Blessing – Praying Pint

52.m. Wilderness – 16.s. “Faithfully Obey”

Deu 28:1-8 “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

“The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The LORD will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

The idea behind the choice is that God was determined to reveal Himself to the world through Israel. He would do this either by making them so blessed that the world would know only God could have blessed them so; or by making them so cursed that only God could have cursed them and cause them to still survive. The choice was up to Israel. Therefore, if Israel would obey the LORD, He would set them high above all nations of the earth, and the blessings would be so powerful that they would come upon you and overtake you. They wouldn’t be able to escape the blessings. Perhaps the best blessing had to do with Israel’s own relationship with God. God would separate an obedient Israel unto Himself, speaking of a special relationship. If not for this, all the material blessings described previously would be empty. (Guzik)

This chapter is a very large exposition of two words, the blessing and the curse. They are real things and have real effects. The blessings are here put before the curses. God is slow to anger, but swift to show mercy. It is his delight to bless. It is better that we should be drawn to what is good by a child-like hope of God’s favour, than that we be frightened to it by a slavish fear of his wrath. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. Let them keep up religion, the form and power of it, in their families and nation, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns. (Henry)

And all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee,…. After mentioned, which should come upon them from God from heaven, by the direction of his providence, and that freely and plentifully, and beyond their expectations. (Gill)

How many blessings are forfeited due to our commitment and desire to study God’s Word and, thereby, grow and mature in our knowledge and understanding of it and things of God? Would we become more obedient due to this knowledge and understanding? Would we honor and glorify Jesus Christ in this obedience?

I get it, the busyness of life attracts us. It is a tangible busyness and occupies our time. It may even give us purpose and satisfaction. However, I think more than likely it gives way to NEGLECT of God’s Word. The Study of it. The Desire for it. The Application of it. The Fulfilling Hope found in it. The Peace of mind found in it. The Joy found in it. The Refuge found in it. The Promises proclaimed in it. We lay our heads on our pillows at night falsely satisfied with what the world has deemed important and fully occupied our day.

Neglect of God’s Word is no excuse. Neglect of God’s Word is an intentional choice to which we give excuses and rationalize in our minds. Growth and maturing (sanctification) does not happen apart from God’s Word. I am amazed at the maturity (knowledge of God’s Word) by Christians who have been born again for 10, 20, 30, 40 plus years. God’s Word is more readily available at every person’s fingertips. Commentaries, sermons, and word searches are all available to grow and mature us. Neglect of His Word is an intentional choice.

Some things that bother me in my personal growth. Am I growing in understanding and knowledge of God’s Word and its application in my life? Can people see a tangible difference as the Holy Spirit leads and I obey? Through the Holy Spirit can I discern truth or the lack of it or doctrine error? Do I see growth? Am I convicted of sin? Do I repent? Am I growing in trust and reliance on God? Do I seek and desire to know Him more and more? Do I want to hear and listen to the leading Holy Spirit? Do I live each day with an earnest desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all my thoughts, words, and actions? Why am I so slow in my understanding? Why can’t I connect concepts and precepts of Old and New Testament scripture? Why are there days of complete trust and reliance, and other days of being like a flopping fish out of water? Why are there days when I am so aware of God’s presence and other days not? Why do I fall back into sinful thinking? Can I spot satan’s attacks and lies?

There is so much more to know about God, His Word, the love of Jesus, the leading of the Holy Spirit, God’s grace, mercy, and love, His promises, creation, heaven, hell, judgment, wrath, anger, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, the examples of faith, the examples of falling away, the difference between worldly and heavenly, obedience, reliance, trust, faith, hope, prayer, etc……..

There is no excuse for neglect.

51.d. Wilderness – 15.j. “Being careful to do all this”

Deu 15:4-6  But there will be no poor among you; for the LORD will bless you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess— if only you will strictly obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all this commandment that I command you today. For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.

