DISCLAIMER: I do not believe that going against anything God says is a good idea. But when someone exalts a particular commandment as if it should be chief among the reality of God’s love or even if they promote idolatry with this like it should be worshiped or something, that’s always bad news. It’ll throw off everyone. By the way, this passage is found in page 7 of my NKJV Bible, page 9 of my NASB Bible, pages 15-16 of my VOICE copy, and pages 16-17 of my Amplified Bible (Classic Edition) copy.
I was going to write about Melchizedek some more, and also connecting this enigmatic Man with other trippy things found across the Scriptures, but I believe that people are getting the terms “obedience” and “sacrifice” in 1 Samuel 15:22 mixed up, twisting the Word to fit their religious delusions. The 1/10th of everything that Abraham had given to Him — that I think is a worshiped doctrine in the Church at large. It’s not a thing in New Zealand (thank God!), but here in the U.S., it’s always a nightmare to hear something like this, for this kind of deceptive preaching is quite popular and widespread. Someone can even tout the Malachi 3:8-10 passage as if it were a central theme to Christ’s beliefs (but He and He alone is the centrepiece of everything we should believe; see Hebrews 3:1). I’ve heard things like this before. Thank God it’s not required for any salvation prerequisites, nor is it necessary for growth. In fact, the whole unit of 2 Corinthians 8-9 allows for any gift to God from one’s heart. I’ve grown up in a church in which my mom had been giving to it and having me and my brother do the same… but we didn’t know the truth behind their hypocrisy, and I frankly decided after high school that churches like this weren’t worth my time, though it took a while for me to find out how un-Scriptural it was (and still is) — for I believed any church could be godly. But godliness is usually mocked by those “churches,” so it can be difficult to find another church if you don’t know where to go. Thank God that Two Rivers Church is a Bible-based community, flowing in the Holy Spirit constantly. If not for that (or Hillsong anywhere in the world), I’d be toast. My, I went off-topic…
Abraham gave to God from his heart, not out of some religious obligation! The law of Moses wasn’t even around in those days (see Romans 5:13). Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, Paul wrote (Romans 5:14); it’s kinda ridiculous that people didn’t look forward to Jesus, and even when they studied the Scriptures, they rejected His Spirit speaking to them. I don’t believe it was a monetary thing anyway, the 10% of the spoils Abraham took with him. (The word “tithe” is ridiculous, so I’m avoiding it when I can.) Cash offerings to God He won’t reject if you do it in love to Him, though. But there’s a time and a place to either give or not give, not to be stingy or encourage such things, but finding an appropriate balance. People are dying because they have no food, you know? Besides, you can read more of the book of Hebrews to find interesting information about both Melchizedek and Jesus’ family tree, likewise of how the old covenant is a shadow of the one we have now.
Anyway, I hope you find this helpful. Do you have any prayer requests? Write to me on ron.outland4727@gmail.com what you want prayer for, and I’ll write it down on my bedroom walls! I may also give you feedback, I don’t know. But I’ll see you in the next one! 😁
Ron And His Stories 