Proclamation:
"Now
then, My children, listen to Me; blessed are those who keep My ways."
Proverbs 8:32 (NIV)
Explanation:
These
Holy Spirit of God words were written by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever
live, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) to his subjects, especially the
young and the naïve, that they might fear God and live by His wisdom. In this chapter he presents the
personification of wisdom which some Bible scholars believe is a reference to
Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:30) Those who
are blessed obtain favor or grace from The Lord God.
Application:
We are
all blessed by God every day in ways too numerous to count. The blessings that we receive are gifts from
God that we do not deserve. He blesses
all of us, the sinners and the saints, the lost and the saved, the good and the
bad. “… He causes His sun to rise on
the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
(Matthew 5:45) We receive some
blessings without asking for them. Our hearts keep on beating and we keep on
breathing. However, some blessings are
conditional, we only get these blessings after certain conditions are
satisfied.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin ..."
(2 Chronicles 7:14) We only get the "then" blessings when the "if" conditions are satisfied. The Bible is full of examples of God blessing His people. The word "blessed" appears in The Bible more than 300 times. However, there are 62 specific times when The Bible clearly indicates that some blessings are conditional. Something must be done in order to receive those blessings. Blessings that begin with words like: "Blessed is the man that ..." and "Blessed is he that ..." and Blessed are they which ... ", are conditional blessings. We do not earn blessing, we receive these special blessings when we exhibit a particular behavior that pleases God. He wants us to follow His ways. The Bible says, "...prove Me now herewith, saith The Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) However, if we read the beginning of this verse we find that this blessing is linked to paying our tithes. All of us are blessed, whether we recognize it or not. There are some special blessings, however, which are tied to special conditions that must first be met in order to be received. Some blessings are conditional.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin ..."
(2 Chronicles 7:14) We only get the "then" blessings when the "if" conditions are satisfied. The Bible is full of examples of God blessing His people. The word "blessed" appears in The Bible more than 300 times. However, there are 62 specific times when The Bible clearly indicates that some blessings are conditional. Something must be done in order to receive those blessings. Blessings that begin with words like: "Blessed is the man that ..." and "Blessed is he that ..." and Blessed are they which ... ", are conditional blessings. We do not earn blessing, we receive these special blessings when we exhibit a particular behavior that pleases God. He wants us to follow His ways. The Bible says, "...prove Me now herewith, saith The Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10) However, if we read the beginning of this verse we find that this blessing is linked to paying our tithes. All of us are blessed, whether we recognize it or not. There are some special blessings, however, which are tied to special conditions that must first be met in order to be received. Some blessings are conditional.
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