram as being “of the most high God.” Abram was a servant of the most high God. In like manner, we believers are also the people of the most high God. He is our eternal Savior, and we are His chosen ones. He is our heavenly Father, and we are His dear children. He is our Lord, and we are His servants. He is the most high God, and we are His peculiar people. In 1 Peter 2:9-10 God’s Word declares, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” Again in 2 Corinthians 6:16 God’s Word declares, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Yet again in 1 John 3:1 God’s Word declares, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Indeed, we are the people, the children, the servants of the most high God. So then, what can we learn from Genesis 14:19-20 concerning this relationship?
Genesis 14:18-20 reads, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”
In Genesis 13 we find that Abram and Lot had both become rich in flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. Yet this created a problem; the land was not able to support both sets of flocks and herds. Thus a strife arose “between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle.” (Genesis 13:7) In order to solve this strife, Abram offered for Lot to separate himself in whatever direction he would choose and then for himself to go in the opposite direction. Even so, we read of Lot’s choice in Genesis 13:10-13 – “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.”
Yet eventually Lot moved himself and his family into that wicked city of Sodom. Now, over time Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other two cities of the plain entered into conflict with Chedorlaomer king of Elam and the four kings that were confederate with him. Thus we read in Genesis 14:10-12, “And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the mountain. And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
When Abram received news of this matter, he gathered a force in order to deliver Lot from captivity. Indeed, the Lord granted Abram a great victory. Even so, we read in Genesis 14:13-16, “And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.”
Then in Genesis 14:17-20 the account continues, “And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abram], and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he [Abram] gave him [Melchizedek] tithes of all.”
Now, in Genesis 14:18-20 the Lord our God is called “the most high God” three times. In Genesis 14:19 Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, described Abram as being “of the most high God.” Abram was a servant of the most high God. In like manner, we believers are also the people of the most high God. He is our eternal Savior, and we are His chosen ones. He is our heavenly Father, and we are His dear children. He is our Lord, and we are His servants. He is the most high God, and we are His peculiar people. In 1 Peter 2:9-10 God’s Word declares, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” Again in 2 Corinthians 6:16 God’s Word declares, “And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Yet again in 1 John 3:1 God’s Word declares, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” Indeed, we are the people, the children, the servants of the most high God. So then, what can we learn from Genesis 14:19-20 concerning this relationship?
Our God, as the most high God, is the Possessor of heaven and earth.
In Genesis 14:19 we read that Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, blessed Abram and said, “Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth.” Even so, in Deuteronomy 10:14 Moses proclaimed unto the chosen people of God, “Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD’S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.” In like manner, in 1 Chronicles 29:11 King David blessed the Lord before all the congregation, saying, “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” Yea, in Psalm 24:1-2 God’s Word declares, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Again in Psalm 89:11 God’s Word declares, “The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” Yet again in Colossians 1:16-17 God’s Word declares, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” The Lord our God is the almighty Creator and Sustainer of all. The Lord our God is the eternal Owner and Sovereign of all. The Lord our God is the Lord of heaven and earth. Therefore, in Psalm 96:10-11 the instruction is given to us, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”
Our God, as the most high God, provides us with the power for victory.
In Genesis 14:20 Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, continued his blessing, saying, “And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.” Abram had just accomplished a great victory over Chedorlaomer and his forces. Yet it was not by his own ability that he accomplished this victory. Rather, it was through the power of the most high God whom he served that he received this great victory. Now, our battles are not primarily with a physical enemy, as in the case of Abram. Rather, our battles are primarily with a spiritual enemy. In Ephesians 6:12 God’s Word states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Again in 1 Peter 5:8 God’s Word warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” Even so, our strength for victory in this spiritual battle is also to be found in the Lord our God, the most high God. In the opening portion of 2 Corinthians 2:14, God’s Word proclaims, “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.” Again in 2 Corinthians 3:5 God’s Word informs, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.” Yet again in Ephesians 6:10-11 God’s Word instructs, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Finally, in James 4:7 God’s Word promises, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Our God, as the most high God, is to be praised and honored above all.
In Genesis 14:20 Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, expressed his blessing of the Lord our God, saying, “And blessed be the most high God.” Even so, Psalm 95:1-6 instructs, “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Again Psalm 96:1-13 instructs, “O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.”
Yet again Psalm 100:1-5 instructs, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Finally, Psalm 113:1-6 instructs, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised. The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!”
Posted in Weekly Sermon, Genesis, The Creator God, Sovereignty of the Lord, Spiritual Enablement, Praising Our Lord
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