DEUTERONOMY 33

The blessings upon Israel, which if they followed them, they would be perfect before God and man.

I.   Verse 6 - Reuben.

A.     Reuben is the firstborn, yet Moses did not remember his iniquity.

1.       In the Christian society, past sins are forgiven and forgotten.

2.       It is befitting "Christians" to bless in spite of past sins, for so God blesses us.

B.     Reuben lived on the other side of Jordan.

1.       Let them live there and continue to be a part of Israel.

2.       Let them grow like all the rest of Israel, regardless of past sins.

II.   Verse 7 - Judah.

A.     The blessing upon Judah comes before Levi because:

1.       Christ came from Judah, not from Levi.

2.       Grace is before law.

B.     Judah is to pray for the blessings of God.

1.       They are to pray for help from their enemies.

2.       They are to pray for the Christ to come from them.

III.   Verse 8-11 - Levi.

A.     This is the tribe of Moses, but he doesn't mention it as giving more favor toward it.

B.     Verse 8.

1.       Thummim and Urim represents the presence of God.

2.       Prove at Massah represents the strength of Levi in standing for the truth of God.

3.       strive - sometimes serving God is hard.

C.     Verse 9-11

1.       The didn't recognize family bonds when they stood for God.

a.      At the worship of the Golden Calf, they stood against family, for God.

b.      Many times, Levi was called upon to fight against their friends and neighbors, which they did willingly because God said so.

2.       Levi alone, will teach Israel because they alone know that "water is thicker than blood".

3.       Moses prays special protection from God because of their stedfastness for the things of God.

IV.   Verse 12 - Benjamin.

A.     The youngest and most loved son of Jacob.

B.     Dwell safely by him.

1.       Jerusalem was actually in the tribe of Benjamin.

2.       Mount Moriah, where the temple was built, was actually in the territory of Benjamin.

3.       When the split of Israel came (after the death of       Solomon), Judah and Benjamin were the only two tribes that remain faithful to God's worship.

V.   Verse 13-17 - Joseph.

A.     This blessing includes both Manasseh and Ephraim.

B.     Verse 16 - Separated from his brethren.

1.       Verse 13-16 - There shall be great prosperity upon Joseph because of difficulties in this life.

2.       All this prosperity shall benefit Joseph, and all Israel.

C.     Verse 17 - There are three glories in this verse.

1.       The glory of the firstling bullock.

2.       The glory of the horn of the unicorn.

3.       The glory of the population of Ephraim and Manasseh.

VI.   Verse 18,19 - Zebulun and Issachar.

A.     Spiritual prosperity.

1.       These two tribes shall call all others to worship in the holy mountain of God.

2.       They sacrifices shall be accepted by God.

B.     Material prosperity.

1.       Their prosperity shall come from the sea.

2.       Their prosperity shall come from the sand, places where nobody thought riches would come from.

VII.   Verse 20-21 - Gad.

A.     Moses gives a special blessing to the one who blesses Gad.

B.     His strength is like a young lion.

1.       He attacks by surprise.

2.       His strength is very great.

C.     His portion is to be a lawgiver (maker of laws).

1.       He operates within the leadership of Israel.

2.       His laws are the laws of God.

3.       His judgment is the judgment of God.

VIII.   Verse 22 - Dan.

A.     Dan is as a lions whelp (young lion).

1.       He is fearless, and very courageous.

2.       He is a good follower, and also training to be a leader.

B.     "leaped from Bashan" - See Judges 18:27.

1.       The mountain range of Bashan was not very far from the city of Laish.

2.       It was the Danites (verse 25) who did not have a land, so they took it (verse 1).

IX.   Verse 23 - Naphtali.

A.     Full of favour.

1.       Full of the good material things God had given them.

B.     Receive more of the blessings of the Lord.

1.       There is no end to the blessings God can give.

X.   Verse 24-25 - Asher.

A.     The desire of Leah would come true in this son.

1.       Gen.  30:13 - "Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed:".

2.       Ps.  127:5, "Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them..."

B.     "Let him be acceptable to his brethren".

1.       He is really the son of Zilpah, the handmaid of Leah.

2.       Sometimes "step children" are not very well accepted.

C.     Shoes of iron and brass.

1.       iron and brass represent judgment and strength.

2.       Asher will be so accepted by the other tribes they will come to him for judgment.

D.     As thy days, so is thy strength.

1.       The older you get, the better you get.

2.       This is like it ought to be, not like it today, when people over 30 are looked upon with disrespect.

XI.   Verse 26-29 - All the glory goes to God.

A.     Verse 26,27 - Men may take the glory for their well-being upon themselves, but God says He should get all the glory.

B.     Verse 28 - Because God has been with Israel, giving them strength, they will be able to dwell in safety.

C.     Verse 29 - The happiness of Israel under the reign and control of God is obvious to all.  Even the enemies of Israel must realize that God is her help.