Deuteronomy 33:7 - Moses' Blessing.

The blessing of Judah; or, help needed to fulfill destiny.

It cannot but suggest itself to the student to compare the blessing on Judah pronounced by Moses, with the renowned prophecy of Jacob concerning him and his tribe. That the patriarch's words declared the future pre-eminence of that tribe is well known; consequently, it could not be surprising to the other tribes to find precedence given to Judah in the order of encamping and of marching (cf. Numbers 2:1-4 ; Numbers 10:14 ). This thought of Judah's firstness gives its hue to the words uttered respecting him. They take the form of a prayer, which is at once the holy benediction of the dying leader, the pious breathing of the saint, and the prophetic fore-glance of the seer. It could not be a matter of doubt, that being in the front would involve not only eminence in honor, but also precedence in weight of responsibility; and in order to sustain aright great responsibility, there is need for an unusual supply of Divine strength. This it is which forms the contents of the prayer. Jacob had said, " To him shall the gathering of the people be;" Moses prays, "Lord, fulfill that prediction, and

But there is another bearing of this blessing of Judah, perhaps less obvious, though not less real than the one already named; while it equally suggests a topic for pulpit teaching of no small interest and value, viz. Divine help needed for man , that he may realize his true destiny . The following line of thought may serve to press home this truth:—

I. The life of man has a noble destiny before it.

II. According to the greatness of destiny must be the measure of responsibility.

III. According to responsibility, so is the need of Divine help to give unity and directness to life. We need

IV. That such Divine help may be granted may well be made matter of earnest prayer:

V. It is a great stimulus to prayer, when the one prayed for is known to pray for himself. Moses was not praying for a prayerless tribe. "Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah."

VI. When prayer has great promises to fall back upon, we may be absolutely sure of its success. The prayer, "Bring him unto his people," was based on the promise, "To him shall the gathering of the people be." It is equivalent to, "Lord, fulfill thine own promise." The great Messianic promise was made through Judah, and through him and in him was it fulfilled.