[18] And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. [19] And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: [20] And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
[21] And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. [22] And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, [23] That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: [24] Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
Abraham went out to rescue Lot and his family. God gave Abraham a great victory and upon returning the Father took him to another place of worship.
Abraham met Melchizedek, the king of Salem. Melchizedek was the priest of the “Most High God.” The Hebrew word for this is “El-Elyon” and means “the Possessor of Heaven and Earth.” Melchizedek is introducing Abraham to a new name for God that carried a new authority and promise.
The name El-Elyon says that God is “over all, above all that is, and the highest of everything.” It is the name that is above every name, “The Most High.”
Melchizedek brought the bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him and his God. Melchizedek and Abraham acknowledged God as their provider. Abraham brought his tithes to Melchizedek.
Abraham refused the spoils of the enemy because he wanted to say that God cared for him and his needs and not some evil unrighteous king. This valley became a coveted place of worship for Abraham as he surrendered to trusting the Lord for care and provision.
(Small example of this text). The Old Testament shadow here for New Testament substance. Think about it when the man of God, your Pastor, a priest of the Most High God, serving the church in peace, blesses you with the Lord's Supper table, (the bread and the wine), and you honor the Lord and the church as you bring your tithe with great thanksgiving to the storehouse.