People often say they are “blessed.” What do they truly mean by that? When we hear actors or TV personalities say they are blessed, we might automatically draw the conclusion that they are Christians. That may or may not be the case. They may be thinking of a different type of “blessed” when they say they are blessed. Some people think they are blessed when they have the riches of the world at their fingertips. Or perhaps they think they are blessed because they got a promotion and more money. While these are certainly blessings at least on the surface, we as Christ followers should be looking to a deeper, more meaningful, concept of blessing—one that results from an intimate relationship with the LORD.
In Leviticus 26 and 27, the LORD makes the promise that if His people are faithful to His covenant, they will enjoy all of the material blessings along with dwelling securely in the land. Leviticus 26:6 says, “I will give peace in the land—you will lie down to sleep unafraid of anyone.” The LORD would also dwell and walk among them, be their God, and they would be His people. He will supply “rain in due season.” Water was a source of great blessing because their very lives depended on the crops. This rain was called “rain of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26 says, “I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.”
Indeed, we read in Psalm1:1-3, “Blessed are those who reject the advice of the wicked, don’t stand on the way of sinners or sit where scoffers sit. Their delight is in the LORD’s Torah; on his Torah they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams—they bear their fruit in season, their leaves never wither, everything they do succeeds.” Torah means “instruction, teaching or law” and refers to the first five books of the Bible. There is blessing in putting God’s Word first in our lives. The greatest blessing of course, is that the Lord has promised His Presence, and to make us His own special people. Many Christian denominations state that they believe in the authority of the Old and New Testaments, while neglecting the study of the Torah.
To understand the New Testament writings in context, we must remember that the Greek translations get their authority from the Hebrew Scriptures, not the other way around. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself worthy unto God” and in 3:15, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” The New Testament was not yet compiled. Paul was referring to the Old Testament Scriptures. The New Testament does not replace the Torah, but explains it further. Our blessing is not found in the riches of the world, but from the relationship we have with the LORD. As Jesus said in John 7:38, “He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from his most inner being.” See the connection? We experience these “showers of blessing” when we study and keep the Word of God.
