Thanks, Brad boy. Smile.
Does anybody remember that old song "Alice's Restaurant"? They have that
line in it that people keep saying to him, "Kid...." I guess you had to
hear it, but it was funny.
The Lion Kid
----- Original Message -----
From: "BD" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2004 12:02 PM
Subject: Re: Blessing
> Paul,
>
> You just keep calling me kid... I like that. And here is the info you
> requested from Nelson's, International, and New Unger's Bible Dictionaries
...
>
> 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.)
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