Aleph - Power, Strength, Authority & Wealth

Introduction

2 Corinthians 3:4–5 “And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;”

In this section, we are introduced to the infinite and abundant supply flowing to us from the grace of God. As we study and reflect on there are principles revealed in these passages. I pray the Holy Spirit will impart to us through the studying of these Scriptures we gain an overwhelming sense of the assurance known by David, and expressed in the 23rd Psalm when he wrote, “The LORD is my Shepherd.” Through this study let us learn to appropriate our birthright, and then, to rest in the abundant supplies of our heavenly Father.

The symbol of Aleph represents an ox. The ox was a picture of prosperity, wealth and strength in the ancient agricultural system of Israel. The question I would like to ask everyone is, do we lack assurance that the provisions of God are adequate to His purpose for our lives? Careful consideration of these truths will banish all doubts!

Aleph pictures the Ox - Proverbs 14:4 “Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.”

Aleph א —Psalm 119:1–8: The Lord is my Power, Strength, Authority & Wealth. Jesus is the Aleph, the first and the master, chief Who serves the Father in His field. I am mighty in Jesus, my Aleph.

1. Blessed - (vv. 1-2). The Psalm begins with the same word which Jesus chose to open His public ministry in the Sermon on the Mount. The Hebrew word is “Asher”, is the root for both “blessing” and “a path or way.” I am convinced that the thought here is not that the blessing follows the obedience of the child of God. Rather, we should see the obedience as the product of God’s blessing. Only as the believer first receives God’s grace, through His Word and by His Spirit, will obedience follow. In other words, we first must receive the wealth of God, before we can follow the will and the way of God. Another way of seeing this is that God’s spiritual riches must be taken and utilized, before His material riches can be received.

2. Directed - (vv.3-6). This word from (v.5) is literally “established, arranged, put right,” and is in the passive mood. This affirms the truth made in point one (above), and shows the author crying out to God to do for him what he cannot do. This is very similar to Paul when he says in Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The cry of every honest and earnest soul is from spiritual poverty crying out to our loving heavenly Father for His merciful supply of all that we lack.

3. Uprightness - (vv.7-8). Here, the word is from the same root as the “blessed” that begins the section. When the Word of God is received, digested, and utilized, the result is conformity to Christ.

Romans 12:1–2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

Note that learning must precede keeping the Word of God. Note that before Paul said “I can do all things through Christ, ” he said “I have learned … I know how” (Phi 4:11–13). These are not casual observations, but rather vital distinctions that are too often missed! We hear much today of obedient lives

New Testament Confirmation

Blessing - Every believer in Jesus Christ is already in possession of all the wealth of the Heavenly Father has.

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

2. Heir - All of our spiritual riches came to us because of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

1 Corinthians 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

These things are freely given to us through faith, divine illumination and divine revelation.

3. Complete - True spiritual riches are not made up of things Jesus Christ has, but rather are the essence of who He is! These are the things God considers valuable.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”