Blessed

Deuteronomy 33:1 HCSB

1 This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God, gave the Israelites before his death.

Blessing- to invoke good. or other times to speak of a gift given

Used in the OT 71 times

Close to 100 times in NT

This has made me realize I could do a whole series on what it means to bless someone, to be blessed, what a blessing is and what it is not.

Today we will barely scratch the surface

Our Blessings come from God

Deuteronomy 33:2–5 HCSB

2 He said: The Lord came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; He shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from His right hand for them. 3 Indeed He loves the people. All Your holy ones are in Your hand, and they assemble at Your feet. Each receives Your words. 4 Moses gave us instruction, a possession for the assembly of Jacob. 5 So He became King in Jeshurun when the leaders of the people gathered with the tribes of Israel.

While it is true that Moses pronounces these good things over the 12 tribes of Israel, he begins by acknowledging the source of the blessings. IT is God and God alone.

Every generous act and ever perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.

Did you know that even if an Atheist does something that blesses you, the God the Atheist denies is ultimately guiding that person to bless you!

I don’t care what good comes your way, or what bad is spared in your life, give him praise because it came from God.

The Old Testament Focused on Physical Blessings

Deuteronomy 33:26–29 HCSB

26 There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your aid, the clouds in His majesty. 27 The God of old is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you and commands, “Destroy!” 28 So Israel dwells securely; Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine; even his skies drip with dew. 29 How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is the shield that protects you, the sword you boast in. Your enemies will cringe before you, and you will tread on their backs.

As you read through the details of chapter 33, you will find Moses extending a blessing to each of the 12 tribes of Israel. He mentions something about their character, their accomplishments, or sometimes their lack of. Some of the blessings are quite short, like he had a hard time coming up with much to bless, and others are longer and more detailed.

Nonetheless, the emphasis of the blessings is on land, or defeat of armies, or many descendants, or possessions.

God has blessed us with so many tangible things, but lets don’t forget they are all fleeting and temporary. We need the perspective the NT teaches.

The New Testament Focuses on Spiritual Blessings

Ephesians 1:3 HCSB

3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

Spiritual blessings.

What follows in the next several verses in Ephesians are a list of our spiritual blessings.

I think sometimes we struggle. We see folks with more stuff than us. A nicer car, a prettier face, a better mind, a more handsome physique, more popular, a better paying job, a more adoring spouse, better health, stronger, or more successful. And we can get to thinking “I’m not as blessed as they are!” But if you belong to Christ nothing could be further from the truth. the greatest blessing is knowing Jesus.

Chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, given an inheritance, sealed by the Holy Spirit (forever saved).