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JANUARY 7
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Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king Most High. And he blessed him and said:
of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king “Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four Possessor of heaven and earth;
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kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim 20 And blessed be God Most High,
was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom Who has delivered your
and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the enemies into your hand.”
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remainder fled to the mountains. Then they
took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and And he gave him a tithe of all.
all their provisions, and went their way. They 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram,
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also took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son who dwelt “Give me the persons, and take the goods for
in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. yourself.”
13 Then one who had escaped came and told 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I
Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the tere- have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most
binth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a
allies with Abram. Now when Abram heard sandal strap, and that I will not take anything
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that his brother was taken captive, he armed that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made
his three hundred and eighteen trained ser- Abram rich’— except only what the young
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vants who were born in his own house, and men have eaten, and the portion of the men
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went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre;
forces against them by night, and he and his let them take their portion.”
servants attacked them and pursued them as Psalm 4:4–8
far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So
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he brought back all the goods, and also 4 Be angry, and do not sin.
brought back his brother Lot and his goods, Meditate within your heart on your
as well as the women and the people. bed, and be still. Selah
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s And put your trust in the LORD.
Valley), after his return from the defeat of 6 There are many who say,
Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. “Who will show us any good?”
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought LORD, lift up the light of Your
out bread and wine; he was the priest of God countenance upon us.
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their
grain and wine increased.
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
14:18 Melchizedek king of Salem. The lack of For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell
biographical and genealogical particulars for
this ruler, whose name meant “righteous king” in safety.
and who was a king-priest over ancient Proverbs 2:1–5
Jerusalem, allowed for later revelation to use
him as a type of Christ (see Ps. 110:4; Heb. 2 My son, if you receive my words,
7:17,21). His superior status in Abram’s day is And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
witnessed 1) by the king of Sodom, the first to
meet Abram returning in victory, deferring to And apply your heart to understanding;
Melchizedek before continuing with his request 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
(vv. 17,21) and 2) by Abram, without demur, And lift up your voice for understanding,
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both accepting a blessing from him and also If you seek her as silver,
giving a tithe to him (vv. 19,20). priest of God And search for her as for
Most High.The use of El Elyon (Sovereign Lord) hidden treasures;
for God’s name indicated that Melchizedek,
who used this title two times (vv. 18,19), wor-
shiped, served, and represented no Canaanite
deity, but the same one whom Abram also 2:1 my words. Solomon made God’s law his
called Yahweh El Elyon (v.22).That this was so is own by faith,obedience,and teaching.The wis-
confirmed by the added description,“Possessor dom of God’s words is available to those who
of heaven and earth,” being used by both understand its value. Appropriating wisdom
Abram and Melchizedek (vv.19,22). begins when one values it above all else.

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