Genesis 14:17-24 - Homiletics

Visited by kings.

I. THE KING OF SALEM .

1. His exalted person . Neither a supramundane being, an angel, the Holy Ghost, or Christ; nor one of the early patriarchs, such as Enoch or Shem; but a Canaanitish (Shemite?) prince, whose capital was Salem (Jerusalem), and who united in his person the double function of priest and monarch of his people; probably the last official representative of the primitive religion, who here advances to meet and welcome the new faith in the person of Abram, as at a later period John Baptist recognized and saluted Christ.

2. His twofold designation . Melchisedeck, king of Salem, i.e. king of righteousness and king of peace ( Hebrews 7:2 ); descriptive of—

3. His mysterious appearance . Of unknown parentage, of unrecorded genealogy, of unchronicled existence, the unique personality of this grand old king-priest flashes meteor-like across the path of the conquering patriarch, emerging from the gloom of historical obscurity, and almost instantaneously vanishing into inscrutable seclusion. Spirit-taught writers of later times discerned in this ancient figure, so enigmatical and mysterious, a Divinely-appointed type of the ever-living High Priest, "the Son who is consecrated for evermore."

4. His regal hospitality . Whatever additional significance attached to the banquet on the plain of Shaveh, it was clearly designed as a refreshment for the victorious patriarch and his wearied soldiers. So should earthly monarchs gratefully and sumptuously reward those who at the risk of their lives maintain the cause and vindicate the rights of the oppressed within their borders. So does heaven's King provide for his toiling followers.

5. His priestly benediction .

6. His public recognition . In presence of the king of Sodom and his people, his confederates and their forces, as well as of his own domestics, the patriarch delivered into the hands of Melchisedeck a tenth part of the spoils. Designed as a solemn act of worship to Jehovah, it was both an acknowledgment of the claim which God's minister had upon his countenance and support, and a symbol of the service,—the voluntary devotement of a liberal portion of their substance,—which should by all saints be yielded to him who has been constituted a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedeck.

II. THE KING OF SODOM .

1. His courteous behavior . Displayed in retiring before Melchisedeck's advance, and deferring the prosecution of his suit till the termination of the king-priest's interview with the patriarch, it may be regarded as suggesting

2. His generous proposal . Made to Abram, this evinced—

3. His rejected liberality . Generous as from the king of Sodom's standpoint the proposal was, it was repudiated by the patriarch—

Learn—

1. That God's faithful servants are sure to win the approbation of good men and the benediction of Heaven.

2. That the friendship of wicked men and the congratulations of the world should never be desired by the saints.