Sunday Sermon: Response to Three Kings
“17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,
19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath
23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.””
In November, as we approach Thanksgiving, we reflect on gratitude through biblical narratives. Today, we focus on Abraham's encounter with two earthly kings and a foreshadowing of Christ, the King of Kings. This passage reveals Abraham's faith and his response to God's providence amidst worldly power struggles.
1. Melchizedek, King of Salem
Melchizedek, a priest and king, blesses Abraham and attributes his victory to "God Most High." This encounter signifies Abraham's recognition of God's sovereignty. Abraham’s response is tithing, offering a tenth of his possessions in gratitude, symbolizing his acknowledgment of God’s hand in his life.
2. Bera, King of Sodom
Bera offers a transactional deal, focused only on material gain. In contrast to Melchizedek, he shows no gratitude or acknowledgment of God. Abraham declines Bera’s offer, affirming his loyalty to God alone, ensuring that his blessings come solely from the Lord.
3. Christ, the King of Kings
Melchizedek serves as a foreshadowing of Christ, the eternal priest and king who brings true righteousness and peace. Hebrews and the Psalms link Melchizedek to the Messiah, our King of Kings, emphasizing Jesus as the ultimate source of spiritual victory and peace.
In our lives, like Abraham, we face choices between earthly deals and divine promises. This Thanksgiving, may we recognize God’s hand in our victories and respond with gratitude, dedicating our blessings to Him. As we reflect on these kings, let us choose to follow Christ, the true King, and live in thanksgiving, honoring God’s sovereign presence in our lives.
Prayer: God, most high, yet intimately present, you came to us, died for us, and provided salvation, promising that we will one day be with you. You have guided us to this moment, yet we easily become our own kings without gratitude. In this struggle, we sometimes forget to recognize your hand and those you've graciously placed in our lives. Grant us hearts of gratitude to live lives of giving and reliance on you. May your grace and victories continue for those who choose to walk by faith.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)