Proverbs 11:24-25   One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.  Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Proverbs 14:21    Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 28:27    Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Isaiah 58:10-11   if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.  And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

God established an economic system wherein no one had to be chronically poor. If people would obey the LORD, He would bless (both sovereignly and as the natural result of the obedience), and they would not be poor. However, Deuteronomy 15:11 – just a few verses down – states: For the poor will never cease from the land. Is God contradicting Himself? Not at all. He knows that He has established a system where no one must be chronically poor, yet He knew that because of disobedience, some would, and there would always be the poor in Israel. So, God did not guarantee prosperity for any one in Israel; but He did guarantee opportunity for prosperity for an obedient Israel. If Israel obeyed and the individual citizens of Israel enjoyed the blessing of God’s prosperity, then they would as a nation be prosperous, and blessed above other nations. (Guzik)

The law is spiritual, and lays restraints upon the thoughts of the heart. We mistake, if we think thoughts are free from God’s knowledge and check. That is a wicked heart indeed, which raises evil thoughts from the good law of God, as theirs did, who, because God had obliged them to the charity of forgiving, denied the charity of giving. Those who would keep from the act of sin, must keep out of their minds the very thought of sin. It is a dreadful thing to have the cry of the poor justly against us. Grudge not a kindness to thy brother; distrust not the providence of God. What thou doest, do freely, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Henry)

For the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it; which is either a reason why there would be no poor, should they observe the commandments of the Lord; or a reason why they should release the debts of the poor because they were so greatly blessed with a fruitful land, which brought them such an increase, as enabled them to free their poor debtors, when in circumstances unable to pay them. (Gill)

We do well to first and foremost obey, follow, trust, honor, and glorify Jesus Christ. If this is our desire and purpose in life, then we will be moved by the Holy Spirit in many virtues including being generous, kind, and giving to those in need. Sometimes it is hard to know of those in need but our churches know and if you ask the question you will certainly be put on a path to honor and glorify Jesus Christ through meeting the needs of someone in need.

50.x. Wilderness – 15.c. “Blessing and a Curse”

Deu 11:26-28 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

Galatians 3:10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Galatians 3:13-14 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

Deuteronomy 30:1 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you,

Deu 11:32 you shall be careful to do all the statutes and the rules that I am setting before you today.

The three great elements to the Old Covenant were the law, the sacrifice, and the choice. Israel had a choice – to obey and be blessed, or to disobey and be cursed. It was a cause and effect relationship with God. It was up to Israel. If they wanted to be blessed, then they should walk in obedience (as they were in the days of David and Solomon), but if they disobeyed, they would be cursed (as they were in most of the days of the later kings) A choice was required. There was no neutral ground. God wouldn’t just “leave them alone.” It would either be blessing or cursing. Inherent in Israel’s disobedience was idolatry. Whenever we walk in disobedience, we exalt ourselves against God – and declaring that our rules, our standards, our desires, are all more important than His. This is idolatry in its most base – and common – form. (Guzik)

Moses sums up all the arguments for obedience in two words, the blessing and the curse. He charged the people to choose which they would have. Moses then appointed a public and solemn proclamation of the blessing and curse, to be made upon the two mountains of Gerizim and Ebal. We have broken the law, and are under its curse, without remedy from ourselves. In mercy, the gospel again sets before us a blessing and a curse. A blessing, if we obey the call to repentance, to faith in Christ, and newness of heart and life through him; an awful curse, if we neglect so great salvation. Let us thankfully welcome these glad tidings of great joy; and let us not harden our hearts, but hear this voice of God while it is called to-day, and while he invites us to come to him upon a mercy-seat. Let us be diligent to make our calling and election sure. (Henry)

We don’t think in terms of blessings and curses. We think in terms of “Blessings” and what can we get from God. Very seldom does the thought of curses cross our minds. Why? Jesus bore all the curses we deserved upon Himself on the cross. The perfect sacrifice. For those who believe, repent, follow, obey, trust and rely in and on Jesus, they receive endless blessings.

