And said, By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them, and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true. And He said to me, It is done. Download a Personal Copy of these Bible Verses about Blessings! Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff The Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. As we study the promised blessings of God, my hope is that the present pleasures of this life will fade in the light of the glory awaiting us. See what over 150,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Archaeologists Discover 2,000-year-old Gemstone With balm Of Gilead Engraved On It, The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it. Proverbs 10:22 (NIV), For those who are always generous and lend freely, their children will be blessed. Psalm 37:26 (NIV), If you return to the Almighty, you will be blessed again. From later history, we know that because of Josephs ill-treatment by his brothers, he was enslaved in Egypt. But in addition to the deserved suffering of Israel, many godly Israelites suffered. What a verse! God was in no hurry to fulfill His promised blessings. You cannot be richer than a Christian. Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. If Thy law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction (Psalm 119:92). Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Strengthen and help me, Lord. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. H His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. From the Scriptures, we have seen that suffering is neither incompatible with faith nor inconsistent with Gods blessings. Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023, What in the World Is Going On? I am like an evergreen cypress; from me comes your fruit. This shall never happen to You. But He turned and said to Peter, Get behind Me, Satan! Before one can receive . The story of the rich man and Lazarus underscore this principle (see Luke 16:19-31). Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Your basket and your kitchen will be blessed. Jeremiah 18:7-10 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. These can all be good things, but I think you could also argue that if these blessings lead us further away from God, they are not truly blessings at all. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. Our prayers reveal an understanding of Gods blessings virtually identical with the mistaken view of the Jews in Jesus day. If His people forsook the Law, then earthly cursings were promised: See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. I will take away sickness from among you. For You make him most blessed forever; But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. We can never, in and of ourselves, be worthy of divine blessings. (8) Divine cursing or condemnation is based upon an individuals decision and works. Psalm 21:6. By faith, these saints conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises,103 shut the mouths of lions, received their dead back to life, and so on. A secondary goal is to accomplish the good of those who love God: And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). . But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Christians often find their third tithe years to be abundant with all types of blessings and invaluable lessons learned. 3) states summarily the ground of thanksgiving, expanding it with glowing fullness in vers. L God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. 1 Peter 2:21; 3:8-9, 13-17; 4:1, 14-16 All too much like Jobs friends, they equate present affliction with sin, and they see it as a curse. Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". Why dost Thou hide Thy face, And forget our affliction and our oppression? Deuteronomy 28:1-2. If a nation repented of its sin and turned to God, its threatened judgment could be averted. (5) What errors concerning divine blessing can we see in the Jews of old and also in Christians of today? Matthew 16:21-27 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Just a few - of many - New Testament texts make this clear: Mark 1:4-5 And so John the Baptist appeared . Jesus turned the teaching of the Jews upside-down. These trials came from the hand of the God who had promised to bless them: And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. S But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. But what of Gods eternal blessings? Salem Media Group. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat. Where Moms Connect is a unique mom's ministry curriculum that brings women together and helps them connect naturally, through discussion, Bible study and fun. So theres the principle. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. So remove evil from your house. Job 22:23 (NCV), Even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. Luke 11:28 (NLT), (Help the unfortunate) and you will be blessed. Not one of them received the promised blessing. But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Our very clothing is a physicalblessing. Philippians 4:19 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (3) What is the relationship between blessing, faith, and obedience? We must therefore live by faith. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. What exactly do you believe those are?. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. How were these saints so successful? Our heart has not turned back, And our steps have not deviated from Thy way, Yet Thou hast crushed us in a place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. 9:11 (CEV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding. Proverbs 3:13 (NIV), They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Psalm 37:26 (NIV), The best of all the first fruits will belong to the priests. But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE, we also believe, therefore also we speak; knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. Romans 4:3-8; 5:3-5; 8:18-25, 28; 12:14 I believe this text provides the key to understanding Gods blessings, especially their relationship to suffering and adversity. When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. Psalm 41:1-2 (NIV), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. Jacob saw much strife in his family and suffered much over the loss of Joseph and then Benjamin. When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end. The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. (2) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in primarily physical and material terms and not in spiritual terms. We will never share your personal information and you can unsubscribe at any time. You are to give them the first portion of your ground meal so that a blessing may rest on your household. Ezekiel 44:30 (NIV), Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you. Deuteronomy 16:17 (NIV), Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and on is word he meditates day and night. - Numbers 6:24-26. I love it. And in so doing, we actually miss the blessing God has for us in affliction. We now desire that which we once found offensive and repulsive. Tools. The Bible that you hold in your hand is aphysical book with a spiritual message. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. As it is written, He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. God chose Israel as the object of His blessings. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. Suffering at the hand of a gracious God is a comfort, for our chastening evidences that we are Gods sons: For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart. Gods blessing is not only the gift of those things which are good and desirable but the removal of the curse. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles.". Let's take a close look at blessing from the bible: who blesses who, how we receive blessings, how we give blessings, physical versus spiritual blessings, and finally how the flow of blessing can influence our prayers. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm Central Time. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord. Their identification with Jesus Christ had brought on them the reproach of Christ and the opposition and persecution of unbelieving Jews. It is by blessing Him that we enjoy Gods blessings, rather than the curse of sin. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. 1:9,10). Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? The very food we eat everyday would also be classified aphysical blessing. His blessings are offered in the form of a promise, and this promise must be believed by faith (see Genesis 15:1-6). I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). That is why God blessed him. Jeremiah 22:15 (NLT), Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. (7) How do the temporal blessings and cursings which God promised the nation Israel relate to the life and experience of the Christian today? Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Some toyed with the thought of turning back into Judaism to escape persecution. Blessings have to do with God's Kingdom. Q (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. Philippians 3:8-12 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning. O Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. In Christ, God bore the curse of sin and death and provided for us eternal life in its place. B Pastor John, hello! Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing.
I will take away sickness from among you. Exodus 23:25 (NIV), Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 (NIV), Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NIV), Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. Your blessings in this life will be mixed with sorrow. The promised blessings of the Bible are the good which God has purposed and promised. What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. While we are primarily blessed with all spiritual blessingsin the heavenlies (Eph. All things are yours.". He points them to the true blessings which are in Christ. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. And on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Death turned earthly, external appearances upside-down. But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. In Genesis 22:16-18, God again blesses Abram, and adds that blessing is due to his obedience to God's commands. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating of his officials, and the attendance of his servants, their clothing, his cupbearers, and his burnt offerings that he offered at the house of the Lord, there was no more breath in her. In the early days of Davids life, he was misunderstood and chided by his brothers (1 Samuel 17:20-30). Put it at the disposal of me and my mission. Thats the kind of radical life were called to live in the New Testament. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things. Psalm 128:1-2 (NCV), Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV), If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In Gods economy, serving others is a privilege and not a curse. - 2 Corinthians 9:8 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Uphold me with Your generous Spirit. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.