SPECIAL TOPIC: BLESSING

SPECIAL TOPIC: BLESSING (verb, BDB 138; noun, BDB 139 [OT])

There are several kinds of blessings (BDB 139) in the OT. The two most common are

1. blessings of God

a. to all nations through Abraham (and the Patriarchs), Gen. 12:3; 22:18; 27:29; Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8

b. conditioned on repentance, Exod. 32:29; Joel 2:14

c. conditioned on obedience to the covenant, Lev. 25:21

d. a proper relationship with God brings prosperity (i.e., the cursings vs. blessings), Deut. 11:26,27,29; 23:5; 28:2,8; 30:1,19; Josh. 8:34; Ps. 133:3

e. on obedient Israel, Deut. 12:15; 16:17; 32:13; Isa. 44:3; Ezek. 34:25-31; Mal. 3:10-12

f. on Levitical priests, Ezek. 44:30; Mal. 3:3-4,10-12

g. on David and the Messianic line, 2 Sam. 7:29; Ps. 3:8; 21:3; 118:26 (cf. Matt. 21:9; 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; 19:38; John 12:13)

h. on the one who is sent by God, Ps. 118:26; 129:8

2. the blessing of parents

a. Isaac blessing Jacob (by trickery), Gen. 27:12,18-29,35

b. Jacob, Gen. 49:3-27,28-29

c. Moses (surrogate parent), Deut. 33:1-25

God's word, and for that matter, the spoken blessings of the Patriarchs, became an independent, self-directed power to accomplish its purpose, Isa. 55:11; 45:23; Matt. 24:35 (5:17-19); Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33. The power of the spoken word can be seen in:

1. creation (i.e., "He said. . .")

2. Messiah called "word," John 1:1,14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13

God's greatest blessing is Himself! His personal presence is with us and for us!