Forgiveness, Fellowship with Jesus, In-filling of the Holy Spirit, Eternal life, and the Promise of resurrection

Peace, Joy, Love, Kindness, Gentleness, Hope, Ever in the presence of God

Discernment, Wisdom, Courage, Encouragement, Power for each day, Boldness, and Peace that passes all understanding

Though this is true, it does rely upon our intentional choice to believe, repent, follow, obey, trust, and rely and on Jesus. We are justified (made right, and clean, and our sins are forgiven) through what Jesus did and endured on the cross (redemption). Sanctification – is a never-ending growth and maturity in our knowledge, understanding, and obedience to following, obeying, relying, trusting, honoring, and glorifying Jesus Christ this side of eternity. There are continual blessings in this growth and maturing. And yet, it is an intentional choice to grow and mature.

(2 Timothy 2:15. Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.)

What blessings do we forfeit when we become complacent and neglectful? Will we not experience any of the list above? We may think we do as we substitute things of this world as we try to find satisfaction, purpose, and meaning in our lives. What are the signs of being lukewarm and complacent?

No growth, No awareness of sin, No repentance, and Unable to discern the Holy Spirit’s leading

Little to no thoughts of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ and Little to no time in God’s Word

Fear. Confusion, Pride, Greed, Boastfulness, Arrogance, Anger, Hate, Jealousy, and Coveting

Busyness in the things of this world, No Godly satisfaction, Little understanding in the Things of God, and False purpose and meaning for your life

We will not find blessings in our lives apart from total surrender and devotion to humbly serving, following, growing, maturing, and relying more and more upon Jesus Christ. This requires us to make an intentional choice every moment of every day of our lives. It is a choice to deny ourselves and the influences and temptations of this world. This world, society, and culture will offer satisfaction in many different ways. Each of them promises to fulfill your desires and wants. The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are full of examples of this. How are we even able to discern what is of this world and what is of God apart from diligently searching and desiring to know? We won’t.

The Word of God is more readily available than it ever has been, and yet, it is more and more greatly neglected. It is nourishing food for our hearts, minds, and souls. It fills us to overflowing with an awe of God. It opens our eyes to His power, might, love, grace, mercy, and blessing.

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!

46.s. “Wilderness” – 10.y. “You gave your good Spirit to instruct them”

Num 11:17  And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

2 Kings 2:9    When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.”

Nehemiah 9:20   You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.

Isaiah 44:3   For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

Isaiah 59:20-21    “And a Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.  “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

John 7:39    Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Romans 8:9     You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

1 Corinthians 2:12    Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

Jude 1:19   It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

And I will take of the spirit which is upon thee; the spirit of government, and the spirit of prophecy, the gifts of the spirit qualifying for these things, of which Moses had a large measure. and will put it upon them; that is, gifts of the same kind with his; not that his gifts were diminished, or that properly speaking anything was taken from Moses and given to the seventy elders; but from the same fountain and fulness of the spirit Moses partook of, they were furnished with like gifts and qualifications, he having not at all the less for what was communicated to them. (Gill)

Will put it upon them, i.e. I will give the same Spirit to them which I have given to thee. But as the Spirit was not conveyed to them from or through Moses, but immediately from God, so the Spirit or its gifts were not by this means impaired in Moses. (Poole)

By “taking the spirit of Moses, and putting it upon them,” is not to be understood that the qualities of the great leader were to be in any degree impaired but that the elders would be endowed with a portion of the same gifts. (Brown)

The elders must have the same heart, the same vision, and same Spirit that was on Moses. If not, there would be no agreement among the leadership of the nation and disaster could come to Israel. (Guzik)

There is but one Holy Spirit of God. God gives the Holy Spirit to all who believe and in this gift of the Holy Spirit we are given gifts (attributes) of the Holy Spirit that will edify , teach, guide, inform, cultivate, improve, encourage, instruct, and uplift believers. Not everyone is give the same gift(s). It is not up to us to pick the gift we wish we had or hoped for but rather to trust and rely on God’s sovereignty and perfect plans and purposes.

Why then is their division, grumbling, and unrest in bodies of believers? Is it because the Holy Spirit of God has lead them into these acts? No, it is because there is an overwhelming neglect of God’s Word in the lives of the believers that quenches the Holy Spirit in their lives. How is the Holy Spirit to grow and deepen your understanding of the things of God when there is no desire for the Word of God in your heart and mind?

