Following In Jesus Christ Footsteps

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Blessings & Rejoicing Of Nations

Blessings & Rejoicing Of Nations

Blessings & Rejoicing Of Nations (Deut.33:1- 29)
These verses shares with us of "The blessings of Moses"and many features of "Ancient War Hymns" as we see here in "Judges 5:1-31"and in "Psalms 68:1-35"and in Habakuk 3:1-35. We are sure to see the Majesty of God in this passage of scripture today. We do find in this chapter of all blessing to those tribes.even though the tribe of Simeon is not mentioned at all. The ending of these scriptures with the praises of "Yahweh" which is accomompanied by the reflections on the favor that has bestowed on Isreal. The activity that has been shown unto Isreal was "Yahweh had led His people from Mt. Sinai as it's recalled to cf. Judg.5:4,5; Hab.3:3 in identical terms. Let's take notes on The apostle Paul's references to angles whom meditated on the Law in Acts 7:53 and Galations 3:19; Hebrews 2:2. Reben (cf. Gen.49:3,4): Moses may have discerned some weakness in him and referred to it; he was "unstable as water,"and later the tribe was criticized for it's lack of participation in Isreal's battles( Judg.5:5-15). The phrase "bring him unto his people"may indicate when he goes to battle, bring him back in peace. According to Numbers 2:9. Judah was to march at the head of the army as the van guard. Levi's blessing indicates the Priestly Tribe, to the more secular tone in "Gen.49:5-7. The Tribe, is characterized representively in Moses and Aaron in verse 8 and then collectively in verse 9. They were to be responsible for the Thummim and Urim( Vs.8); ( Ex.28:30),they were to have had an educationl role in teaching (v.10a); and they were to be responsible for Isreal's formal system of worship (v.1b). The Bottom Line: The Majesty Of God[Deut.33:1-28]. 1. Moses the man of God--This was a common designation of a prophet ( 1Sa 2:27 9:6 ), and it is here applied to Moses, when, like Jacob, he was about to deliver ministerially before his death, a prophetic benediction to Israel. 2-4. The Lord came--Under a beautiful metaphor, borrowed from the dawn and progressive splendor of the sun, the Majesty of God is sublimely described as a divine light which appeared in Sinai and scattered its beams on all the adjoining region in directing Israel's march to Canaan. In these descriptions of a theophania, God is represented as coming from the south, and the allusion is in general to the thunderings and lightnings of Sinai; but other mountains in the same direction are mentioned with it. The location of Seir was on the east of the Ghor; mount Paran was either the chain on the west of the Ghor, or rather the mountains on the southern border of the desert towards the peninsula [ROBINSON]. (Compare Jdg 5:4, 5 Psa 68:7, 8 Hab 3:3 ).
ten thousands of saints--rendered by some, "with the ten thousand of Kadesh," or perhaps better still, "from Meribah" [EWALD].
a fiery law--so called both because of the thunder and lightning which accompanied its promulgation ( Exd 19:16-18 Deu 4:11 ), and the fierce, unrelenting curse denounced against the violation of its precepts ( 2Cr 3:7-9 ). Notwithstanding those awe-inspiring symbols of Majesty that were displayed on Sinai, the law was really given in kindness and love ( Deu 33:3 ), as a means of promoting both the temporal and eternal welfare of the people. And it was "the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob," not only from the hereditary obligation under which that people were laid to observe it, but from its being the grand distinction, the peculiar privilege of the nation. 6. Let Reuben live, and not die--Although deprived of the honor and privileges of primogeniture, he was still to hold rank as one of the tribes of Israel. He was more numerous than several other tribes ( Num 1:21 2:11 ). Yet gradually he sank into a mere nomadic tribe, which had enough to do merely "to live and not die." Many eminent biblical scholars, resting on the most ancient and approved manuscripts of the Septuagint, consider the latter clause as referring to Simeon; "and Simeon, let his men be few," a reading of the text which is in harmony with other statements of Scripture respecting this tribe ( Num 25:6-14 1:23 26:14 Jos 19:1 ). 7. this is the blessing of Judah--Its general purport points to the great power and independence of Judah, as well as its taking the lead in all military expeditions. 8-10. of Levi he said--The burden of this blessing is the appointment of the Levites to the dignified and sacred office of the priesthood ( Lev 10:11 Deu 22:8 17:8-11 ), a reward for their zeal in supporting the cause of God, and their unsparing severity in chastising even their nearest and dearest relatives who had participated in the idolatry of the molten calf ( Exd 32:25-28 ; compare Mal 2:4-6 ). 19. shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand--Both tribes should traffic with the Phoenicians in gold and silver, pearl and coral, especially in murex, the shellfish that yielded the famous Tyrian dye, and in glass, which was manufactured from the sand of the river Belus, in their immediate neighborhood. 20, 21. of Gad he said--Its possessions were larger than they would have been had they lain west of Jordan; and this tribe had the honor of being settled by Moses himself in the first portion of land conquered. In the forest region, south of the Jabbok, "he dwelt as a lion" (compare Gen 30:11 49:19 ). Notwithstanding, they faithfully kept their engagement to join the "heads of the people" [ Deu 33:21 ] in the invasion of Canaan. 22. Dan is a lion's whelp--His proper settlement in the south of Canaan being too small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a colony in the northern extremity of the land. This might well be described as the leap of a young lion from the hills of Bashan. 24, 25. of Asher he said--The condition of this tribe is described as combining all the elements of earthly felicity.
dip his foot in oil--These words allude either to the process of extracting the oil by foot presses, or to his district as particularly fertile and adapted to the culture of the olive. 25. shoes of iron and brass--These shoes suited his rocky coast from Carmel to Sidon. Country people as well as ancient warriors had their lower extremities protected by metallic greaves ( 1Sa 17:6 Eph 6:15 ) and iron-soled shoes. 26-29. There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun--The chapter concludes with a congratulatory address to Israel on their peculiar happiness and privilege in having Jehovah for their God and protector.
who rideth upon the heaven in thy help--an evident allusion to the pillar of cloud and fire, which was both the guide and shelter of Israel.

28. the fountain of Jacob--The posterity of Israel shall dwell in a blessed and favored land. catcmo2006

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