Shalom,
I am going through our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan this year in the Amplified Bible. I like to compare, so I usually read on my computer with my Bible software so I can go back and forth to different versions. I was blessed by Psalm 5:11-12 today:
11But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits.12For You, Lord, will bless the [uncompromisingly] righteous [him who is upright and in right standing with You]; as with a shield You will surround him with goodwill (pleasure and favor).
You have to remember that if you have received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and personal Saviour, then you have been MADE the righteousness of God through the precious Blood of Jesus! To be "uncompromisingly righteous" is to refuse to believe anything less than what God Himself says about you! These verses are yours to stand on!
Then I really enjoy reading the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5 in the Amplified Bible! Everywhere that the word blessed is used, is expanded to include all the meanings of the word for that particular situation! I LOVE it! Here's a little sample:
6Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied!
7Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy!
8Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous--possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!
9Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!
10Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!
Such great and exciting promises! Now just be a DOER of God's Word, and ALL of these promises belong to you! Hallelujah!
Shalom in Him!
