We normally think of God “sending” a blessing. Or “bestowing” a blessing. Indeed, He is the “sender” of all real blessings.

But I have found a verse where God “commands” a blessing! In other words, God “gives an order” that such and such a blessing should come!

No exceptions!

The blessing will come, as a direct Act of God!

Psalm 133:3 is one of only two places I can find in all Scripture where God so “commands” a blessing to come upon His people!

“For there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” But where? Where men and women live together in peace! Where they “dwell together in unity!”

No bitterness, no arguing, no splinter groups!

“Of one mind” … and the blessing comes, as a mandate of our Almighty God!

The other situation?

When Israel actively obeys God … “The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Deuteronomy 28:8, IF obedience is modeled!

Two “commanded” blessings!

When one pleases God (in obedience)!

And when one pleases his brother or sister (in harmony and peace)!

Wow!

And when God blesses … HE FULLY BLESSES!

In both cases (Psalm 133 and Deuteronomy 28) the verb “to command” (spelled “tsavah” in Hebrew) is framed as a PIEL stem word! This means that God is giving these “command actions” full power, energetic strength! All His Might!

Loving the brethren, obeying God!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Psalm 132 has an interesting little Prayer, right at its “front door” nonetheless!

“LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions.” (Yes, the Psalm’s very first Verse!)

Notice this Petition is offered to the LORD, the specific Name of God requiring four capital letters! Spelled in Hebrew YHVH, usually pronounced in English as “Jehovah.”

This all means … the God Who “IS!” This is likely a contraction of the verb “hayah,” meaning “to be” in Hebrew. This is God Who defines Himself as “I AM THAT I AM!” (Exodus 3:14)

The Eternal God! The Name for God Which is first introduced in Genesis 2:4, NOT at all in Genesis chapter 1. That’s a surprise! The Name for God “Elohiym” has already been used 34 times in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 by the time YHVH is employed once!

In fact, LORD does not appear until the Paragraph where man (Adam) is created! I really think YHVH (LORD) is God’s Name that loves to be in “relationship” with His creatures! The Name for God Which Jesus “owns,” the Name for God Who died for His people, to save them from sins! See Genesis 2:4-8 where YHVH (LORD) is used four times, also where Adam is miraculously made!

Wow!

And That God (LORD) can be approached via prayer!

And that God (LORD) has Memory!

And that God (LORD) knows David!

And that God (LORD) cares about David’s “afflictions!”

The last little noun translated “afflictions” is spelled “anah” in Hebrew … meaning “troubles, burdens, depressions!”

And do notice the word is plural, even a bunch” of afflictions! God invites us to cast ALL of them upon Him! (1 Peter 5:7)

Wow!

No doubt someone reading here this morning is undergoing an affliction, or maybe more than one, a series of “afflictions!”

If so … pray David’s opening Prayer (Psalm 132:1) consistently and watch God “remember” you for good!

“LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions.”

Now, put you name where “David” appears in this glorious Line …

“LORD, remember ______(me)_________ and all my afflictions.”

Amen!

Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Psalm 130 is the “seedbed” for my thought this morning. There the man of God writes directly to our Lord … “There is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared.”

Wow!

Then, God forgives us … NOT primarily so we might “feel better” about ourselves!

God forgives us … NOT primarily to lift our load of guilt!

And God forgives us … certainly NOT so we can go right out and sin again!

Then, WHY does God forgive us?

I’m saying PRIMARILY so that we will “fear” Him! That’s exactly what the Psalm says.

That verb “fear” translates “yare,” an action/state of being word appearing in the Old Testament 314 times, a lot!

It essentially means “revered!”

Held in reverance!

Deep respect!

I’d go so far as to say “worship!”

God forgives us so that we will (as Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery) … “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

Dear friend this morning, are you forgiven?

If so, are you revering Him as you should?

Forgiven to worship!

Forgiveness is every bit (if not more) about HIM than it is about us!

So is our very salvation!

“Even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Like I said, it’s all about Him!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I’m just glad He let me believe on Him!

