How Can You Honor God Most High?

Blessed be God Most High

(Genesis 14:17-24, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 26, 2014)

[17] After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). [18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)

The Lord had granted a great victory to Abram in a time of great need. The war was over, but there were still lessons to be learned as the celebration began. God would be honored in Abram's unusual interactions with the king of Sodom and the king of Salem (later Jerusalem). The first of these kings we had heard about in the earlier verses in this chapter, but the second, Melchizedek, seems to come out of nowhere. We learn more about him in Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7. Who is this “King of Righteousness” who is also the King of Peace (Salem)? Why is it that he “brought out bread and wine” and how is it that there was some other person in the world who was devoted enough to Abram's God to be designated “priest of God Most High?”

[19] And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
[20] and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Melchizedek, as the Lord's representative, blessed Abram and Abram's God. He identified this one true God as the source of Abram's blessings and as the “Possessor of heaven and earth.” Abram honored this king and priest by giving him “a tenth of everything.” These actions signified that Melchizedek was Abram's superior. Melchizedek honored Abram's God for the patriarch's surprising victory in war.

[21] And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” [22] But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, [23] that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ [24] I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

As a contrast to Melchizedek, the king of Sodom wanted to honor Abram for the defeat of their enemies. Abram solemnly refused his offer. He had promised God that he would deny the king of Sodom an opportunity to boast that he had been the source of Abram's blessings.

Put the Word to Work: Why is Melchizedek so right and the King of Sodom so wrong? It was important to Abram that credit would go to God Most High. All of Abram's wealth and security had come to him according to the promise and power of the Almighty. The Lord had sent Melchizedek as His representative so that Abram could give testimony before the world regarding his God. When we honor Jesus, we testify that the God and Father of Jesus is our God and Father. All of our blessings come from Him. It is our privilege to give witness to the reality of God and to the power of His unfailing promises to us in Christ. The honor that we give to our Lord must be more than outward ceremonies. We are called to remember His love for us and to give ourselves to Him with the sincerity of true worship. Jesus honored His Father perfectly. We honor the Father when we give glory to His Son. He is our victory.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 124:6– Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth!

Gospel Reading—Matthew 15:10-20 – What defiles a person?

Living by Faith in a Dangerous World

They Would Have Swallowed Us Up Alive

(Genesis 14:1-16, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 19, 2014)

[14:1] In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, [2] these kings made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). [3] And all these joined forces in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). [4] Twelve years they had served Chedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. [5] In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, [6] and the Horites in their hill country of Seir as far as El-paran on the border of the wilderness. [7] Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh) and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who were dwelling in Hazazon-tamar.
[8] Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out, and they joined battle in the Valley of Siddim [9] with Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar, four kings against five. [10] Now the Valley of Siddim was full of bitumen pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, some fell into them, and the rest fled to the hill country. [11] So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. [12] They also took Lot, the son of Abram's brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.Lot had chosen a life for himself away from Abram. He found himself in the middle of a situation of great political instability. He was on the losing side of a battle between various city-states and their kings. Lot lived in Sodom, and the king of that town had been defeated. That meant exile into slavery for the losers, including Lot and all those who were with him.

[13] Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, who was living by the oaks of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and of Aner. These were allies of Abram. [14] When Abram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, 318 of them, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. [15] And he divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them and pursued them to Hobah, north of Damascus. [16] Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his kinsman Lot with his possessions, and the women and the people.

God continued to show favor to Abram by granting him a very unlikely victory in war. Our only details are the size of Abram's army (318), his decision to divide his forces, and the surprise timing of his assault against the kings (by night). Abram was able to bring back Lot and all the people and possessions associated with him.

Put the Word to Work: God continued to work wonders in the life of Abram. Lot was blessed too because of Abram's willingness to take seriously the bonds of family loyalty. Even war can be used by God for His holy purposes. Somewhere over the course of Lot's life, he won the designation “righteous” (2 Peter 2:7). Did this experience change Lot? The Lord is able to use every event in our lives toward His own saving plan. We need to hear Him and obey.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 124:1-5 – If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—let Israel now say—if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 15:1-9 – Traditions and Commandments

Life Up Your Eyes and Look!

Seeing with the Eyes of Faith
(Genesis 13, Preaching: Pastor Nathan Snyder, October 12, 2014)

The Lord has brought Abram through famine and danger.  He has gone to Egypt and now returns to the land God has promised to give him.  To protect his life, he did something of questionable ethics while in Egypt.  He lied about his wife, saying she was his sister.  Through all this, God has been faithful to his promise to bless Abram.  Now he returns to the altar he had previously built (13:3-4) where he worships the Lord there again.  The chapter also ends with him building another altar to the Lord.  Take not of this.  Whatever you have been through, come and worship the Lord.  If you have been through plenty or want, if you have lived righteously or not, come call upon the name of the Lord and put your trust once again in his promises and faithfulness.

