This Psalm is filled with blessing! Verses 1-2:
1 BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, to be envied) is everyone who fears, reveres, and worships the LORD, who walks in his ways and lives according to his commandments. 2 For you shall eat [the fruit] of the labor of your hands; happy (blessed, fortunate, enviable) shall you be, and it shall be well with you.
The words "blessed" and "happy" here are the same Hebrew word, "`esher", which means: happiness, blessedness; the state of prosperity or happiness that comes when a superior bestows his favor (blessing) on one. In most passages, the One bestowing favor is God Himself! Then we have verses 4-5:
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who reverently and worshipfully fears the LORD. 5 May the LORD bless you out of Zion [His sanctuary], and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life;
This is the Hebrew word "barak", which means: to bless; to kneel; to be blessed; to be adored; to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, longevity, etc. This entire psalm is speaking of the blessings that come from serving the LORD and obeying his Word! Verse 6 is one that I take VERY personally!
6 Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be unto Israel!
In case you don't know, children's children are GRANDCHILDREN! I have been blessed with 8 and they are a joy! God's Word works! Dare to believe it, obey it, and receive the fullness of the BLESSING! Amen!
In John 5 we see the first very public miracle that Jesus performed, and the beginning of the persecution He endured from the religious leaders. Verse 5 says this:
5 There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years.
What did Jesus do? Verse 8-9:
8 Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk! 9 Instantly the man became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked. But that happened on the Sabbath.
This man had lain there suffering for thirty-eight years and the religious leaders could do nothing for him! Jesus heals the man, something they had not seen happen, and what is their reaction? Verse 16:
16 For this reason the Jews began to persecute (annoy, torment) Jesus and sought to kill Him, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
Make sure that YOU are leaving room for God to BE God! Don't try to fit Him into a religious box! He will refuse to be there! We only need to know the Word of God to judge whether or not something is of God or not. Does it bring relief to the people and glory to God? Does it lead people to seek the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible? Then it is probably God, so give HIM all the credit and rejoice! Here is Hillsong with "I Will Exalt You":
In Ezekiel 23-24 we see the finish of the warnings and judgment for the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem by this prophet. We also see that the life and ministry of the Old Testament prophet was not a glamorous or even pleasant one! In chapter 24 we see that the LORD is going to take Ezekiel's wife from him suddenly, as an example to the people of the nation, and he was not to mourn or weep publicly. Then Ezekiel instructed them that they were to behave the same way at the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem! All of these things are given as examples for us to learn from. i am more grateful than ever before that I live NOW, in the time of the new and better Covenant! How about you?
Shalom in Him!
