On 13th September, a couple of churchmates and I went to attend the midweek service at NCC.
Pastor Prince was expounding on Lev 25, and in particular highlighted verse 21 which says, "Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. (KJV)".
In this particular passage, the Israelites were taught the principle of tithing in terms of allowing the land to rest every seven years. If they trusted God and took Him at His Word, God would command His blessings in the 6th year, such that they would have harvest enough to last them for 3 years.The Hebrew word for command is "tsavah" which depicts a charge, an order, a commission.
In other words, "commanded blessings" implies that the recipient is not given a choice, he has to receive it!
Here are a couple of examples of "commanded blessings":
(1) Shunammite Woman
2 Kings 4:16-17
16 "About this time next year," Elisha said, "you will hold a son in your arms." "No, my lord," she objected. "Don't mislead your servant, O man of God!"
17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her.
There was this elderly couple who lived in Shunem who set aside a room in their house for Elisha, so that he could stay the night whenever he passed by that area. When Elisha prophesied that the woman would be with child, she did not have the faith to receive but instead asked Elisha not to lie to her. In spite of her unbelief, she still became pregnant, because it was a "commanded blessing" and hence, she had no choice but to receive it.
(2) Lame Man by the Pool of Bethesda
John 5:6-8
6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
7"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."
8Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
In this incident, Jesus saw a man who had been lame for 38 years and asked him if he wanted to be healed. In response, note that the man did not say yes, but gave excuses about not being able to get into the pool. Yet Jesus gave him no choice and healed him nonetheless. It was another example of a "commanded blessing".
May we experience God's commanded blessings in every aspect of our life -- be it our marriage, or family or career. The Christian's version of the maxim by Candid Camera should be, "Sometime, somewhere, when you least expect it, an angel may step up to you as say, "Smile, because God has just commanded a blessing upon you."
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will hunt us down all the days of our lives. Amen?
1 comment:
:-)
Post a Comment