Deuteronomy 33:24-25 - Moses' Blessing.

Asher's blessing; strength as the day.

There are several features in this blessing to Asher. He is to have a numerous seed: to enjoy above his brethren the favor of the Lord; to be surrounded with plenty; to be guarded with bars of iron and brass; and to have strength according to the days. (The Hebrew word translated "days" is so rendered or explained by the Targum, Boothroyd, and Parkhurst. The LXX . render it ἰσχυς : the French version has it to force ; Gesenius renders it "rest." In this Homily we follow the LXX ; and accept our translation, "strength.") However great the temporal blessings may be which are here promised to Asher, this last-named one is surely the greatest of all, yea, greater than any merely earthly blessings could possibly be. And perhaps there is no promise of God's Word which has more deeply touched the hearts of his people, or more frequently proved itself a balm in care, than this one. For that it was made to Asher first, need not shut off any child of God from taking the comfort of it. There is a distinct promise made to Joshua, "I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee;" but yet the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews bids the people whom he is addressing to make that promise their own. And so assuredly may the people of God in every age and land do with the promise before us. They have done so hitherto, and will do so till the end. Let us meditate on it now, presenting, as it does, this topic —Strength promised for the day .

I. WHAT DOES THE PROMISE INCLUDE ? It suggests truths of which we are often reminded, viz.: That we have to live by the day . In one sense we can do no otherwise. We can never with certainty look over the rim of one day so as to see what will happen tomorrow. Then each day has its own peculiar alternations and variations of light and shade . One day all is smiling; the next, perchance, all is in gloom. Every hour, every place has "hues of its own fresh borrowed from the heart." Consequently, each day bring , s its own demands with it . And for each day we require new self-adaptedness. Moreover, the strength of each day will not serve for the next . Now, these are the facts which this promise is intended to meet. How does it meet them?

1. It assures us of strength as varied as the day. Whatever kind of strength is wanted, that kind of strength will be given—whether for work or war, pain or sickness, poverty or temptation, bereavement or death. "They that wait on the Lord shall renew [ i . e . change] their strength."

2. It is a promise of strength as sure as the day. No day shall come without its due measure of might to enable us to meet its demands. He who hath taught his children to cry, "Give us day by day our daily bread," in teaching them so to pray reveals his purpose to fulfill the prayer he has taught. We shall never find a day when the Savior's grace is a-wanting.

3. It pledges strength as long as the days shall last. So long as any demands are made upon us, so long will God's grace be sufficient to enable us to meet them. We need not look wistfully and anxiously ahead. Our Father cares. One whose words are more to us than thousands of gold and silver has said, "Take no thought for the morrow," etc. And an inspired writer has given us an impregnable argument, "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" But let us inquire—

II. WHAT IT IS WHICH GIVES THIS PROMISE A SPECIAL VALUE ? "As thy days, so shall thy strength be." The words remind us of a picture drawn by Mrs. Stowe, in 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' of a slave weary and worn with toiling in the sultry sun. One quotes the words, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest!" "Them's good words," is the reply, " but who says ' em? " Obviously all depends on that—so it is here. The words are said by

1. One who knows what our days will be.

2. One who orders our days.

3. One who measures our days.

4. One who loved us from everlasting days.

5. One whose love changes not with the days.

6. One who has infinite resources on which we can draw throughout the days.

7. One whose love as revealed in Christ is a pledge that he will be with us to the end of the days.

Is anything wanting to heighten the value of a promise if it comes from such a Promiser?

III. OUGHT NOT SUCH A PROMISE TO HAVE GREAT POWER OVER US ? Yea, verily. A triple power.

1. It should stimulate to holy obedience.

2. It should prepare us to look onward with holy calmness. "I will trust, and not be afraid."

3. It should embolden us to meet emergencies with a valiant heart.

4. It should lead us to look upward with a waiting, expectant eye.