Blog

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O LORD, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted. For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of Israel.¹

Who wouldn’t want a blessing? In fact, much of what we see in our Bible Apps are verses that promise blessings; sadly, we neglect to understand the context. Under careful scrutiny, we realize much of the promises have a prerequisite; e.g., in the verse above, the premises are: knowledge of festal shout; walking in the LORD’s presence; and exulting His name.

What is the festal shout? The Hebrew word used is teruwah—a battle cry; blast; shout of joy² [For context, we may likewise look into festal garments, or festal robes³; or the holy garments,⁴ which depict glory and beauty]. Traditionally, festal garments were worn by the high priest (as part of the ritual purification) before he goes in the presence of the LORD. Joshua had a vision that as he stood before the angel of the Lord, he was asked to remove his festal garment which was like filthy garments. After having done so, the angel said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” . . . Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.⁵ God gives a partial revelation of his future plan—a new covenant where every believer will be made pure by the finish work of Jesus.⁶

At the present you may not have fully learned wisdom nor have full knowledge of the Holy One;⁷ but in Christ through prayers, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.⁸  And so, . . . we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.⁹

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. . . . for apart from me you can do nothing. . . . If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.¹⁰

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. . . .”¹¹ The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.¹² Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.¹³

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.¹⁴ I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.¹⁵ Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!¹⁶ AMEN!