Treasures New and Old

Christian Convictions: Words – Cursing and Blessing

“As a disciple, I want to master the Bible so that the Master of the Bible can become my Master”

-Author unknown

Reminder of what we are all about – to be better disciples. Therefore, I have simply restated the seven disciples’ principles we studied last year that we are to remember and observe (as in guard, hold important).

Seven Principles Recap:

1) We must always strive to be like Him and understand that we can never be better than Him

2) Always remember that Christ is our Master – others may be teachers or counselors, or brethren, but He is our Master

3) The Master is coming back and will ask for an accounting

4) Hold fast to the truth, don’t stray, avoid the gray areas

5) Disciples serve one another – as our Master gave example

6) Stay in the Master’s Book

7) Be a vessel of honor

Blessing and Cursing – The Power of the Tongue

Some key verses to start our discussion:

James 3:9-10: “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

God’s Blessing and Cursing

The tongue is a power tool for either good or evil and, from it, we can either bless one another or curse one another. But before we explore that issue, let me lay an important foundation regarding blessing and cursing – when God has blessed or cursed.

God blessed the six creation days: “It was good” (Genesis 1).

On Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, God set blessings and curses before the people. To obey was to be blessed; to disobey was to be cursed. “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known” (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).

So God clearly places those who obey Him in the “blessed” column and those who do not in the “cursed” column.

The beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 are more of God’s blessings to those who fulfill the situation He describes, i.e. the meek will inherit the earth. In the New Testament, there are two primary Greek words translated as blessing. Makarios (Strong’s G3107) defines the degree of the happy state of those in the particular conditions we find in the beatitudes of Matthew 5 and Luke 6 as taught by Jesus.

Some specific God blessings and curses

In the Bible, there are several words that are usually translated as “blessing” or “bless.” The Hebrew word most often translated “bless” is barak, which can mean to praise, congratulate, or salute, and is even used to mean a curse (Strong’s H1288). Genesis 1:22 is the first occurrence when God blessed the sea creatures and birds telling them to be fruitful and multiply in the earth. Likewise, in verse 28, God gave the similar blessing to Adam and Eve adding that they were to exercise dominion over creation.

“And the Scripture, foreseeing God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed” (Galatians 3:8). Also: “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in they seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:17-18).

God has also specifically cursed as well: God pronounced the punishments that will plague the lives of Adam and Eve and their descendants (Genesis 3:16-19). We are all Adams’ descendants and, therefore, share in this set of God’s curses which bring hardship for both man and woman and has effected the whole of creation as it groans under the curse: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22).

“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye not lay it to heart” (Malachi 2:1-2).

When Man Blesses or Curses

So what God does is always holy, even His curses. But man must be much more careful as in this example:

“Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing” (Nehemiah 13:2).

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Luke 6:27-28).

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not” (Romans 12:14).

There is an important dissertation from Apostle James where he points out that our tongue is capable of good and evil, blessing and cursing. It is important to NOT curse . . .

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

– James 3:7-12

Think about this:

A blessing is a positive declaration over someone or something. It can include a promise, an observation that encourages, a vision for someone such as “I can really see you as a doctor when you grow up”, or just declaring good things to others. A blessing, according to American Dictionary of the English Language, is: “Benediction ; a wish for happiness pronounced . . .,” or “. . . any means of happiness ; a gift, benefit or advantage . . . .”

Also in American Dictionary of the English Language a curse is: “. . . To utter a wish of evil against one . . . .” A curse is, therefore, a negative pronouncement over someone or something (as when Christ cursed the fig tree). It can take a simple form that so many are guilty of: “That was dumb – you are so stupid!”, thus calling a curse of stupidity on someone. Other examples:

• I wish you were dead!
  
• You’ll never amount to anything.
• You’ll never pass that test.
• Why can’t you be like your sister? (Implying you never will be up to her standards).
• I hope he gets Covid and dies.

Christian Behavior and Unity Can Also Be a Blessing:

“A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm 133).

Your words have power, perhaps not as much as a king’s does, but power nonetheless for good or evil: “Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?” (Ecclesiastes 8:4).

Consider – your behavior can bring a blessing:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3).

Let’s Purpose to Be One Who Blesses . . .

God is not the only one who pronounces blessings. When Rebekah left her family to become Isaac’s wife (Genesis 24:60), her family blessed her by saying, “And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them.” When Isaac was ready to die, he pronounced this blessing on his son, Jacob:

“And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed: Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee” (Genesis 27:27-29).

The word Eulogeo (Strong’s G2127) communicates good words or a good report that others give of someone and also describes the blessing that we say over our food (Matthew 26:26). This word is related to the one we get our English word eulogy from in which we speak well of one who has passed away.

