“Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.”–Genesis 26:29.
These words truly describe the position of many whom I address at this time.
There are hundreds here upon whom my eye can rest, and to any one of whom
I might point with this finger, or rather, to whom I might extend this
hand, to give a hearty shake, and say, “Thou art now the blessed of the
Lord.” I need not say it in the same spirit, nor for the same reason, that
the Philistines did. They had behaved basely towards Isaac, and now that he
had prospered, they urged him to forget the past. They meant, “This is why
we trust that you will deal kindly with us, and overlook our hard usage;
for, in spite of all, God has so blessed you that you need not be fretful
and pettish, and remember what we have done.” I am glad that I am under no
necessity to strive to make up a quarrel in this way. These many years we
have dwelt in peace, and have enjoyed sweet fellowship together. You have
borne with my weaknesses often, and bestowed upon me a wealth of affection
which I am sure I do not deserve. So, though I use the language of
Abimelech and his friends, my motive is a very different one. Yet the truth
is the same concerning many a one here: “Thou art now the blessed of the
Lord.”
There is, however, much force in the argument which these Philistines used. If
God has richly blessed us, notwithstanding all our faults and failures, surely
we should learn to forgive many injuries done to ourselves. If the Lord
forgives us our debt of ten thousand talents, we must be willing to forgive
our fellow-servant his debt of a hundred pence. Child of God, if you are
now the blessed of the Lord, you will often turn a blind eye towards the
offenses of your fellow-men. You will say, “God has so blessed me, that I
can well overlook any wrongs that you have inflicted, any hard words that
you have said. I am now blessed of the Lord; so let bygones be bygones.”
May you have grace given to you to do that now, if any of you have had a
little squabble with any other! If there have been any difficulties between
any of you, I would hope that, before I really get into my subject, while
with my finger I point you out and say to each one of you, “Thou art now
the blessed of the Lord,” you will immediately say, “As surely as that is
true, I do from my very heart forgive all who have offended me, whether
Philistine, or Israelites, or Gentiles. How can I do otherwise who myself
have received such grace while so unworthy?”
Remember, that this was spoken by the Philistine king as a reason why he
wished to have Isaac for a friend. In your choice of friends, choose those who
are the friends of God. If you would have a blessing upon your friendship,
select a man whom God has blessed. Look out for one who is a disciple of
Christ and say, “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord; therefore I seek thine
acquaintance. Come under my roof; you will bring a blessing with you.” Speak
to me in the street; your morning word will be a benediction to me.” It was
the old custom with apostolic men to say, as they entered a house, “Peace
be unto this house.” We have given up all idea of blessing our fellow-men
in that way.
But why have you done so? Is it from a want of love, or want of faith in our
own prayer that God would make it even so? For my part, I value a good man’s
blessing. As I drove up a hill, in the country, some time ago, a poor man and
his wife were walking down the hill. I had never seen them before; but the
woman pulled the husband by his coat; they both stood and looked at me, and
at last she said, quite loudly, “It’s him, God bless him!” and although her
greeting was not quite grammatical, it evidently came from her heart, and I
felt happier for it, as I went on my way. I saw her afterwards, and asked her
the reason of he words, “Why,” she said, “I have read your sermons for many a
year, and I could not help saying, `God bless him!’ when I saw you, for you
have been a blessing to me.” Thus that humble woman, being blessed of the
Lord, became a blessing to me; and we all of us, even the most obscure, who
know the grace of God, might daily be like a great benediction in the midst of
the people. When you think of your minister, say sometimes, “God bless him!”
it will do him good to hear it. Say to your friend, “God bless you!” Say to
your children, “God bless you, my dear boy! The Lord bless you, my dear
girl!”
They will be the better for it, if you yourself are the blessed of the
Lord. You, grandsires, lay your hands on the children’s heads, and bless
them; they will not forget it when they grow up. It may be that you have
done much more for them than you have thought. Concerning his flock the
Lord says, “I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing;
and I will cause the shower to com e down in his season; there shall be
showers of blessing.” God’s people are blessed that they may bless;
therefore, for the sake of others, as well as for your own, seek that my
text may be abundantly true of you. May this be your prayer–
“Lord, I hear of showers of blessing,
Thou art scattering full and free;
Showers, the thirsty land refreshing;
Let some droppings fall on me,
Even me.”
It was for this reason that the Philistines sought the friendship of Isaac,
because they could truly say to him, “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord.”
I want not so much to preach from this text as to ask every believer in Christ
to feel that it is personally true. Once you were condemned; but, being in
Christ Jesus, “there is therefore now no condemnation.” “Thou art now the
blessed of the Lord.” Once your were at enmity against God; but now, being
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, you are his friend: “Thou art now
the blessed of the Lord.” “Ye were sometimes in darkness, but now are ye light
in the Lord.” How great the change for the man or woman to whom we can
say “Thou art now the blessed of the Lord”!
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
