Musings in Samuel (2)

Blessing

“Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” (1 Samuel 1:17).

“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:

“The Lord bless you, and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.’

“So they shall invoke My name on the sons of Israel, and I then will bless them.”” (Numbers 6:22 – 27 NASB)

When Eli came to his senses, he encouraged and blessed Hannah and Hannah’s face “was no longer sad”. Those who serve Christ and His People are called to encourage and bless His People. His People are called, in turn, to bless one another. In Christ we are called to bless God, to receive blessing from God, and to bless others. Peter writes that we are to give blessings, for we were “called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

Jesus teaches us that we are to be as our Father in heaven, who “…causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteousness” (Matthew 5:45).

One of the great joys of Christian ministry is the opportunity to bless others. Indeed, the life of the Christian, wherever we find ourselves in life, ought to be one of blessing those around us. We bless with our words and our deeds – our blessing flows from Christ in us and through us.

Certainly we bless the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16), the Church of Jesus Christ, as the Levites of old blessed ancient Israel, in a special fashion: “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

I have a friend who often spends Saturdays handing out bread in distressed neighborhoods. Shouldn’t this be our way of life in Christ? Handling out both physical and spiritual bread? Offering blessing to others in all of the very forms that God blesses us?

Let us not be discouraged if our blessing is rejected, are not our Father’s blessings rejected everyday by rebellious mankind? But I promise you, there are also those among humanity, and within the Israel of God, who are as parched ground; it will take but little water to see life burst forth.

Is it possible to go anywhere and not find people who need encouragement and hope? Our Good Shepherd did not wait for us, His lost sheep, to find Him; He searched for us and found us. Are we searching for others? Are we searching for others to bless?

Even Eli, in his increasing degenerate condition, was able to spur into action and bless Hannah…what about us? Are we living lives of blessing others?