#blessed Its a social media tag for when someone feels blessed and who has, or is getting, everything theyve dreamed of getting. We must see that in the midst of our suffering, we are drawn nearer to God, and recognize this as true blessing. The Israelites were greatly blessed in number while they sojourned in Egypt (Exodus 1:5-7). Such men say if we employ the right approach, (their approach, usually for a donation), success is assured. Jordan puts his finger on the nub of the issue, I think, by referring to the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. While we should not seek suffering in this life, we should expect it, recognizing it as a part of the plan of a loving God who is bringing about our good and His glory. The Berean: Daily Verse and Comment Sign up for the Berean: Daily Verse and Comment, and have Biblical truth delivered to your inbox. And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. That plan incorporates all things (Romans 8:28), which includes pain, suffering, and sorrow. If a nation turned from God, its promised blessings would be taken away: At one moment I might speak concerning a nation or concerning a kingdom to uproot, to pull down, or to destroy it; if that nation against which I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent concerning the calamity I planned to bring on it. And if it costs you your life, lay it down. Jesus says very plainly, Any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:33). If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. When our Lord presented Himself as Israels Messiah, He taught a great deal about the blessings of God. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Abraham may not have left Haran immediately which would mean that Abraham was younger when the promise of a son was first given to him. Our prayers reveal an understanding of Gods blessings virtually identical with the mistaken view of the Jews in Jesus day. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. Few understand the blessings of God as they should. They will likely be a part of an Arab confederation known as "the king of the South" (Daniel 11:40-41 . God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. 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. What is the basis for blessing and cursing? I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me (Psalm 119:75). May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans! 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. And put them to use so you will be able ,Be prepared. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Blessing and cursing are both temporal and eternal, the temporal being partial and mixed with sorrow, while the eternal is full and complete. He leads me beside still waters. (14) God blesses all men physically and materially in this life out of His common grace. This false view of blessing justifies ones expectations of no pain and all pleasure in this life. These were much more perplexing times as we see from the agony of this psalmist: Thou art my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Abraham had a twenty-five year wait for the blessing of a son. This was the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:5-7; 13:14-15) whose boundaries were more fully defined in Genesis 15:18-21. The full and final blessing of God is not accompanied with sorrow. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? The pure shall see God. Related Topics: Dispensational / Covenantal Theology, Theology Proper (God), Robert L. (Bob)Deffinbaugh graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his Th.M. He also promised to make him a great nation (Genesis 12:2; 15:5; 17:5-6). What an amazing promise--a promise which will surely be fulfilled! So Jotham became mighty, because he ordered his ways before the Lord his God. We will see God: They shall see God (Matthew 5:8). Jesus turned the teaching of the Jews upside-down. Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. How they are destroyed in a moment! All of us deserve to suffer for our sins. However there are too many repetition eliminate some of the duplication. Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. For what does the Scripture say? If we are a child of God, we know His eternal plan allows only those things into our lives which result in our ultimate and eternal good: 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). O The apostle John heard a voice from heaven saying, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13). All rights reserved. Gods blessing is the overturning and removal of the curse due to sin. It does not tell us that he was seventy-five when he first received the promise of a son. Luke 6:20-28; 16:19-31 Use these Bible verses to remind you of the many blessing you can claim as a child of God! 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. List Of Bible Prophecies Not Yet Fulfilled. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 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. (6) How can a clear understanding of divine blessings help us to better understand Gods eternal plan, especially as it relates to man? But Thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And Thou hast put to shame those who hate us. But in the case of these innocent sufferers, their suffering was not attributed to their sin but was the outgrowth of their righteousness. And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. The second group--those who suffered and endured by faith--are described in the last half of verse 35 through verse 38. All too much like Jobs friends, they equate present affliction with sin, and they see it as a curse. If we would understand what in the world God is doing in these days, we must understand what the Bible teaches about divine blessing. Pastor Sadler, you referred to our having physical blessings today. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:7-18). Enter into the joy of your master.. They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind. God chose Israel as the object of His blessings. . 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. But just what has God promised to do for Abraham? Yet Thou hast rejected us and brought us to dishonor, And dost not go out with our armies. Unlike many Israelites in the Old Testament, and most of the Jews of Jesus day, Abraham looked for a better blessing. The Lord will bless you with full barns, and he will bless everything you do. Deuteronomy 28:2-8 (NCV), I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant. Isaiah 56:6 (NLT), A beautiful palace does not make a great king! Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. It cuts across all ethnicities, all geographies, all politics, nationalities. And he said, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake (Matthew 5:10). It is the blessing to which Abraham and every other Old Testament saint looked forward. His teaching was radically different from that of the Jewish religious leaders of His day. 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. Verse Concepts. 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. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. (1) What is blessing? 