45.r. “Wilderness” – 9.x. “every man able to go to war in Israel— all those listed were 603,550”

Num 1:45  So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— all those listed were 603,550.

Genesis 12:2    And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Deuteronomy 10:22   Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

Hebrews 11:11-12     By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.  Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

Revelation 7:9    After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Including women, children, and old men, together with the Levites, the whole population of Israel, on the ordinary principles of computation, amounted to about 2,400,000. (Brown)

We have here the sum total. How much was required to maintain all these in the wilderness! They were all provided for by God every day. When we observe the faithfulness of God, however unlikely the performance of his promise may appear, we may take courage as to those which yet remain to be fulfilled to the church of God. (Henry)

It is hard to imagine how a small group of ~70 that came into Egypt became greater than 2,000,000 in 200+ years not to mention how these were fed and cared for in the wilderness for 40 years. If you try to math this out it is something only God’s plans, purpose, and will could accomplish. We read in Ephesians that God can do more than we ask and much more than we can imagine. This is true here. Our God has more power, might, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and whatever other words of greatness the dictionary has. He is limitless in what He can do and what He does is according to His perfect plans, purposes, and will. The more we read His Word the more we see of His awesomeness. This is the God we serve and for sure we ought to serve Him worthy of who He is. Our thoughts each day should be in line with faithfulness, trust, reliance, obedience, and how we might honor and glorify Jesus Christ more today than yesterday.

44.v. “Wilderness” – 9.a. “And that day about three thousand men of the people fell”

Exodus 32:27-29  And he said to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel, ‘Put your sword on your side each of you, and go to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and each of you kill his brother and his companion and his neighbor.’” And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell. And Moses said, “Today you have been ordained for the service of the LORD, each one at the cost of his son and of his brother, so that he might bestow a blessing upon you this day.”

Numbers 25:5    And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

Malachi 2:4-6    So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts.  My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

It seems that the sin of Israel at the golden calf involved more than these 3,000 people. Yet these were undoubtedly those most flagrant in their idolatry and immorality, or these were the leaders of the sinful conduct. (Guzik)

Moses being, under God, their chief ruler, at God’s command, passed this extraordinary sentence upon the offenders, without the common process in courts of judicature, requiring the sons of Levi to go armed into the camp, and cut off the most notorious and obstinate offenders, without regard to kindred, friendship, or any other distinction whatever. And there was no fear of their killing the innocent in this case, because Moses had called to himself all that were on God’s side. These, either by resorting to him, or by retiring to their tents, were separated from the guilty, who were impudently walking about in the camp, trusting to their numbers. It may be observed further here, that, besides the authority of the command of Moses to the Levites, a peculiar impulse from God must have actuated them in this business, otherwise it is very improbable that they should have obeyed so readily, or have dared to attack so many; and a peculiar consciousness of guilt and terror must have fallen on the people, to have caused such a multitude to submit to be slain without making any resistance. (Benson)

The Levites were to slay the ringleaders in this wickedness; yet none were executed but those who openly stood forth. Those are marked for ruin who persist in sin: those who in the morning were shouting and dancing, before night were dying. Such sudden changes do the judgments of the Lord sometimes make with sinners that are secure and jovial in their sin. (Henry)

The zeal and courage of Moses was astonishing, considering he opposed an intoxicated mob. The people were separated into two divisions, and those who were the boldest and most obstinate in vindicating their idolatry were put to death, while the rest, who withdrew in shame or sorrow, were spared. (Brown)

Now, although the whole nation had been guilty of this crime, yet in this, as in every other rebellion, the guilt of all would not be the same, but many would simply follow the example of others; so that, instead of punishing all alike, it was necessary that a separation should be made, if not between the innocent and guilty, yet between the penitent and the stiff-necked transgressors. (Keil)

There are those who tempt others to join in their sinful acts and those that are tempted. The tempters will have no remorse for their actions, but the tempted will have both shame and remorse. It is hard to be strong and stand firm when the crowd around us is all seemingly in one mind to do something that we clearly know as not right. Friends, family, and neighbors can tempt us to follow along with them. It could be a great clear disobedience or a simple disregard for what is right. It can be clothed with eloquent words to disguise its disregard for God’s Word. Think about it; “Women’s Choice” is nothing more than the murder of babies. “Alternative Lifestyle”, “Sexual Preference”, and “Gender Affirmation” is nothing more than sexual deviation. “Adult Entertainment” is nothing more than pornography. “Medical Aid In Dying” is nothing more than assisted suicide. “Walking Back A Statement” is nothing more than being caught in a lie and trying to cover it up.

