Nougat 7

So When we’re blessed by El Elyon, the Most High God, the one whose blessing is intricately woven into our victory, how do we respond? And through whom? Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

“And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him one tenth of everything.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭14‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

The Tithe Blessing

This Nougat is rich, I tell you. It’s loaded with firsts. This is where

– We hear of God’s name and nature: El Elyon, the Most High

– We’re introduced to King Melchizedek of Salem, who is God’s own priest and a ‘type’ or foreshadowing of Christ (some say he was Christ)

– Melchizedek interweaves blessing God and Abram, showing the mutuality of blessing and grace

There’s another ‘first‘, however. This is also where the Tithe is introduced.

The tithe (maasrah), is the tenth part (or one absolute tenth) of something, which in the biblical context, usually is given as an act of worship to God. I believe that’s why the author ensured that we know that Melchizedek was a priest of The Most High.

In this usage, it is clear that the tithe is an act of blessing God, The Most High, Creator off Heaven and Earth; from Whom ALL Blessings flow us-wards. It goes to El Elyon’s priest, as the spiritual authority and as the one who pronounced the blessing.

Abram didn’t stop to calculate what was left after his men were paid. It was the first payment. We don’t know that he had a prior relationship with Melchizedek – it’s our first encounter with him (and that was after the battle, suggesting they weren’t previously friends/allies) – but we know that Abram handed the tithe willingly to Melchizedek. For me, this shows that we tithe in response to God’s blessings, and not because we like or approve of a particular pastor or priest.

Note, the priest Melchizedek did not demand the tithe, Abram willingly gave it. As king, Melchizedek might not have needed the tithe, it was a way of honoring the servant of The Most High. [And for the record, Abram later refused to take anything after his soldiers were paid. (We can tithe even if we’re on our last leg financially)]

Are we as free with blessing God’s servants as Abram? May God’s grace be sufficient to help us do so as we are able.

May all we seek be found in Christ