Blessing #1 Blessed is he that reads, hears the words of this prophecy, and keeps those things which are written inside this book.
Written by: John Henville
I have been privileged to mingle with Africans from various parts of the continent. In our discourses, I have discovered that they are quick to "bless" others with an entourage of present and future prosperity that involves family, finances, and faith. I don't know about you but when I walk away I feel good!
Where did this propensity to automatically "bless" others come from? God of course! All good things come from above and the Bible is full of such blessings. Yet in the book of Revelation, we see another perspective on the way God wants to elevate our lives through special blessings! There are 7 beautiful but profound blessings that I would love to share with you in this quarter that will greatly impact your life if accepted. Let's look at the first one.
“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
Revelation 1:3
The first blessing is three-fold like a strong support chord. It lays the foundation of acceptance. If this blessing is rejected then all upcoming blessings are forfeited by the default of disobedience.
Let's look at this verse microscopically to extract all its spiritual nutrients. The first word to which we are introduced is:
"Blessed"-"Bless-ed". This word is pregnant with deep meaning: " To be supremely happy"; "fully satisfied". Mental health is thoroughly improved and how happy is the mind that reads, hears, and keeps God's Word. The second word on which we are called to focus in depth is "Readeth". The Bible proclaims: "Blessed is He that readeth..." How is one to read? We are to read with understanding.
Nehemiah 8:1 reveals that "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man [in unity] into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe [telling him]to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel." Nehemiah 8:1
"And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month." Nehemiah 8:2
"And he [Ezra] read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law." Nehemiah 8:3
What is understanding according to Biblical predilection? Both the words "understanding" (noun) and "to understand" (verb) are derived from the Hebrew word #995 in the Strong's Hebrew Lexicon, - בִּין bîyn, pronounced, bene. Its primitive root means:
to separate mentally;
distinguish;
discern,
(generally) to understand:—attend, consider, diligently
Learn more. (Click the link for an amazing concordance)
In Greek, It is the word, 4998; 4995-σωφρονισμός pronounced sōphronismos: meaning discreet. This in turn is rooted in word # 4994 which means
In Titus 2:2, we can relate when God admonishes "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience." KJV (See also Genesis 41:3). Please also cross reference Titus 2:5,6 which beautifully illustrates the take-away God intended as well: "... be discreet, ..., that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Why? God's Word is fruitful. It will not come back unto Him void in the life of the believer. The blessing of hearing the word of the book of the Law, read to them by Ezra, was an exercise to make them disciples- followers and imitators of Christ forever.
To read part two of this blog, click here.
A Song of Meditation:
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