October 26, 2009

Text: Deuteronomy 33

UNDERSTANDING PRAYERS FOR BLESSING

1. What are Prayers of Blessing?

a) They represent the good desires of the heart

b) They represent petitions made to God

c) It is "natural" to desire these blessings from God

2. The things that will hinder God answering these prayers for blessings

a) Sinful inclinations

b) Actual sins

c) Context of Israel    (Deuteronomy 32-33)
UNDERSTANDING PRAYERS OF BLESSING
1. Premises

a) Lordship of God    Deuteronomy 33:1-5

b) Laws of God    Deuteronomy 33:2

c) Love for His people
"Yes, He loves the people"    Deuteronomy 33:3a

"All His saints are in Your hand"    Deuteronomy 33:3b

d) Pleading "heritage"    Deuteronomy 33:4

2. Prayer effort

a) Moses- his standing before God    Numbers 12:1-8

    i) Cultivated

    ii) Acknowledged by God

b) Man of God    Deuteronomy 33:1

3. Individual Prayers of blessing

a) General prayers

b) Individual prayers

4. Each tribe prayed for differently:

a) Reuben (#1)
Deuteronomy 33:6 // Genesis 49:3-4

b) Judah (#2)
Deuteronomy 33:7 // Genesis 49:8-12

c) Levi (#3)
Deuteronomy 33:8-11 // Genesis 49:5-7

d) Benjamin (#4)
Deuteronomy 33:12 // Genesis 49:27

e) Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) (#5 & #6)
Deuteronomy 33:13-17 // Genesis 49:22-25

f) Zebulun (#7)
Deuteronomy 33:18-19 // Genesis 49:13

g) Gad (#8)
Deuteronomy 33:20-21 // Genesis 49:19

h) Dan (#9)
Deuteronomy 33:22 // Genesis 49:16-18

i) Naphthali (#10)
Deuteronomy 33:23 // Genesis 49:23

j) Asher (#11)
Deuteronomy 33:24-25 // Genesis 49:20

k) Simeon is omitted in Moses' prayer (#12)
No reason given.

Genesis 49:5-7 (Linked with Levi)

Cf. Joshua 19:1-2
Simeon was given an inheritance but was tied in with Judah!