31/07/10

The Lord will smite thee in the knees and in the legs first

Deuteronomy 28:35 - The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch [boils / burning rash] that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.


In one of the curses which the Lord puts on man for not listen to His instructions is - He will smite the person with inflamed spots / boils first in the knees, then the legs and then the whole body from the sole to the top of the head.

As I was reading this I starting wondering why the knees first, why the sequence knees, legs and then whole body that too starting from the bottom to the top? If the Lord had said He would smite with inflamed spots from the bottom to the top, it also includes the legs, which include the knees.

To understand this we need to get to the Hebrew words translated as 'knees' and 'legs' and their root meanings which are 'blessing' and 'abundance' respectively.

Bless means receiving what is due / given (includes promises / curses). The Hebrew word [barak] translated as 'bless' as also been translated as 'curse' in the book of Job. The word emphasizes not the content but the delivery. Therefore when blessing any person, do not just give empty boxes but specify what you are blessing that person with by speaking them out or bring them to mind.

Coming to today's message the Lord is specifying how He will destroy the person who knows Him and still does not abide in his Word. He will first attack the blessings due to the person for being a child of Abraham, secondly He will attack the abundance of the person and lastly, all what that person has and holds starting from the basic needs. This attacking is said with inflaming spots meaning in small hard calamities which really hurt but do not totally destroy. These calamities the Lord specifies will not be healable.

It is our choice if we want to experience this or avoid this by just following the instructions as unfolded unto us through his Word.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You know what is good for us and in your mercy You gave this unto us through your Word. But when we reject even your mercy, we anger You further. Lord forgive us for the times we have rejected your instructions and help us that we walk along the path set forth for us, which You have shown us coming as man Jesus Christ. May we receive all the blessing You have blessed our father Abraham, through Jesus Christ your Son...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Job 1:11
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse [barak] thee to thy face.

Job 2:5
5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse [barak] thee to thy face.

Job 2:9
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse [barak] God, and die.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)