The Blessing – A Hedge

 

Our Bible Study teacher was taking us back to the Alter of Incense.  The sweet fragrance of the incense would drift over the congregation, and then the Priest would lift his hands and bless the people.  From my notes I present an edited message.

The Priest himself must be a holy man of God before he could administrate the blessing.  Titus 2:7 For a bishop (or minister) must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, not violent, not given to dishonest gain;

Melchizedek a Priest of the Most High shared communion with Abraham, and blessed him and his household.

Hebrews 7:7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.

We are reminded that God is the greater and He delights to bless his people.

Bless means to show graciousness, protection, and God’s delight in the person or people.

Numbers 6:24-25   The LORD bless you, and keep you: The LORD make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you:

As believers, we can pray this blessing on those we love and on others.

Jesus made the statement “Before Abraham was, “I AM.”  Jesus was saying that He is God.  God revealed Himself to Moses by saying He was “I AM.”

John 10:1-3 The shepherd protected his sheep with a hedge of protection.  Protected from what?  from the enemy or evil wanting to harm the sheep. The porter knows the voice of the shepherd.  No enemy can climb in another way because to enter the sheep fold there is only one door.  Jesus told us that He is the door.

How can we walk in forgiveness?

Hosea chapter 2, God told Hosea to marry a prostitute as a picture of God’s love over us even while we were deep in sin.  He was to protect her from her past and to provide and care for her.

Job chapter 1:9-11 tells how God had blessed Job and put a hedge of protection around him.  Satan told God, if you stop that blessing, and remove his protection, he will not worship you.  Satan’s plan failed, and although Job suffered, he did not curse or turn away from God.  God rewarded Job with a double blessing.

We can pray that God will surround us and our Nation with a hedge of protection.  May our Nation turn to God in gratitude?

The Lord holds us in His arms as a Father holds a child.  A Home offers protection for children; the Church offers protection for the Saints.

II Chronicles 26:9-11  Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle,

King Uzziah dug wells to provide water, and invented cunning weapons to use in war.  He fortified and protected his people.

Coming back to the Temple and the sacrifice was done, and the incense was burning, the fragrance going forth and the verbal blessing for prosperity, protection, and health.

As Christians, we carry His Name and have a heavy responsibility to share the Gospel.  It is our duty to bless and not curse.  Keep the words of your mouth pure and kind.  Feed those you minister to with holy leadership.  Life and death is in the power of the Tongue. 

Keep praying for the weak ones that they become strong.

Understand that your prayers of blessing are building a hedge around you, your family and your brothers and sisters in Christ.