While we wondered about Abram’s faith in the latter part of chapter 12, his faith seems vibrant in chapter 13.  In this account, Lot contrasts strongly with his uncle Abram.  God has prospered both men, and there isn’t enough land for both of them and their flocks.  Their herdsmen are having strife.  Abram takes the initiative to approach Lot.  He is the superior, as Lot’s uncle, but he defers to Lot in order to keep peace.  “Lot, there is enough land around to support us both.  You go wherever you would like and I’ll go someplace else.”  Does Lot do the honorable thing and put the ball back in Abram’s court, deferring to his uncle?  No, he looks around and chooses for himself what seems to him to be the best land, the fertile land of the Jordan Valley.  Lot lifts up own his eyes and chooses what he sees to be good.  Yet the narrative shows us that his choice was foolish.  The people of Sodom and the surrounding cities were “wicked, great sinners against the LORD,” and God was going to destroy the place.  We know from chapter 19 that this will mean trouble for Lot (see also 2 Peter 2:7-8).  Sometimes we make decisions not based on seeking God and listening to his Word, but simply based on what looks good to us at the moment, and we end up regretting it later.

Abram was trusting in God’s promises, and he was able to generously defer to his nephew.  He knew God would take care of him either way.  Seeing with the eyes of faith enables us to humbly love and serve.  We can put the needs of others before our own because we know the Lord will take care of us.  After Lot left, the Lord spoke to Abram.  He told Abram to lift up his eyes.  Lot lifted his own eyes to see what seemed best to him.  In contrast, God himself tells Abram to lift his eyes.  God shows Abram what he is promising him.  He will possess all this land and his offspring will be as numerous as the dust of the earth.  This requires Abram to see with the eyes of faith.  Yes, he is physically looking at all the land of Canaan.  But he does not actually possess it yet.  Nor does he and Sarai have a single child.  Yet he trusts God, and he is looking to an eternal inheritance (Hebrews 11:10, 16).  So he builds another altar to the Lord and worships.  The point is not that if we trust the Lord, everything will come together immediately, life will be easy, and we will get everything we want when we want it.  Yet if we trust God, he will bless us in the best possible way, in his own perfect timing.  This requires seeing with the eyes of faith, looking beyond what we can see in our current circumstances.  This is the way to joyful, humble, selfless, wise living.  It is the way of Jesus, who was willing to die for sinners because he was looking to the joy set before him which his Father had promised (Hebrews 12:2).  Our salvation was secured because Jesus looked through the eyes of faith.  And in faith now we set our eyes on him.

Put the Word to Work: Trust in God and his promises, rather than simply looking at what you can see in your circumstances.  God has promised you infinite good.  You are free to sacrifice and serve the needs of others.

Memory Verse from the Psalms of Ascents: Psalm 123:3-4 – Have mercy on us, O LORD… for we have had more than enough of contempt…

Gospel Reading: Matthew 14:34-36 – Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

What can anyone say about this?

Faith, Fear, and the Unstoppable Blessing of the Lord

(Genesis 12:10-20, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, October 5, 2014)

[10] Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. [11] When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, [12] and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. [13] Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”

Abram and Sarai were recipients of a great promise that would eventually lead to the coming of the Messiah and more. Having that promise did not mean that their troubles were immediately gone. They suffered famine and great danger from the powers around them. They navigated those dangers as people of faith and fear. Their story, though it contains elements that show their culture to be so different from what we have, rings true because of the honest struggles that they faced. But what kind of man was Abram to use his wife for his own protection?

[14] When Abram entered Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. [15] And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. [16] And for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

Abram's fears concerning the Egyptians were well-founded. Sarai was considered beautiful, and she was taken into Pharaoh's house. But could Abram have anticipated how much the Lord would use this frightening providence to bring more wealth to Abram? This all seems unfair, yet the Lord says nothing in the account against Abram—only showering him with many blessings.

[17] But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. [18] 

Not everyone was blessed through this strange providence. The Egyptians felt God's plagues.

So Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? [19] Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go.” [20] And Pharaoh gave men orders concerning him, and they sent him away with his wife and all that he had.

God worked it all out. Abram and Sarai were safely together again. Oh, and they were richer.

Put the Word to Work: The Lord's providences in our lives are in accord with His own purposes. Trust Him. He does all things well. One day we will see all that He has accomplished through the sufferings of Jesus and His people and we will be very impressed! Meanwhile the troubles in our lives are very real. The waters of this strange world may threaten to engulf us. Even at our best we respond with some mixture of fear and faith that does not look all that impressive. But we love a man who knows how to walk on water. He will win the battle.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 123:2 – Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 14:22-33 – Jesus walks on the water