†. Gen 14:20b . . And [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything.
According to Heb 7:1-4, this particular tenth regarded only the recent spoils
of war; not of all Abram's estate in its entirety. So then, tenths should be
reserved for times when you know in your heart that it was God who
engineered your success.
Just exactly how King Mel disposed of the tenth isn't stated; but if Moses'
covenanted law is any indication, then it was applied towards Mel's support.
This principle would only apply of course if Mel was useful to Abram as a
priest, otherwise he would owe him nothing; for example:
†. 1Cor 9:9-11 . . For it is written in the law of Moses: You shall not muzzle
an ox while it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or
does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is
written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in
hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for
you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
Note : What is Bible hope? Is it crossing one's fingers? Is it wishful thinking?
Is it yearning for the best while in the back of your mind dreading the worst?
No, the koiné Greek word for "hope" in 1Cor 9:9-11 is elpis (el-pece') which
means: anticipate. Webster's defines anticipate as: to look forward to as
certain; viz: expect. In other words: elpis hope is a know-so hope in contrast
to a hope-so hope-- for example:
†. 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
So: if you're 110% certain you'll be taken to paradise the moment you cross
over to the next life: then you have elpis hope. But if you're not 110% sure
of your destination, then you have hope-so hope. It would be a waste of
motion to give people a reason for your having hope-so hope since you'd
have nothing better to offer them than what everybody has already; except
maybe better odds-- but odds are not a sure thing: they're still a gamble. In
point of fact, your better-odds hope wouldn't be hope at all; it'd just be
another Idiot's Guide To Casino Gambling.
†. Luke 2:8-11 . . I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people.
Sorry; but I don't see any "great joy" in having better odds. A sure thing
would be more like it.
†. Rom 12:12 . . Rejoicing in hope
When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind
dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; no; but they
do have plenty of cause for anxiety.
Ironically, had Abram been under the jurisdiction of Moses' covenanted law,
it would have been wrong of him to give a tenth to Mel since Moses' law
provides only for the Aaronic order; and in point of fact, Mel wouldn't be a
priest anyway; he'd just be an ordinary guy since the Melchizedekian order's
jurisdiction was moved to heaven after the installation of the Aaronic order.
(Heb 8:4)
But enough of that. A comprehensive dissertation on the Melchizedekian
order is located in the New Testament's open letter to the Hebrew people.
†. Gen 14:21 . .Then the king of Sodom said to Abram: Give me the
persons, and take the possessions for yourself.
Sheik Bera was very grateful to Abram, and asked only for the return of his
fellow citizens; but not for the return of their stolen goods. Abram was more
than welcome to keep it all as his reward for rescuing the people of the
Plain. Although Bera and his citizens were very wicked, this is one time I
have to give him some credit for showing excellent propriety.
But Abram refused. There was just no way he was going to get rich by
exploiting his own neighbors' misfortunes. Although he had a perfect right,
within the customs of that day, to all the spoils of war, (a tenth of which he
already gave to Melchizedek) he waived it in favor of looking out for Sheik
Bera's best interests. I tell you, this man Abram was incredibly gracious; and
his manner of life, as a rule, made his religion, and his god, look pretty good.
†. Gen 14:22-23 . .But Abram said to the king of Sodom: I swear to
the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth; I will not take
so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not
say: It is I who made Abram rich
When you get down to it; a person's reputation is all that really matters in
life; because it's really the only thing we take with us when we pass on.
Abram didn't want to be known as someone who got rich through the
misfortunes of others. And that is exactly what would have happened had he
agreed to Bera's suggestion. You can imagine what that would have done to
his influence for God in that region; and how it would have ruined Abram's
own self respect. It would be awful indeed if people round about gossiped
that Abram's only motive for rescuing his nephew was for profit.
Abram didn't need Bera's stuff anyway. What the heck; he had plenty back
home already. Why be greedy? I mean: how much does it really take to
satisfy? Does a man really have to own every skyscraper, every square foot
of real estate, every drop of water, every cow, pig, and chicken, every inch
of agricultural land, every fruit and vegetable seed sold around the world,
every share of stock in a blue chip company, every software program, every
car dealership, every oil well, every refinery, every electric generating plant,
every natural gas supplier, every utility, and every hotel and apartment
building before he feels he has enough?
The Supreme Almighty God, who had so blessed Abram thus far, would
surely continue to do so. Abram had far more personal honor and self
respect than the looters who took advantage of hurricane Katrina's damage
in New Orleans and the heartless, unscrupulous ENRON traders who took
advantage of forest fires in California to raise that State's electric rates.
†. Gen 14:24 . . For me, nothing but what my servants have used up;
as for the share of the men who went with me-- Aner, Eshkol, and
Mamre --let them take their share.
Abram's only request was replacement of his own provisions that his troops
consumed during the mission. He didn't permit them to take a share of the
spoils; and since they were his slaves; they had no say in it. But his Amorite
allies spoke for themselves. If they wanted anything, it was their own
decisions about it and Abram didn't interfere. I mean, after all; the cities of
the plain owed the Amorite guys at least a little something as compensation
for saving their bacon.
Cont.
