Jan. 4, 2006
The Poor and Grieving
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The poor in spirit are not just necessarily financially poor. But those who are oppressed, afflicted, in trials, discouraged,
week. As it is used in Is. 58, that is what it means. They have hope in the Lord. In the original language the word “poor”
means afflicted, helpless, powerless to accomplish an end; destitute of wealth, influence,
position, honor, distressed, lowly, afflicted, destitute
of the Christian virtues and eternal riches
Blessed are they for they shall be royalty, in God’s family, in his kingdom. For eternity. Happy, with God, in heaven.
Where God is that is heaven. And that word “blessed” that means: supremely blest; by
extension fortunate, well off: - blessed, happy. No wonder Jesus said cast all your cares on me. No wonder he said Come all
that labor and are heavy laden. He can handle it, we can’t. What a Savior that wants us to walk with him as he carries
the load.
Mat 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are they that mourn? What does it mean to mourn? In the original language, this means to grieve, to wail, whether
it's feeling grief, deep inside, or publicly grieving. To express grief or sorrow, weeping, audibly, sobs, or sighs, or inward,
silent grief. To lament. Remember what the Lord said to Ezekiel about those who mourned?
Eze 9:4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the
midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done
in the midst thereof.
Eze 9:5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city,
and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
Eze 9:6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they
began at the ancient men which were
before the house.
Abraham told the Lord he knew he wouldn't slay the righteous with the wicked. God knows the people who love righteousness
and hate sin. He has a special care, I think, for those who live in a corrupt society and hate the corruption, recognizing
it for what it is, and love instead his commandments and his righteousness, knowing how much better things would be if everyone
else did, too.
Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What
have we spoken so much against thee?
Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we
have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
Mal 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up;
yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened,
and heard it, and a book of remembrance
was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up
my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
This is another example of the Lord knowing he has a righteous people who hate sin in the midst of a wicked, perverse generation.
And speaking of that, what does he expect his people to be in the midst of such? That ye may be blameless and harmless, the
sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Phil.
2:15) We can’t do this without the power of God to help us.
So those who mourn, they shall be comforted. In the Greek, that word means "to call near, to invite, beseech, call for,
desire, give exhortation, entreat, pray. Consolation." So when the Lord comforts his people, he calls them near, invites them
into his presence where he can exhort, encourage, and console them. Wow, what a thought. Oh, thank you Jesus!!!
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