.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the Bible I use, the word only appears seven times.

“Doubtless,” spoken twice by God Himself!

“Doubtless,” once from the lips of King David.

“Doubtless,” once delivered by the Prophet Isaiah.

Then three times Paul the Apostle is “doubtless!”

Oh, what lessons are to be learned here!

God is so adamant about judging sin, even in the lives of His people, that He promised Israel (backslidden Israel) … “DOUBTLESS ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” Numbers 14:30, God punishes sin!

Now here is God on Record … concerning His absolute commitment to keep the Promises He’s made! “And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to (fight) the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will DOUBTLESS deliver the Philistines into thine hand.” 2 Samuel 5:19

If God said it … “no doubt” … He will do it!

King David is that sure … “doubtless” … about God rewarding His faithful servants too! If we sow the seed, properly, fruit will be forthcoming! “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall DOUBTLESS come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

The Law of “sowing and reaping!” Galatians 6:7 assures us … “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Next, repenting Israel is bold enough to use our word asking God for forgiveness! “DOUBTLESS thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.” Isaiah 63:16

They had lived so wickedly that possibly Abraham and Jacob would deny any relationship with them! But God, doubtlessly, would still call them His children!

Then we go to the New Testament where Paul employs the word three different times.

When it came to his relationship with the Corinthians, whom he had personally won to Jesus, Paul writes … “If I be not an apostle unto others, yet DOUBTLESS I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 9:2

I wish more Pastors felt that way! It’s DOUBTLESS … God has a shepherd for every flock! An “undershepherd” we sometimes say, since Jesus is the Real Shepherd! And the Lord binds them (Pastor and people) together (even bonds them) with a seal of love!

In 2 Corinthians 12:1 Paul is necessarily defending his own Ministry, his God-given Apostleship. “It is not expedient for me DOUBTLESS to glory.” No one else would stand up and defend the great man of God, and though not “best,” he felt it essential to do so, to “glory” (boast) in the things God had shown him! (And the chapter continues, primarily to talk about those many “revelations.”)

Last of all, the “doubtless” state of mind that a faithful Christian enjoys, one who has given up many a thing for Jesus’ sake! “Yea DOUBTLESSs, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:8

No doubt, whatever I may have laid aside to better serve Jesus … just knowing HIM (the Darling Son of God) is far better! A hundred-fold better, I’d say!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Reading the Bible, Old Testament or New, one cannot help but be impressed by the ubiquity of the proper noun ISRAEL!

Over two thousand times, if my source is right, we encounter that name! (To be exact 2,565 times.) “The apple of God’s Eye,” that’s Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:10 and Zechariah 2:8 furnish two examples of that sweet term of endearment.)

In reading the Psalms earlier today I once again encountered a “Blessing” upon those people, the Israelites. “Peace shall be upon Israel.” Psalm 125:5, the Poem’s last verse.

Yet Israel today sits in the center of one of the most war-torn places on earth! The “Middle East,” we call it.

Let me caution any Bible student not to be beguiled by modern theology (I hesitate to use that term) which says God no longer has a plan for Israel. Such is false doctrine!

Or equally dangerous is the idea (very popular today in liberal circles) that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s Program. That is certainly not so, folks!

God’s ultimate plan for that little Nation is … PEACE!

After … the yet coming hatred by the nations of the world!

After … the yet coming fierce Tribulation!

After … the yet coming the most viable threat to her existence in all her history! (I mean from Abraham onward!) I speak of the Battle of Armageddon!

Jesus is coming again!

And He will rescue that people (Israel) from the clutches of the Anti-Christ, pour out on them the spirit of supplication (conviction), reveal to them Jesus as Saviour, the very Lamb of God, and save their lost souls!

THEN (because of Calvary and Saving Grace of God) the Lord Jesus will give to Israel … PEACE!

No peace for that little Country (Israel) until Jesus (The Prince of Peace) arrives! See Isaiah 9:6 where Jesus is given that glorious Name, “Prince of Peace.”)

“Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

Oh, this verse too … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.