Deuteronomy 33:1 says, And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. Moses, referred to here as the man of God, pronounced a blessing on the people of Israel before his death. They had been rebellious against God quite often, and caused Moses many problems, but he still wanted the best for them. We should want the best for people today, especially our fellow Christians, even if at times they cause us lots of problems. Verse two adds, And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Moses reminded them of the awe inspiring glory of God shining down on them from Mount Sinai as He came to give His law to them, that was so bright it lit up Mount Seir and Mount Paran as well. The people in those areas did not hear or accept the law and glory of God though. There is enough evidence of God's glory today for all to be drawn to Him, but most still refuse to come to His light. Verse three continues, Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. Moses said the people of Israel all sat at the feet of God, ready to receive and obey His law. As followers of Christ we must sit at His feet, ready to hear and obey His commandments. Verse four states, Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. Moses said the people acknowledged that he shared the words of God's law with them, which came as a fulfillment of the promise to Jacob. Verse five adds, And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together. Moses said they acknowledged him as the king, or leader of all the people of Israel. We today have One greater than Moses as our leader as Christians, and that is Jesus Christ. Verse six continues, Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few. Moses blessed the tribe of Rueben, though Matthew Henry said he had lost his birthright. No one is ever so lost that they cannot be saved, and Jesus stands ready to restore anyone who puts their faith in Him. Verse seven says, And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies. Moses then asked God's blessing on the tribe of Judah, asking that God allow Judah's hands to be sufficient to defeat his enemies. Though God could defeat all our enemies Himself, He works through us as followers of Christ to do so by His power. Verse eight adds, And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; Moses asked that God be with the Levites, the priests of Israel, to guide them in doing God's will. Christian leaders today need to make sure that they are obeying God's word and following His leadership. Verse nine states, Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant. Moses said they had stood with God against those worshipping the golden calf, even if they had to condemn their closest relatives. We must stand with God above everyone and everything else as Christians. Verse ten adds, They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar. Moses said the Levites, the priests, would be responsible for teaching the people to obey God and leading them in worshipping Him. We as followers of Christ are the priests in the world today, and it is our responsibility to teach the world about Jesus and lead in the worship of Him. Verse eleven continues, Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again. Moses asked God to bless the substance of the Levites and accept the works of their hands while protecting them against their enemies. God will still do this for us spiritually today as Christians as long as we remain faithful to Him. Verse twelve says, And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. Moses then asked that God protect the tribe of Benjamin, who is referred to as the beloved of the LORD. As followers of Christ, we are all the beloved of the Lord.
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