Daily Devotionals
Charles Spurgeon's "Morning & Evening"
Devotional: January 11th

Morning

“He teacheth my hands to war.”

Genesis 14:1-3 , Genesis 14:10-24

Genesis 14:10-12

All is not gold that glitters. Lot had made a poor choice after all. Those believers who conform to the world must expect to suffer for it. For the sake of gain Lot went to Sodom, and now he loses all at a blow: if we are too careful to grow rich, the Lord can soon impoverish us.

Genesis 14:14

If our relatives desert us we must not desert them. Lot left Abram but Abram did not forget Lot.

Genesis 14:15-16

Thus whether in peace or war faith made Abram the victor; but, alas for poor Lot, his worldly conformity was not cured by his trouble, for he went back again to Sodom to reside in it. He was vexed by the sins of the city, but he loved the ease of its settled life.

Genesis 14:17 , Genesis 14:18

When we are weary with fighting the Lord’s battles, we may expect that Jesus will appear to our refreshment.

Genesis 14:19

The Lord Jesus never meets his people without blessing them: his lips are like lilies dropping sweet-smelling myrrh.

Genesis 14:20

To our great Melchizedek we cheerfully offer of our substance. Melchizedek was rightly a receiver of Abram’s temporals, since Abram had received of his spirituals.

Genesis 14:21

He felt no interest in what was passing between Abram and Melchizedek, but broke in upon their holy intercourse with his secular business.

Genesis 14:22-24

What the king of Sodom offered was Abram’s due by the laws of war, but he would not take it. Sometimes it. is right to waive our rights. Abram felt that God could give him all he needed without his being beholden to the king of Sodom. Faith is royally independent of man. She will not give the world an opportunity to stop her glorying in the Lord. Jehovah All-sufficient is enough for us without our leaning upon an arm of flesh.

King of Salem, bless my soul!

Make a wounded sinner whole!

King of righteousness and peace,

Let not thy sweet visits cease!

Come, refresh this soul of mine

With thy sacred bread and wine!

All thy love to me unfold,

Half of which can not be told.

Hail, Melchizedek divine;

Great High-Priest, thou shalt be mine;

All my powers before thee fall;

Take not tithe, but take them all.

Evening

“He ever liveth to make intercession.”

Hebrews 7:1-25

It would be unwise to pass by the story of Melchizedek without noticing its typical meaning. This is fully expounded to us in

Hebrews 7:1-3

No ancestors, or predecessors, or successors to Melchisedec are mentioned, and the apostle finds a meaning in the silence of Scripture. Some will not learn from what the Bible plainly says; but the apostle could learn even from what it does not say. In Melchisedec the regal and priestly offices were united, and he received his priesthood not by inheritance, but by an immediate divine ordination. In. these things he was eminently a type of our Lord Jesus.

Hebrews 7:13 , Hebrews 7:14

Therefore our Lord did not receive the priesthood by descent, but, like Melchisedec, his ordination was direct from God.

Hebrews 7:15-17

This is the inspired testimony of David in Psalms 110., where he speaks of the Lord Jesus as his Lord, and salutes him as king and priest.

Hebrews 7:20-22

The priesthood of Jesus therefore deals with sure things which cannot pass away or change, since the oath of God confirms them.

Hebrews 7:23-25

Jesus resembles Melchisedec in being both king and priest, in having no predecessor or successor in office, and in being greater than the Levitical Priesthood. He is a priest for ever by the oath of God, and we who trust in him have this sweet consolation that our Great High Priest ever lives, is always in power, is always accessible, and always ready to perform his office on our behalf.

Thou dear Redeemer, dying Lamb,

We love to hear of thee;

No music’s like thy charming name,

Nor half so sweet can be.

Oh may we ever hear thy voice,

In mercy to us speak;

And in our Priest we will rejoice,

Thou great Melchizedek.