With our lips, we can most certainly bless God. Consider: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3), and one of my favorites: “. . . Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:” (Psalm 103:1-2).

Look at Peter’s admonitions:

“Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it” (1 Peter 3:8-11).

Bless with a house blessing – homes of other believers

A house blessing is a blessing performed by believers with the goal of protecting those who live in the house from hardships, trouble, evil, and the world’s influence.

In the Bible, God blessed the houses of His servants for His purposes and glory – examples are:

“And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptians’ house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field” (Genesis 39:5). Also: “And the first of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: ye shall also give unto the priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house” (Ezekiel 44:30).

“Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue forever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed forever” (2 Samuel 7:29).

“And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house” (1 Chronicles 16:43).

“Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee forever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed forever” (1 Chronicles 17:27).

“The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron” (Psalm 115:12).

Bless your children

There are many examples such as Abraham blessing Isaac, Isaac blessing Jacob (and kind of blessing Esau), Jacob blessing Judah, and Ephraim and Manasseh (while pronouncing a prophecy over all the sons).

A couple’s blessing: I read these over my daughters on their wedding day:

For the bride:

May God make you blessed like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Esther, Hannah, and Ruth. May you be sensitive, insightful, and self-sacrificing, and share a special relationship with the Most High. May you use the gifts that He gave you for the good of others and your family – especially your husband and children. May your husband and children find you as rare as a ruby and rise up and call you blessed. May you, in all aspects, be the helpmeet God has called you this day to be.

For the groom:

May God make you wise as Solomon, filled with valor like Jonathan, beloved as King David, faithful as Joseph, and pure as Daniel. May you possess your enemies in the gates, and may the Lord make your calling and election sure. May God bless whatsoever your hand findeth to do. May you become the protector, nurturer, and provider God has called you to be this day for your wife and children. May God fill your quiver with all the arrows He intends for you to raise up for Him. May the Lord bring you great success, and may you be found with the elders in the gates.

For the couple:

May the Lord bless thee and keep thee: May the Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: May the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. May He prosper you with many godly children and grandchildren – raising up to Himself a godly seed. May the Lord put His name upon you and your children: May the Lord bless, prosper, and protect you and them. May the Lord cause you to reflect the love of the Lord Jesus Christ to all those that you meet, drawing many unto Himself. May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. May the Lord keep you from evil and the evil one, and may He richly bless you with His love all the days of your lives.

A mom’s/wife’s blessing (I have prayed this over my wife):

May the LORD bless thee, and keep thee: May the LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: May the LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. May the LORD put His name upon you and your children, and the LORD bless, prosper, and protect you and them.

May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Esther, Hannah, and Ruth. May you be sensitive, insightful, and self-sacrificing, share a special relationship with the Almighty, and use the gifts that He gave you for the good of others and your family.

May the LORD bless you with the love the LORD Jesus Christ through all those that meet you. May you prosper and have many godly grandchildren. May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you always. May your husband and children rise up and call you blessed. May you be blessed richly with His love all the days of your life, and may LORD keep your from evil.

Birthday blessings for a daughter (You can modify it for a son – I prayed this over one of my daughters).

Happy birthday, (daughter). I am glad you are my daughter. I pray for you today. May heaven shower its blessing upon you. May you become successful in life. I pray God continues to bless all you lay your hands upon, and you will know no sorrow in life. May God add to you financially, academically, and may you never know any setback.

May God grant you an excellent spirit; may you excel exceedingly well in all you do. May God continue to be with you, may His grace never depart from you, may you always have reasons to smile. May God always give you strength to never give up no matter how hard what you face might be. May you, with God’s strength, always overcome. May your light continue to shine brightly. May all things continue to work for you for good. May you live long and prosper. May God continue to grant you good health; you shall not die untimely.

May God make everything work for your good. May the Lord keep you safe and make you strong. May the Lord continue to protect you from evil. May you keep enjoying God’s faithfulness. May you remain my extraordinary daughter, a lady of virtue, beautiful in and out. May doors open for you, may you never lack, may you not die young, may sickness not be your portion. These are my prayers for you on this day. These are the blessings I wish to bestow upon you – May the Lord grant all of them this day.

Maranatha!

May God bless you all!

Bro. Joe

Kress, J. (2021). On Being a Disciple – Seven Principles.

Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)

Unknown.

Webster, Noah. Noah Webster’s First Edition of an American Dictionary of the English Language Facsimile Fifth Edition. San Francisco, CA now at Chesapeake Bay, VA: The Foundation for American Christian Education. 1987. (Original work published 1828)

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