Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
—Psalm 32:1, 9
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 5:2-3
The simplest, most basic thing we can do to understand a word or phrase in Scripture is to pay attention to how it is used. There is important value to the work of those who research ancient cultures and languages. That work can help us understand context and shades of meaning. But we can all make a beginning by looking at what the text says, letting it instruct us.
We can notice how beginnings and blessings are intertwined.
As the Creator constructed inanimate nature, He began with distinctions: light from darkness and waters above from waters below. When He separated dry land from water, He “saw that it was good”, a declaration that continues until He sees that everything “was very good.”
After populating the sea and the sky with life, the Creator blessed them. (Much later, Jesus would teach that the Father notices when even a little sparrow falls to the ground.) A few verses later, He blessed humans, in both cases calling on them to “be fruitful”. And then, a little further on, He blessed the seventh day, the day of rest.
The Psalms begin with a blessing on the one who delights in the teaching of the Lord, who constantly receives its instructions. A later song rejoices in forgiveness, and connects it to understanding that keeps the Lord's children close.
Matthew's gospel begins the first recorded sermon with blessing after blessing. Jesus proclaimed these on people who wouldn't be considered fortunate or powerful in the eyes of the world. But Jesus begins this lesson by declaring to them that the Father noticed them, was paying attention to them, understood their pains and needs.
Beginnings
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
—Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.
—Psalm 32:1, 9
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
—Matthew 5:2-3
The simplest, most basic thing we can do to understand a word or phrase in Scripture is to pay attention to how it is used. There is important value to the work of those who research ancient cultures and languages. That work can help us understand context and shades of meaning. But we can all make a beginning by looking at what the text says, letting it instruct us.
We can notice how beginnings and blessings are intertwined.
As the Creator constructed inanimate nature, He began with distinctions: light from darkness and waters above from waters below. When He separated dry land from water, He “saw that it was good”, a declaration that continues until He sees that everything “was very good.”
After populating the sea and the sky with life, the Creator blessed them. (Much later, Jesus would teach that the Father notices when even a little sparrow falls to the ground.) A few verses later, He blessed humans, in both cases calling on them to “be fruitful”. And then, a little further on, He blessed the seventh day, the day of rest.
The Psalms begin with a blessing on the one who delights in the teaching of the Lord, who constantly receives its instructions. A later song rejoices in forgiveness, and connects it to understanding that keeps the Lord's children close.
Matthew's gospel begins the first recorded sermon with blessing after blessing. Jesus proclaimed these on people who wouldn't be considered fortunate or powerful in the eyes of the world. But Jesus begins this lesson by declaring to them that the Father noticed them, was paying attention to them, understood their pains and needs.
And then asks them to live like it.