4-14. He blesses the Christian temporally by His presence, by producing our growth and maturity, and by creating a hunger for the full and final blessings of heaven. 1. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Neither Gods blessings nor His wrath are fully manifested in this life. . Proverbs 15:6 says, "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenues of the wicked there is trouble.". The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. In our identification with Christ, we enter into His rejection and persecution by men, and in so doing are blessed by a closer walk with Him, a deeper fellowship with Him, and a growing hunger for heaven and the full blessings of God (see 2 Corinthians 4 and 5; Philippians 3:10; 1 Peter 2-4). This means that you do not get all your blessings in this life, but that death itself belongs to you as a gift, as a doorway to infinite, eternal, immeasurable blessing. With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, And afterward receive me to glory. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Zechariah 8:13; 14:11 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us. Many were the times in Israels history when God brought calamity upon His people due to their sins, yet the nation Israel never seemed to learn her lesson (see Psalm 78). Romans 4:3-8; 5:3-5; 8:18-25, 28; 12:14 Berean Bible Society I love it. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. (15) Since divine blessing is based upon the sovereign grace of God, we cannot demand it, and we dare not protest when Gods dealings with us do not appear to be a blessing. Biblical blessings are often associated with protection and happiness. The land of Canaan was not to be possessed until Abrahams offspring had been oppressed and enslaved for four hundred years. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. (4) God has the right to bless or to curse men (see Romans 9:19-21). When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 10:22 tells us that "the blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.". He and his mother struggled with Isaac and Esau. Arouse Thyself, why dost Thou sleep, O Lord? 1. 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) I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Such eternal blessings are far greater than any temporary physical blessings we could receive. The term blessed is thrown around in our culture today, and its all over our Bibles too. (9) Blessing or cursing are not necessarily evident in the means God employs to produce His desired goal. Heres the principle: in Gods wisdom, the Jewish religion of the Old Testament was largely a come and see religion. Lets circle back now to Jordans reference to the Beatitudes. God not only graciously blesses men, He also graciously delays the curse so that men might be saved (see Romans 9:22-24). Browse the best Bible verses about blessings in this collection of scripture quotes: Photo credit: GettyImages/Digitalskillet. O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols? I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily; he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon; his shoots shall spread out; his beauty shall be like the olive, and his fragrance like Lebanon. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. on 03/30/2021. Cursing may be accomplished by what appears to be Gods blessing. (11) Ultimately, blessing or cursing are the result of ones response to Gods provision of forgiveness and righteousness in Jesus Christ, the promised seed of Abraham (see Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6; John 3:18; 14:6; 1 John 5:12). These saints also had faith, but their faith resulted in perseverance rather than in success or prosperity. When Christians suffer for Christs sake, it is a blessing. (3) The Jews thought of Gods blessings in terms of material prosperity and His cursings in terms of material adversity and physical affliction. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. When affliction comes into our life, we do not pray for Gods grace, nor do we ask God for wisdom, patience, or endurance. For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? From the Scriptures, we have seen that suffering is neither incompatible with faith nor inconsistent with Gods blessings. Bible Verses About Blessing Others " The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Numbers 6:24-26 Scriptures on Blessing and Favor Blessing and favor are found with the Lord and amongst His People. 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. To belong to Christ is to belong to God as our Father and to be heirs of all that God owns that is, everything. I The temporal blessings of Judaism were tempting in the light of the affliction they faced as Christians. A review of Jesus teaching about the kingdom of God and about the blessings of God explains why His teaching was found unacceptable by the Jews. Philippians 4:19 trust Jesus. We will experience Gods comfort: They shall be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Along with sin came the curse. The Bible that you hold in your hand is aphysical book with a spiritual message. Those who identified with Israel and Israels God would also be blessed, as God told Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He suffered because of his impatience in acquiring a son through Hagar. But that forgiveness is not always guaranteed, and is usually conditional on our repentance. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Yet our prayers betray us. Gods national blessings and cursings were conditional. But what does it mean to truly be blessed according to Scripture? Steps. But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. The Lord your God will bless your work and everything you touch. Deuteronomy 15:10 (NCV), Blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 84:12 (NIV), If the place of worship is too far from your home for you to carry there the tithe of the produce that the Lord has blessed you with, then do this: Sell your produce and take the money with you to the one place of worship. Deuteronomy 14:24-25 (TEV), Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. Psalm 89:15 (NIV), Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. Psalm 106:3 (NIV), Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in his ways. Psalm 128:1 (NIV), Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. 2 Chron 30:27. 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. But for Thy sake we are killed all day long; We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. What the Bible says about (5) God is able to bless men because He has borne their curse in Christ, and thus His holiness is maintained in His grace (see Romans 3:24-26). Moms come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing's for sureall moms need to connect with other moms! Now thats a different discussion, one initiated by a discerning listener to the podcast named Jordan. in 1971. