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The Blessing of Asher

October 12th, 2008

“There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens

to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is

your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms”

(Deuteronomy 33:26-27)

Deuteronomy chapter 33 contains the final words of Moses, “the man of God,” to the Israelites, before his death. The chapter is set in a literary format of blessing (33:1). These blessings are pronounced upon Jeshurun (a poetic description of the Israelites, emphasizing their upright (yashar) status through Yahweh (see vv. 6; 7; 8; 12;13; 18; 20; 22; 23; 24). The blessing of Asher is given in 33:24-29. While this passage lends itself to numerous considerations, we shall point out several of the most theological of these.

1. 33:26 – The incomparable God.

2. 33:26Jeshurun (God’s people) are the true recipients of his speedy help.

3. 33:27 – God is here poetically depicted as a dwelling place.

4. 33:27 – Even more intimate are his arms as, safe places forever.

May the blessing of Asher commend itself to you today.

-Robert M. Housby

Blessedness of the Ordinary

June 1st, 2008

“And the common people heard him gladly”

(Mark 12:37)

Mark 12:37 is translated in the American Standard Version (1901)-“And the common people heard him gladly.” Warrant for translating the crowd as “the common people” is based largely upon the use of the definite article, “the,” in the Greek text (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, 213).  Furthermore, the American Standard Version even translates John 12:9-“The common people therefore of the Jews…,” where the article is absent.  While John 12:12 has “the common people” in the margin (ASV).    While not all of the scribes were equally bad (see Mark 12:28,34), the general tendency of their professional religious circle had degenerated into ostentation, avarice, and hypocrisy (C.E. Graham Swift, The New Bible Commentary Revised, ed. Donald Guthrie, 878).  Still, we must not rush to conclude that there were no individuals of upper-class drawn to Christ, both during and after his life (John 3:1; Lk. 1:3; Acts 6:7).  These common people, however, nearly all consented to his death when put under pressure (“and the crowd…”Mark 15:8,11).

The backdrop of the Sermon on the Mount remains a shining moment in the life of Christ when “the crowd” followed him with eagerness and hung on his every word (Matt. 4:25; 5:1).  Jesus was a prophet who pronounced blessing upon the common people; and, he did so in such a way that it is written of his style, “no man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46).

-Robert M. Housby

Categories: Bible, blessing, Mark, New Testament, ordinary Tags:

God’s Blessings Predictable?

May 7th, 2006

“…he will be blessed in his doing”

(James 1:25)

In our experience, most people want to believe that God cares for them and will bless them. This notion is based upon a concept of the God of the Bible—for the God of the Bible is known as a blessing God (see Psalm 129:8). There is a sense in which God blesses all men, as it is written—“…For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). However, there is another sense in which only particular people are blessed. This is a hard saying for idle, busybodies. For example, the biblical work-ethic, as commanded by the apostle Paul, reads—“If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thess. 3:10-12).

In the Epistle of James, James clarifies that one’s behavior determines whether he/she will be blessed or not blessed (James 1:25). Furthermore, one’s Christian view–that is, what source of wisdom (sophia, 3:13-18) one is operating with, will determine whether they get this message or scorn it (4:1-2,6). God’s blessings are predictable, according to data from James:

1. Blessings are conditional (James 1:25).
2. Blessings come to the steadfast (James 1:3,12).
3. Blessings are not conditioned upon belief alone (James 2:14-26; especially note 2:14).

Yes, God does long to bless you—not only with his sun and rain, but also, with his Son and Reign (Colossians 1:13)!

-Robert M. Housby

Categories: Bible, blessing, God, James, New Testament Tags: