The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!
Live long and prosper. Most people by now know that this was the traditional Vulcan blessing from Star Trek that accompanied the strange hand gesture which was required of boys in the 70’s. In researching this, I found that Leonard Nimoy devised this from his memories of going to synagogue with his grandfather. That may be why I thought of that greeting when I saw these words in Psalm 128. They sound similar. The LORD does indeed bless his people and he does indeed prosper them, but not in the way we think. The Hebrew word translated prosper here is most often translated goodness, good, and best. The word prosper has another meaning in our English today that can be misleading. God does not promise anyone that they will be rich. Period.
The Prosperity Gospel is an insidious threat to Christians, especially those who are poor. The scam goes like this. The preacher promises that God will prosper you but only if you have enough faith, and if you send enough of your money to his Capital Campaign for his next jet. God promises no such thing. In fact, the Bible promises that followers of Jesus will suffer persecution. This is a far cry from the prosperity of God. Or is it?
The Bible also promises that those who endure this day get to experience that day when Jesus returns and real prosperity begins. Remember the translations of the Hebrew. It is then that true good will be done as the King commands. It is then that we will…
Live long and prosper.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church