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. Psalm 112:1-9 (NIV), Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. As to the first, many will claim that God loves and forgives us all unconditionally. For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong (1 Peter 3:13-17). May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Their journey to the promised land held many trials. Deuteronomy 28:1-68 ESV / 265 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. For our soul has sunk down into the dust; Our body cleaves to the earth. He was not only to be the son of Abraham but of Sarah as well (Genesis 17:15-21). N As we come to the study of divine blessing in our series, we begin by considering Gods promised blessings in the Old Testament. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. All things are yours. Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). All their years will be pleasant. Job 36:11 (NLT), Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17 (NIV), Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people, take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers. Psalm 1:1 (GW), Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Psalm 40:4 (NIV), Blessed are those who dwell in your house to worship; they are ever praising you. Psalm 84:4 (NIV), Give freely to the poor person, and do not wish that you didnt have to give. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At other times, Israels suffering was not due to her unbelief and rebellion. It is in Christ, the seed of Abraham, that we are blessed. There are no priests or saints through whom we have to go to God, but only Jesus Christ. The common factor in all the blessings in the Bible is this: God's Kingdom. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. "Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. 1:3), God has also blessed us withphysical things. The trials and afflictions of the Israelites did not end with their exodus from Egypt. So it is today. His desire was to demonstrate His blessings to all men so that men from every nation would seek blessing in Him. Unfortunately, many Christians today hold to the same basic errors held by the Jews of Jesus day. Thou dost give us as sheep to be eaten, And hast scattered us among the nations. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear. I believe this is the dwelling of which our Lord Jesus spoke just before His death: Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. The blessings of God are not inconsistent with suffering. At times like these, the Word of God becomes much more precious and meaningful: Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word (Psalm 119:67). Suffering is also a blessing because it is a part of Gods process of sanctification. In My Fathers house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. Phone: (262) 255-4750 Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. Since the Mosaic covenant spelled out Gods blessings and cursings in this way in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28-30, this is not difficult to understand. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES. It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Divine blessing in the Bible is always physical and spiritual because it is fixed upon the reality of the fullness of life in the presence of God. What the Bible teaches is that the physical blessings to these people will continue until and after Christ's return. He blesses men out of His grace and curses out of His holiness. First the trial, then the blessing, the crown. But first, let me lay down a principle that has helped me grasp why there is such a preponderance of earthly blessings promised in the Old Testament like the inheritance of land (Psalm 37:22), deliverance from our enemies (Psalm 41:1), fruitfulness in our families and in our fields (Genesis 17:20; 48:34) while in the New Testament, there are very few earthly blessings promised, but rather afflictions are promised, with the material, physical blessings largely postponed until the resurrection. Physical John 3:5 ESV / 23 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Gods blessing is not based upon human merit or works, but upon His grace. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Think of being "in Christ" as a spiritual location. Gods common grace is extended to all men, without distinction. He said, "I am the God that healeth thee." . The difference between these two categories is not that one group has faith while the other does not. What a verse! As a result, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt where they became a great nation. Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? And instead of telling the world to come to us Come see how I bless my people; God never says that he says, Go go to the world. His blessings were not the kind they wanted. Rise up, be our help, And redeem us for the sake of Thy lovingkindness (Psalm 44:4-26). As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses.Aaron, along with his descendants, was set apart forever to consecrate the most holy things, to burn incense in the presence of Yahweh, to minister to Him, and to pronounce blessings in His name forever. Were on a mission to change that. Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV), Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Jesus simply did not fit the mold of Jewish expectations. Whether God in His goodness enables us to succeed, or whether His grace enables us to endure our suffering, let us realize that God is able to make use of suffering to produce blessings. So theres the principle. When Jesus began to teach His disciples concerning His coming rejection, suffering, and death in Jerusalem, even His disciples reacted. The complete and final fulfillment of Gods promise to Abraham is yet to occur. They understood that the blessings God promised were not material, but spiritual, and that they were not temporal, but eternal. For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Here are 10 bible verses about unexpected blessings that will bring you peace and joy when you need it most. Labs I see the term blessed associated with material possessions or family or health. Deuteronomy 28:1-2. When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before Thee. They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:1-8). Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. 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. 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). TopicalBible Temporal blessings are those blessings which God bestows upon sinful men, living in a fallen world, flowing from His grace. It can range from getting a new girlfriend, a new job, or a pay raise, to finding a ten-dollar bill on the sidewalk or getting surprisingly good news. (From Forerunner Commentary). If you have not trusted in Gods promise of blessing in Jesus Christ, then you are under the curse of sin. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Psalm 24:5. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? It is also only in eternity that the curse of God will be fully poured out on sinners. Just a few - of many - New Testament texts make this clear: Mark 1:4-5 And so John the Baptist appeared . Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff Often, the Old Testament Israelite had a mistaken concept of Gods blessings. God promised every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. And there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:1-5).

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