ERSP 6.1/2 (2012), 00-00 Blessings in the Prophets and the Wisdom: A Response to Charismatic Christian Hermeneutics, and a General Application for Christian Living * Timothy LIM Teck Ngern KEY WORDS Blessings. Prosperity Teachings. Health and Wealth Gospel. Charismaticism. Conservative Hermeneutics. ABSTRACT In the Old Testament Prophetic and Wisdom Books, blessings include both temporal and spiritual well-being, and are particularly associated with God’s gracious favor on the people’s earthly, temporal, and economic life. he earthly, temporal, and economic blessings from God follows God’s pronouncement of blessings and curses in Pentateuch (Deut. 28). However, the Old Testament teaching on blessings may pose a problem for the New Testament believer seeking God’s favor and blessings, if the overall understanding of ‘blessing’ is not qualiied: ater all, the New Testament (in focusing more on spiritual blessings, poverty, and sufering) downplays material wealth and comfort without totally eradicating material blessings. his paper presents hermeneutical principles for interpreting and applying the blessings of God, particularly taught in the Prophets and the Wisdom literature, to the contemporary believer caught in a culture of wealth and aluence. In particular, the essay responds to some contemporary Charismatic Christian hermeneutics, which emphasizes health and prosperity as God’s blessings. In the inal analysis, prosperity is ‘a’ rather than ‘the’ blessing and it is not to be applied as a universal rule for Christians seeking to follow God. INTRODUCTION Blessings include both temporal and spiritual well-being in the Old Testament Prophetic and Wisdom Books, but it is particularly associated more with God’s gracious favor on the people’s earthly, temporal, and economic life, which has ripple efects throughout the generations. God will bless the righteous and curse the wicked. his understanding of earthly, temporal, and economic blessings follows God’s pronouncement of blessings and curses in Pentateuch (Deut. 28). he Old Testament teaching on blessings may pose a problem for * : he paper was originally written for a course on Old Testament some years back. hanks to Dr Philip Satterthwaite, Dr Calvin Smith, Dr Stephen Vantassel, Ms Esther Ng Ailey, and my lovely wife, Sharlene Yeo, for their comments. Any blunders remain my responsibilities.