Gen 14: Lot taken captive after the kings went to war, then being rescued by Abram. Abram blessed by Melchizedek

This is the first recorded account in scripture of a war, during which Lot was captured, and rescued by Abram.

• v1-11: The war was due to the revolt of the five kings from under the government of Kedolaomer. The Sodomites, descended from Canaan, whom Noah had pronounced a servant to Shem (from whom Elam descended), were beginning to see that prophecy fulfil, and hence rebelled, attempting to shake off the yoke and retrieve their liberty.
• v12: Lot was taken captive, together with his goods. The kings who took him considered him alike and involved with the Sodomites, despite him being a righteous man. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord" (2 Co 6:17). It was hence Lot's foolishness for making a settlement there in Sodom, for if he shared in its riches, he would share in its downfall too.
• v13-14: Abram's only military engagement, prompted by a desire to save his relative. Abram armed and prepared his trained servants, showing his pre-existing readiness to do battle. His relationship with his neighbours made them willing and ready to go with him.
• v15: Notice that Abram only had 318 men with him, and yet he was able to show great courage in spite of the obvious disadvantages he lay under. He attacked at night, when least expected, and had a strategy put in place.
• v16: Abram, who ventured in a good cause, with a good heart, prevailed under the special protection of a good God. Despite Lot having quarrelled with him, Abram saved Lot, taking the opportunity to give a real proof of his sincerity of his reconciliation. Abram rescued the rest of the captives for Lot's sake, even though they were strangers and exceedingly great sinners before the Lord. He did good to all men, just and unjust.
• v18-19: Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of the most high God. "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever." (Heb 7:3)
• Melchizedek brought out bread and wine for the refreshment of Abram and his soldiers, and in congratulation of their victory. As priest, he blessed Abram. Thus God, in raising up His Son Jesus, who is our high priest, has sent Him to bless us as one under authority.
• v19: "God Most High", "Creator of heaven and earth" - bespeaks God's absolute perfections in Himself and His sovereign dominion over all the creatures.
• v20: In our prayers, we must praise God, and give Him the glory of our victories. In them, He shows Himself higher than our enemies, and higher than we, for without Him we can do nothing. Jesus Christ, our great high priest, not only offers up our prayers and praises, but His own for us.
• Abram gave Melchizedek a tithe of all the spoils, as a gratuity presented to him, and as an offering vowed and dedicated to God (and hence put into the hands of his priest).
• v21-24: The king of Sodom showed gratitude to Abram, and failry begged for his people, but freely bestowed the goods on Abram. Abram refused, because his faith enabled him to look upon the wealth of this world with a holy contempt. This is seen in the reason for his refusal - he was sure that God would enrich him without the spoils of Sodom, and at the same time did not want to give any occasion to anyone to reproach him. Yet in his restraining of his own liberty and rights, he made exceptions and did not impose the same restraints upon his men. He denied himself what he would not deny another; he did not make himself the standard to measure others by (unlike the Pharisees)