Deuteronomy 33:13-17 - Moses' Blessing.

The blessing of Joseph; or, God's favor the mercy of mercies.

We may see here a reflection of Jacob's blessing, both as in Genesis 48:19 and also Genesis 49:25 , et seq . In Dean Stanley's 'Sinai and Palestine,' pp. 226-250, there is much interesting information as to the correspondence between this prophecy of Moses on the one hand, and the extent of territory, the beauty and fertility of the district, the dignity, valor, and advance of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh on the other. (For an elucidation of each clause in this somewhat lengthened blessing, see the Exposition.) By way of" opening up," however, the theme of our Homily, we must call the readers' attention to the structure of the verses. We regard them as a blending at once of prophecy and prayer. Both the beginning and the close are prophetic. The beginning, from verse 13 down to the word "thereof," in verse 16; the ending in verse 17. In the intervening clauses we regard (so Calvin, Keil, et al .) the word רְצוֹן . ( retzon ) as a nominative case. We read thus: "And may the good will of him that dwelt in the bush come upon the head of Joseph ," etc. It will be observed that in the English Version the words "for" and "the blessing" are in italics, to show that they are added by the translators. And the fact that there is no "for" in the original at the commencement of this clause seems to show that it is not co-ordinate with the preceding ones, and so to mark a new starting-point; as if Moses had said, "He will have a noble territory, rich in all temporal wealth; his tribe will be an enterprising, hardy, and pushing one; may there be superadded to all, the favor of him who dwelt in the bush, to crown and glorify the whole." The reader will find the varied scriptural senses of the word here translated "good will," in the following passages, where it occurs:— Exodus 28:38 ; Le Exodus 23:11 ; Psalms 5:12 ; Psalms 19:14 ; Psalms 30:5 ; Proverbs 15:8 ; Isaiah 49:8 ; Isaiah 60:7 ; Isaiah 61:2 . If in addition to all that earth's varied wealth and tribal renown and conquest could yield, Joseph had the "favor" of the Lord, that would make him rich indeed. Whence our theme suggests itself —God ' s favor the mercy of mercies .

I. THE STORE OF MERCIES WHICH ARE THE TEMPORAL GIFTS OF GOD 'S HAND IS BY NO MEANS SMALL . The land, with its wondrous capacities and its adaptation to this seed and to that; the dew that gently distils, or the vapor that exhales; the lakes that lie sleeping on the bosom of the hills; the variety of beauty, fragrance, and fruitfulness coming through the sunbeams; the produce of the several months, year by year; the wealth stored up in the mountains and hills; the varied productions of the soil;—all these are referred to in the text; and, in a few brief touches, what a conception they give us of the wealth with which God has enriched this globe, and of the series of constant adaptations with which it is made subservient to the use of man! So great are all these blessings which go to make up the enjoyments of life on its temporal side, that meditation thereon may well call up from the soul a grand song of praise such as we find in Psalms 104:1-35 .

Nor can we in such an age as this, leave out the additional fact that, owing to the rapid communication between the people of one land and those of another, the productions of one country supply the wants of another; and thus the nations at large share the supplies sent them by a gracious God.

And he it remembered these supplies are not less from God because he uses means in sending them; it is rather a proof of his care for the culture and education of man, that he makes him the means of the cultivation and tillage of the soil. "Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even he shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord."

II. THERE IS A FAR GREATER MERCY THAN ANY OF THESE —one which we have called "the mercy of mercies." It is referred to in Psalms 104:16 , "The good will … may it come upon the head of Joseph." Favor, mercy, on Joseph's head, is a boon greater far than plenty on his land I There are three questions which we may appropriately ask concerning it.

1. What is this " good will? " It is not simply that benevolence to which our Savior refers in Matthew 5:45 . In this sense God's goodness extendeth to all. "His tender mercies are over all his works." This good will is something special. If the student will compare the several passages (those given ut supra et al .), in which the same word is used which is here translated "good will," he will see how much meaning it conveys. It includes:

2. How can this good will be assured to its possessor?

3. Why is this the mercy of mercies?

Oh, it is not—it is not merely having a wealthy land, or great estates, or splendid revenues, or military prowess, or pushing energy, that can make life a success. We may have all these, and yet life may be a miserable, an unredeemed and irredeemable failure. It may well be a matter for frequent wonder how parents who profess to aim at and to be living the higher life, do seek so earnestly to get the best situations in life for their children, yet never manifest half the same amount of anxiety that their loved ones may have "the good win of him that dwelt in the bush "resting on their heads. And yet, without God's favor, what is life, what is wealth, what are earthly friends, but blessings that disappoint our hopes, and prove, perhaps, anything but blessings in the end?

FINALLY : THIS MOST NEEDFUL OF ALL BLESSINGS IS THE VERY ONE OF WHICH ALL WHO CRAVE IT SUPREMELY MAY MAKE MOST SURE . God may not give us much of this world's goods. He will give us himself. He waits to be gracious. He delights in loving-kindness. He will be the seeker's God forever and ever; his Guide even unto death.