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.)