Amen, Brad - piggy-backing on Helen again because I'm late with the reply!


--
Carol



----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 6:20 PM
Subject: Re: Blessing


> Great post, Brad!  Thanks!
>
> Helen
>
> At 11:02 AM 1/7/04 -0600, you wrote:
>
>
> >BLESS
> >BLESS
> >(barakh): This word is found more frequently in the Old Testament than in
> >the New Testament, and is used in different relations.
> >(1) It is first met in Gen 1:22 at the introduction of animal life upon
the
> >earth, where it is written, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful,
and
> >multiply," etc. The context furnishes the key to its meaning, which is
the
> >bestowal of good, and in this particular place the pleasure and power of
> >increase in kind. Thus it is generally employed in both Testaments, the
> >context always determining the character of the bestowal; for instance
> >(where man is the recipient), whether the good is temporal or spiritual,
or
> >both.
> >Occasionally, however, a different turn is given to it as in Gen 2:3 the
> >King James Version, where it is written, "And God blessed the seventh
day,
> >and hallowed it." Here the good consists in the setting apart and
> >consecrating of that day for His use.
> >(2) In the foregoing instances the Creator is regarded as the source of
> >blessing and the creature the recipient, but the order is sometimes
> >reversed, and the creature (man) is the source and the Creator the
> >recipient. In Gen 24:48, for example, Abraham's servant says, "I bowed my
> >head, and worshipped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master
> >Abraham," where the word evidently means to worship God, to exalt and
> >praise Him.
> >(3) There is a third use where men only are considered. In Gen 24:60, her
> >relatives "blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Our sister, be thou the
> >mother of thousands of ten thousands" (the King James Version
"millions"),
> >where the word expresses the wish or hope for the bestowal of the good
> >designated. There are also instances where such a blessing of man by man
> >may be taken in the prophetic sense, as when Isaac blessed Jacob (Gen
> >27:4,27), putting himself as it were in God's place, and with a sense of
> >the Divine concurrence, pronouncing the good named. Here the word becomes
> >in part a prayer for, and in part a prediction of, the good intended.
> >Balaam's utterances are simply prophetic of Israel's destiny (Num
> >23:9-11,23 m,24).
> >Although these illustrations are from the Old Testament the word is used
> >scarcely differently in the New Testament; "The blessing of bread, of
which
> >we read in the Gospels, is equivalent to giving thanks for it, the
thought
> >being that good received gratefully comes as a blessing"; compare Matt
> >14:19 and 15:36 with 1 Cor 11:24 (Adeney, Hastings, Dictionary of the
Bible
> >(five volumes), I, 307). See also BENEDICTION.
> >(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database
> >Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)
> >
> >
> >
> >BLESS
> >BLESS, BLESSING
> >The act of declaring, or wishing, God's favor and goodness upon others.
The
> >blessing is not only the good effect of words; it also has the power to
> >bring them to pass. In the Bible, important persons blessed those with
less
> >power or influence. The patriarchs pronounced benefits upon their
children,
> >often near their own deaths (Gen 49:1-28). Even if spoken by mistake,
once
> >a blessing was given it could not be taken back (Gen 27).
> >Leaders often blessed people, especially when getting ready to leave
them.
> >These included Moses (Deut 33), Joshua (22:6-7), and Jesus (Luke 24:50).
> >Equals could bless each other by being friendly (Gen 12:3). One can also
> >bless God, showing gratitude to Him (Deut 8:10) in songs of praise (Ps
> >103:1-2).
> >God also blesses people by giving life, riches, fruitfulness, or plenty
> >(Gen 1:22,28). His greatest blessing is turning us from evil (Acts
3:25-26)
> >and forgiving our sins (Rom 4:7-8).
> >(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas
> >Nelson Publishers)
> >
> >BLESS
> >BLESS, BLESSING. Acts of blessing may be considered: (1) When God is said
> >to bless men (Gen 1:28; 22:17). God's blessing is accompanied with that
> >virtue that renders His blessing effectual and which is expressed by it.
> >Because God is eternal and omnipresent, His omniscience and omnipotence
> >cause His blessings to avail in the present life in respect to all things
> >and also in the life to come. (2) When men bless God (Ps 103:1-2;
145:1-3;
> >etc.). This is when they ascribe to Him those characteristics that are
His,
> >acknowledge His sovereignty, express gratitude for His mercies, etc. (3)
> >Men bless their fellowmen when, as in ancient times under the spirit of
> >prophecy, they predict blessings to come upon them. Thus Jacob blessed
his
> >sons (Gen 49:1-28; Heb 11:21), and Moses the children of Israel (Deut
33).
> >It was the duty and privilege of the priests to bless the people in the
> >name of the Lord (see BENEDICTION). Further, men bless their fellowmen
when
> >they express good wishes and pray to God in their behalf. (4) At meals.
The
> >psalmist says, "I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the
> >name of the Lord" (Ps 116:13), an apparent reference to a custom among
the
> >Jews. A feast was made of a portion of their thank offerings when, among
> >other rites, the master of the feast took a cup of wine, offering thanks
to
> >God for His mercies. The cup was then passed to all the guests, each
> >drinking in his turn. At family feasts, and especially the Passover, both
> >bread and wine were passed and thanks offered to God for His mercies.
> >(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody
Press
> >of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.)
>