There will always be those who grab onto any one of these and proclaim its merit and benefit to those they are tempting. And there will be those who were tempted but then feel shame, guilt, and remorse. Life is not simple. It is a struggle and all the more so as the return of Jesus Christ nears. The falling away and chasing after and grabbing ahold of unholy thoughts and acts are clear signs that the Father of all lies is having his way right now.

Dear Heavenly Father, send out your Spirit afresh and revive the hearts of those who have been drawn into these lies.

40.a. “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD”

Genesis 49:21 “Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.

Deuteronomy 33:23   And of Naphtali he said, “O Naphtali, sated with favor, and full of the blessing of the LORD

Judges 5:18   Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.

Matthew 4:15-16   “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—  the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”

Naphtali is a hind let loose,…. Onkelos applies it to the tribe itself, and to the goodness of its land,”as for Naphtali, his lot fell in a good land, and his inheritance a fruit bearing one,”as it was; for in it was the most fruitful country of Gennesaret, which gave name to a sea or lake by it, and which abounded with gardens, with palm trees, fig trees, and olive trees; and which, Josephus says (n) one might call the ambition of nature; and Strabo (o), an Heathen writer, says of it, that it was an happy blessed country, and bearing all sorts of good things; and Jarchi on the place observes, this is the vale of Gennesaret, which is as quick to bring forth fruit, as a hind is swift to run. Some will have this prophecy to be fulfilled in Barak, as Ben Gersom, Abendana, and others, who was of this tribe, and who at first was fearful like the hind, and backward to go out to war when called, but afterwards readily went out with Deborah, and at last gave goodly words in the song they both sung: but it better describes the genius, disposition, and manners of the tribe, who were kind and loving, swift and expeditious in their affairs; lovers of liberty, well spoken persons, humane, affable, courteous, of a good address and pleasing language, as follows. (Gill)

When we are in conversation with others are we humble, kind, courteous, and generous? Do we speak the truth? Do we explain truth with humble kindness? Are we nimble and quick to avoid attacks or to help others being attacked? Some are given the gift of speaking wisdom with humbleness and kindness. Gifted or not we all need to be slow to speak and quick to listen and seek God’s help and discernment with our thoughts, words, and actions so that in all things we think, say, and do honor and glorify Jesus Christ.

38.c. “God has dealt graciously with me”

Genesis 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

Jacob, having by prayer committed his case to God, went on his way. Come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble, submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man’s ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother, and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks, Who are those with thee? To this common question, Jacob spoke like himself, like a man whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau, though his fear was over, and he took his present. It is well when men’s religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and open-handed. But Jacob declined Esau’s offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly relations, who will expect us to join in their vanities, or at least to wink at them, though they blame, and perhaps mock at, our religion. Such will either be a snare to us, or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things, rather than endanger our souls, if we know their value; rather than renounce Christ, if we truly love him. And let Jacob’s care and tender attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls, who gathers the lambs with his arm, and carries them in his bosom, and gently leads those that are with young, Isa 40:11. As parents, teachers or pastors, we should all follow his example. (Henry)

While providing some small chance of escape for his wives and children, arranged according to their rank, Jacob manfully went first and placed himself entirely in Esau’s power with faith in God. (Ellicott)

And he passed over before them,…. At the head of them, as the master of the family, exposing himself to the greatest danger for them, and in order to protect and defend them in the best manner he could, or to endeavour to soften the mind of his brother by an address, should there be any occasion for it. (Gill)

If there is any worthy take away from this passage, I think Henry capture it truthfully: “God has the hearts of all men in his hands, and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God, and to call upon him in the day of trouble.”