/
According to Heb 7:1-4, this particular tenth regarded only the recent spoils
of war; not of all Abram's estate in its entirety. So then, tenths should be
reserved for times when you know in your heart that it was God who
engineered your success.
Just exactly how King Mel disposed of the tenth isn't stated; but if Moses'
covenanted law is any indication, then it was applied towards Mel's support.
This principle would only apply of course if Mel was useful to Abram as a
priest, otherwise he would owe him nothing; for example:
†. 1Cor 9:9-11 . . For it is written in the law of Moses: You shall not muzzle
an ox while it treads out the grain. Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or
does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is
written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in
hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for
you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?
Note : What is Bible hope? Is it crossing one's fingers? Is it wishful thinking?
Is it yearning for the best while in the back of your mind dreading the worst?
No, the koiné Greek word for "hope" in 1Cor 9:9-11 is elpis (el-pece') which
means: anticipate. Webster's defines anticipate as: to look forward to as
certain; viz: expect. In other words: elpis hope is a know-so hope in contrast
to a hope-so hope-- for example:
†. 1Pet 3:15 . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks
you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
So: if you're 110% certain you'll be taken to paradise the moment you cross
over to the next life: then you have elpis hope. But if you're not 110% sure
of your destination, then you have hope-so hope. It would be a waste of
motion to give people a reason for your having hope-so hope since you'd
have nothing better to offer them than what everybody has already; except
maybe better odds-- but odds are not a sure thing: they're still a gamble. In
point of fact, your better-odds hope wouldn't be hope at all; it'd just be
another Idiot's Guide To Casino Gambling.
†. Luke 2:8-11 . . I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the
people.
Sorry; but I don't see any "great joy" in having better odds. A sure thing
would be more like it.
†. Rom 12:12 . . Rejoicing in hope
When people are praying for the best, while in the back of their mind
dreading the worst, they have absolutely no cause for rejoicing; no; but they
do have plenty of cause for anxiety.
Ironically, had Abram been under the jurisdiction of Moses' covenanted law,
it would have been wrong of him to give a tenth to Mel since Moses' law
provides only for the Aaronic order; and in point of fact, Mel wouldn't be a
priest anyway; he'd just be an ordinary guy since the Melchizedekian order's
jurisdiction was moved to heaven after the installation of the Aaronic order.
(Heb 8:4)
But enough of that. A comprehensive dissertation on the Melchizedekian
order is located in the New Testament's open letter to the Hebrew people.
†. Gen 14:21 . .Then the king of Sodom said to Abram: Give me the
persons, and take the possessions for yourself.
Sheik Bera was very grateful to Abram, and asked only for the return of his
fellow citizens; but not for the return of their stolen goods. Abram was more
than welcome to keep it all as his reward for rescuing the people of the
Plain. Although Bera and his citizens were very wicked, this is one time I
have to give him some credit for showing excellent propriety.
But Abram refused. There was just no way he was going to get rich by
exploiting his own neighbors' misfortunes. Although he had a perfect right,
within the customs of that day, to all the spoils of war, (a tenth of which he
already gave to Melchizedek) he waived it in favor of looking out for Sheik
Bera's best interests. I tell you, this man Abram was incredibly gracious; and
his manner of life, as a rule, made his religion, and his god, look pretty good.
†. Gen 14:22-23 . .But Abram said to the king of Sodom: I swear to
the Lord God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth; I will not take
so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not
say: It is I who made Abram rich
When you get down to it; a person's reputation is all that really matters in
life; because it's really the only thing we take with us when we pass on.
Abram didn't want to be known as someone who got rich through the
misfortunes of others. And that is exactly what would have happened had he
agreed to Bera's suggestion. You can imagine what that would have done to
his influence for God in that region; and how it would have ruined Abram's
own self respect. It would be awful indeed if people round about gossiped
that Abram's only motive for rescuing his nephew was for profit.
Abram didn't need Bera's stuff anyway. What the heck; he had plenty back
home already. Why be greedy? I mean: how much does it really take to
satisfy? Does a man really have to own every skyscraper, every square foot
of real estate, every drop of water, every cow, pig, and chicken, every inch
of agricultural land, every fruit and vegetable seed sold around the world,
every share of stock in a blue chip company, every software program, every
car dealership, every oil well, every refinery, every electric generating plant,
every natural gas supplier, every utility, and every hotel and apartment
building before he feels he has enough?
The Supreme Almighty God, who had so blessed Abram thus far, would
surely continue to do so. Abram had far more personal honor and self
respect than the looters who took advantage of hurricane Katrina's damage
in New Orleans and the heartless, unscrupulous ENRON traders who took
advantage of forest fires in California to raise that State's electric rates.
†. Gen 14:24 . . For me, nothing but what my servants have used up;
as for the share of the men who went with me-- Aner, Eshkol, and
Mamre --let them take their share.
Abram's only request was replacement of his own provisions that his troops
consumed during the mission. He didn't permit them to take a share of the
spoils; and since they were his slaves; they had no say in it. But his Amorite
allies spoke for themselves. If they wanted anything, it was their own
decisions about it and Abram didn't interfere. I mean, after all; the cities of
the plain owed the Amorite guys at least a little something as compensation
for saving their bacon.
Cont.
/
