Blessing of Life
Blessings are associated with life in several places, such as
Deuteronomy 30:19,20.
"I call heaven and earth to witness against
you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and
the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your
descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by
holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days,
that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." NASB
To be blessed does not always mean that we receive an object, like a
gift or a prize. It is more like we experience an increase and fullness
of life and fruit. This is directly connected to the Presence of God.
The Hebrew word kalal (kah-lahl) is translated into English as "curse,"
but the meaning is "withdraw." So to be blessed is to have the
presence of God (and the life or increase that comes with It), while to
be cursed is to have Him withdraw (a terrible thought), which eventually
causes decay and death. When we fill ourselves with His Words by
hearing and obeying, He "draws near" and we experience the fullness of
His presence, which is Life. When we disobey, He "withdraws" and
we experience decay and death. Jesus says in John 10:10:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." NASB
Fortunately, death is not an instantaneous process, and we are given
plenty of time to repent in most cases. He seems reluctant to withdraw
(sort of like the picture of the Shekinah (glory) leaving the Temple
starting at about Ezekiel 9) and returns instantly if we repent. But if
we don't repent the process continues.
"From the days of your fathers you have
turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them. Return to Me, and
I will return to you," says the LORD of hosts. "But you say, 'How shall
we return?'" (Malachi 3:7 NASB)
We return to Him by returning to His statutes (the Law), and when we
obey them we receive the blessing of the Father returning to us. This is
the meaning James tries to get across:
Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you
double-minded. (James 4:8 NASB)