30.t. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Psalms 37:26   He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.

Psalms 112:4 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;

Proverbs 11:17    A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.

Proverbs 14:21    Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 19:17   Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.

Daniel 4:27    Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Micah 6:8   He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Colossians 3:12     Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

James 3:17     But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

Hebrews 4:16     Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

When this beatitude addresses those who will show mercy, it speaks to those who have already received mercy. It is mercy to be emptied of your pride and brought to poverty of spirit. It is mercy to be brought to mourning over your spiritual condition. It is mercy to receive the grace of meekness and to become gentle. It is mercy to be made hungry and thirsty after righteousness. Therefore, this one who is expected to show mercy is one who has already received it. The merciful one will show it to those who are weaker and poorer. The merciful one will always look for those who weep and mourn. The merciful one will be forgiving to others, and always looking to restore broken relationships. The merciful one will be merciful to the character of other people, and choose to think the best of them whenever possible. The merciful one will not expect too much from others. The merciful one will be compassionate to those who are outwardly sinful. The merciful one will have a care for the souls of all men. If you want mercy from others – especially God – then you should take care to be merciful to others.

To be merciful is a choice. We have a choice on how we act towards and treat others. What is bouncing around in your head when given an opportunity to show mercy. I was right and have been wronged. I was cheated. I was not chosen. I was cursed at. I was not listened to. I was not invited. I was not asked. You are wrong. You are lazy. It is your own fault. You have two legs and two arms – use them. You choose to live like this. The list of things we allow to bounce around in our head when we are in a situation that should or could allow us to show mercy could go on and on. The fact is that we don’t spend a single day whereby we could show mercy to someone. Why should we, because God showed mercy and grace on us while we were still sinners. He sent His Son to die for our sins so that we would have eternal life. We did nothing deserving this grace and mercy. It was out of the love of God who reached out to a lost and fallen world. Rejecting to show mercy when opportunities arise says a lot about the condition of the heart of the soul. To recognize and understand that you were given mercy when you deserved none opens up our heart and mind to choose to show mercy in the like matter. Why? Because Jesus Christ is honored and glorified. There is no other reason. When our heart, mind, and soul desire to honor and glorify Jesus Christ we will continue to find opportunities to show grace, mercy, and love.

27.i. “I will bless the Lord who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me.”

Psalms 16:5 Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I will bless the Lord who counsels me— even at night when my thoughts trouble me. I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely.

ii. “Preserve me from the world; let me not be carried away with its excitements; suffer me not to be before its blandishments, nor to fear its frowns. Preserve me, from the devil; let him not tempt me above what I am able to bear. Preserve me from myself; keep me from growing envious, selfish, high-minded, proud, slothful. Preserve me from those evils into which I see others run, and preserve me, from those evils into which I am myself most apt to run; keep me from evils known and from evils unknown.” (Spurgeon) David’s heart was instructed first by God and His Word, and therefore his heart could also instruct him in the ways of God. How many times do we lay awake at night to try to figure out our problems? We wrestle with fear, confusion, anxiousness, and worry. It seems as though we get on a train of thought and continue to stoke up the steam engine to get it down the track to the town of “I have figured it out” which is right next door to “I have a plan to make it right”, only to find, after numerous times of stoking we have never left the station. It is not wrong to meditate on the worries of life but it must be always in the presence of God, surrendering it into His hands, and with a heart and mind the trusts and rely on Him. When we find those worrisome thoughts pounding in our head we need to take them captive. Don’t allow them to consume our peace and joy. When we recognize thoughts that are giving us a mental beating we can talk to God about them. We can place them where we can stand back and see them and then see the mighty power, awesome love, and all-knowing Heavenly Father. When we do this our heart turns from worry, anxiousness, fear, and confusion and starts to begin to rejoice in God, His power, His love, and how He is able to handle and make sense of it all. Give it to Me. Rejoice in Me. Know that I have it all under control. I will give you peace and rest. Trust Me. We can find a security, joy, peace, and rest that only God can give.