Four kings from the east had collected tribute for twelve years when their vassals rebelled, and the punitive campaign swept south into the cities of the plain, Sodom among them. Lot had chosen that plain for its water, and now the choice costs him everything: 12"They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions." Abram, who let Lot choose first, goes after him anyway. He leads out 14"his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them," a household militia against four kings who had just routed five, and at night, in divided companies, defeats them and brings back Lot and everything taken.
Two kings come out to meet him. The king of Sodom goes first, and before he can speak, Melchizedek king of Salem interrupts by bringing out bread and wine and blessing Abram: 19"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth." The blessing touches Abram and then turns at once to credit God with the victory Abram won with his own sword: 20"Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!" Abram gives this priest-king a tenth of everything, centuries before Moses' law required it. He pays because he recognizes in Melchizedek someone who speaks for the God who won the battle.
Only then does the king of Sodom speak, and his words expose him: 21"Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself." It is a demand, with no thanks for the rescued city and no acknowledgment of the God who delivered it. Abram's reply reaches back to Melchizedek's own words and makes them an oath: 22"I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth." Abram ties the title to the LORD, the covenant name God spoke over him in chapter 12. He declares that this God and the LORD who called him are one. He will not take a thread or a sandal strap, 23"lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.'" He has already been fed and blessed by someone greater, and he will let no one but that God take credit for what he has.
A priest-king with no recorded father, mother, or end appears once in Abram's story, blesses him, receives his tithe, and disappears from Genesis. A psalm addressed to David's greater son later takes up the name: "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalm 110:4). Hebrews takes that line and argues that this priesthood is greater than Levi's, since Levi, still in Abraham's body, paid tithes that day through his ancestor (Hebrews 7:9-10). Melchizedek is a king of righteousness and peace who meets his people with bread, wine, and a blessing that costs them nothing to receive.
The choice set before Abram is set before us constantly. The king of Sodom's offer looks generous, wealth for services rendered, but underneath it is a bill, and accepting it would mean owing him forever. Abram could refuse because he had already received freely from someone he owed everything. We can take what the world offers and spend a lifetime proving we earned it, or receive what a greater King has already blessed, and let that be enough.
Prayer
Father, we reach for the king of Sodom's offer when you have already met us with bread and blessing that cost us nothing. Give us Abram's confidence to refuse whatever would make us feel we earned our standing before you. Thank you that the priesthood Melchizedek only pictured we now have in full in Jesus, a king of righteousness and peace who meets us with a table and no ledger. In Jesus' name, amen.