A Strange Encounter Day 1

This week we are get to focus on 3 verses from Genesis 14. It might seem strange that 3 verses would require a week onto themselves, but thanks to the writer of Hebrews there is more than enough to work with. Today we will stay mostly in Genesis though as we begin to look at a strange character who's role is small but who's impact is huge.
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram be God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:18-20
Abram's run in with Melchizedek is a little strange right from the start. Abram was coming home after defeating the 4 Mesopotamian kings, bringing with him the people and the plunder that belonged to the 5 Canaanite kings that had rebelled. Salem and its king had not been involved at all in the battle, yet Melchizedek comes out to the place where the king of Sodom went to meet Abram. As if his showing up wasn't odd enough, what he brings with him is bizarre for the time.
It was common in ancient times when battles were over for the victors to share a meal while they worked out the details of sharing the spoils. Yet the feasts were usually grand and included meat, while Melchizedek brought out only bread and wine.* Bread and wine may have been a peculiar feast at that time, but in light of the New Testament it is quite significant.
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:19 & 20
Melchizedek was not just the king of Salem, he was priest of God Most High who had come out to bless Abram, a worshipper of God Most High. He brought with him the sacraments of communion to celebrate God's victory of the enemy. What we do to remember the Cross and Jesus victory over the enemy, they did looking forward, foreshadowing the yet future Cross.
In the Hebrew God Most High is El Elyon, which is a pretty exact translation; God above all others, supreme, transcendent, Creator and Possessor of all things. The implication here is that El Elyon is universal, He is sovereign over all creation and therefore God of all creation. He may have chosen Abram to be His man and his descendants to be His people, His example to all the earth, but He is not their God only. He is every one's God (whether they acknowledge Him or not).**
"Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him." Psalm 115:3
"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and disposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." Daniel 2:20 & 21
Melchizedek was priest of The God of the universe and clearly attributes Abram's victory to Him.
"And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." Genesis 14:20
The victory was El Elyon's and Abram paid tribute to God through His priest, by giving Melchizedek his tithe.
Tithing is a fairly uncomfortable topic. The idea is sound, everything belongs to God and we acknowledge His gifts to us by returning 10% to Him. Certainly living on 90% should be plenty, but the reality is that giving tithe to God takes faith probably more then it takes discipline. In a few of the commentaries I looked at the authors assumed that Abram was giving tithe out of the plunder from defeating the 4 kings. I'm not a Bible scholar but I think he gave more then just what he had captured, especially in light of the fact that he kept none of the plunder. Verse 20 says that Abram gave a tenth of everything. Considering that he and Lot separated because combined they had too much, I think Abram was extremely wealthy. I think everything would include his own personal wealth. Giving away other peoples stuff doesn't honor God, and tithing with wealth that isn't yours shows no faith. I believe (totally personal opinion) that Abram would have thought as King David would:
"But the king replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying you for [the land]. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." 2 Samuel 24:24
I do find it interesting that after Abram gave a 10th to Melchizedek, the king of Sodom piped up with a quick compromise. Its almost like he was worried Abram would give everything away and he's end up with nothing. Abram however returns to the king of Sodom everything that was his, people and stuff.
What is even more interesting to me is that Melchizedek was king of Salem, Salem means peace. While Bera was the king of Sodom, which means flaming or burning. Even their names imply opposites, Melchizedek means king of righteousness, while Bera means son of evil.*** In a very real way Abram was standing between the representatives of God and the world (Satan), and he made the clear declaration that he was on the side of the LORDs.
The 3 verses alone give us much to think about, Melchizedek seems to be more then he appeared to be. For the next 2 days we will look at what the writer of Hebrews had to say about this strange encounter and get to see glimpses of our King of Righteousness.
"The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness." Jeremiah 23:5 & 6


* Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary Volume 1. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan. 2009. pg. 82-83
** Moore, Beth. The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Nashville, TN. Lifeway Press. 2005. pg.31
*** Smith, Stelman & Judson Cornwall. The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names. Gainsville, FL. Bridge-Logos Publishers. 1998. pgs. 229, 170 & 36