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covenant fellowship with the Lord. David was King in Hebron before he was King over
all Israel (II Sam. 2: 11). He also knew the blessing of fellowship even though not at the
time recognized by all his people.
This twofold character of separation is found in many scriptures, e.g.:--
"Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch
not the unclean thing; and I WILL RECEIVE YOU" (II Cor. 6: 17).
"Let us go forth therefore UNTO HIM without the camp, bearing His reproach, for
here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come" (Heb. 13: 13, 14).
Not, let us go forth without the camp for temperament's sake, or for misanthropic
reasons, but because He is there. "Unto Him" comes before "without the camp".
There is a great deal of archaeological interest in the chapter that follows this
separation and fellowship of Abraham. We will not deal with it here, however, but go to
the end of the chapter to see how Abram has progressed along the line of faith. After
Abram had delivered Lot and all the people and goods of Sodom we read:--
"And the King of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of
Chedorlaomer, and the Kings that were with him, at the valley of Shareh, which is the
King's dale; and the King of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the
goods to thyself.'
Now, viewed from the standpoint of the world, Abram would have been perfectly
justified to have taken his reward. Will he do so? Does he walk according to the
elements of the world, or does he now walk according to the unseen things of faith?
Before we allow Scripture to answer, we must go back and insert the parenthesis which
we have omitted.
Most abruptly and strangely the episode of the meeting of Abram and the King of
Sodom is interrupted by the episode of the meeting of Abram and the King of
Righteousness and Peace:--
"And Melchisedec, King of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, and he was priest of
the Most High God. And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High
God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the Most High God, which hath
delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he (Abram) gave him (Melchisedec) tithes of
all."
Before Abram is tempted to sully the separate character of his walk with the goods of
Sodom, he meets with him who was the type of Christ, the High Priest, specially
mentioned in that epistle of perfection and overcoming--Hebrews. Abram's attitude in
chapter 13: led him on to victory and greater blessing. Did Lot have such a privilege in
his "garden of the Lord"? Could he have repudiated the offer of Sodom's King?
There are times when the believer learns rapidly and accurately. Such was the
condition of Abram. Melchisedec had ministered to Abram the symbols of
covenant-keeping. Melchisedec had twice spoken of The Most High God, and further,
that He was the possessor of heaven and earth. Melchisedec had blessed Abram in the