_Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days_ JACOB AS A PROPHET OF THE LORD; In this dying speech of Jacob to his sons we have the characteristics of true prophecy. I. THE NATURE OF ITS CONTENTS. II. THE NATURE OF THE STYLE EMPLOYED. It is vague... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel._ INSTABILITY I. The first thing which strikes us in the instability of water is that IT HAS NO COHESIVE SHAPE OF ITS OWN. It takes the form of the vessel into which you pour it; it changes one form for another without resistance; and water spilt on the grou... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simeon and Levi are brethren_ THE BLESSING OF SIMEON AND LEVI: I. THEIR SIN. 1. Immoderate revenge. 2. Cruelty to unoffending beasts. 3. Their cruelty was deliberate. II. THEIR PENALTY. 1. To be disavowed by the good. 2. Their deed is branded with a curse. 3. They are condemned to moral an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise_ THE BLESSING OF JUDAH: I. THAT HE SHOULD WIN THE PRAISE OF HIS BRETHREN. II. THAT HE SHOULD BE THE TYPE OF THE VICTORIOUS HERO. 1. A growing power. 2. A. righteous power. 3. A power to be dreaded. III. THAT HE SHOULD BE THE TYPE OF THE MESSI... [ Continue Reading ]
_The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be_ A REVELATION OF CHRIST: I. Using the word prophecy in its predictive sense, this is THE LANGUAGE OF UNQUESTIONABLE PROPHECY. II. This prophecy cont... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zebulun. .. Issachar. .. Dan. .. Gad. .. Asher. .. Naphtali. .. Benjamin_ THE BLESSINGS OF ZEBULUN, &C. : Consider these blessings-- I. IN THEIR VARIETY. 1. Maritime power. 2. Husbandry. 3. Political sagacity. 4. The power to conquer by perseverance. 5. Plenty. 6. Eloquence. 7. The warli... [ Continue Reading ]
_I have waited for Thy salvation, of Lord_ TIMES OF WAITING A parenthesis in Jacob’s long blessing of his sons. Exhausted with the thoughts and visions which passed over his mind in such quick succession, he paused to take a spiritual inspiration: “I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord.” 1. Su... [ Continue Reading ]
_He shall overcome at the last_ FAITH’S TRIUMPH: Consider-- I. FAITH TRIUMPHANT IN DOUBT. The gospel is a revelation. It is the telling of a secret. There is not one mystery either about man or about God which has been either caused or aggravated by the gospel. Doubtless there are matters not yet... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asher_ THE BLESSING OF ASHER: Let us look at some of the spiritual points of instruction contained in this blessing of Jacob upon Asher. And first as to their “ bread,” which is described as “fat.” Christ is the “bread of life” to all His people, and this bread may indeed be said to be “fat.” The... [ Continue Reading ]
_Naphtali_ THE BLESSING OF NAPHTALI In Gad we have the Christian, soldier fighting the good fight of faith, and more than conqueror over all foes. In Asher we have the Christian living upon Christ, and giving out Christ to others. In Naphtali we have the Christian enjoying his liberty and freedom... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joseph is a fruitful bough_ THE BLESSING OF JOSEPH: I. PREDICTION OF HIS FUTURE GREATNESS. 1. His extraordinary increase. 2. His great prosperity. (1) All kinds of blessings were promised. (2) His blessings were to surpass all former instances. (3) His blessings are traced to their source.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mighty God of Jacob._ Prom thence is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel THREE NAMES: These three names which we find here are striking and beautiful in themselves; in their juxtaposition; in their use on Jacob’s lips. Look at them as they stand. I. THE MIGHTY GOD OF JACOB. The meaning of suc... [ Continue Reading ]
_Zebulun. .. Issachar. .. Dan. .. Gad. .. Asher. .. Naphtali. .. Benjamin_ THE BLESSINGS OF ZEBULUN, &C. : Consider these blessings-- I. IN THEIR VARIETY. 1. Maritime power. 2. Husbandry. 3. Political sagacity. 4. The power to conquer by perseverance. 5. Plenty. 6. Eloquence. 7. The warli... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bury me with my fathers_ LOVE IN DEATH The patriarch Jacob, in his last request, says, “Bury me with my fathers”; and this feeling has illustration all along the ages in different races and climes. What is it but the outward symbol of that which is deepest in the heart? What is it but an expressi... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jacob had made an end. .. he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost_ JACOB’S DEATH-BED: I. HIS AFFECTION FOR THE LIVING. 1. His affection was impartial. 2. His affection was religious. II. SYMPATHY WITH THE DEAD, III. HIS MAGNANIMITY IN ALL. No perturbation. Two thin... [ Continue Reading ]