This is one of two times this
story is recorded in the Word of God. It's also recorded in
Joshua chapter 15. I'd like to begin reading in
verse 12 of Judges chapter 1. And Caleb said, He that smiteth
curgeth Cepher and taketh it to him will I give Aksa my daughter
to wife and Othnael the son of Kenaz
Caleb's younger brother took it and he gave him Aksa his daughter
to wife And it came to pass, when she
came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field.
And she lighted from off her ass, and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? And she said unto him, Give me a blessing. For thou hast given me a south
land, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper
springs and the nether springs or lower springs. I've entitled
this message Upper and Nether Springs. Now Caleb says to his
daughter What do you want? What wilt thou? What do you want from me? Now
he was not saying, what do you want now? I've already given
you a lot, what are you coming for now? No, he looked at his
child whom he loved and he said, what wilt thou? I've got a daughter and I know this I love to give
to her there's no human being in the world that I feel like
I feel like about this girl and I love to give to her it's a
delight what wilt thou? and she said Give me a blessing. You know, I want the Lord's blessing,
don't you? What is a blessing? A benediction.
A present. Liberality. Prosperity. Everybody would like a blessing. I'm blessed and I want to be
blessed. Aksa says to her daddy, I want
a blessing. Now in this passage of scripture,
I see three things. First, I see the gospel. Second, I see how to approach
God for a blessing. And third, I see the blessing
he bestowed. Now, I've already said this story
is recorded twice. And if you would read the passage
from Joshua, and the passage here, you would find no difference
in the wording, except where Joshua says, Thou wouldest, or
what wouldest thou, and here in Judges it says, What will
you? But there is a slight variation. According to Strong, there's
a slight variation in the way AXA is spelled. In the Joshua
account, Aksa means fetters, bondage. In the Joshua account,
Aksa means a coiled snake. Now what would move him to name
his daughter like this? Bondage fetters? A coiled snake? That's not much of a name for
a daughter but in her name I see me bondage bondage I cannot not sin I would
but I can't Bound. The very idea of free will is
utterly ludicrous. Bound to an evil nature. What do you think of when you
think of a snake? Deceitful. Deceitful. I can't trust myself.
I really can't. I've got to hold myself suspect.
I started to entitle this message, blessings to a snake in fetters. This gives me some hope that
somebody like me can be blessed of God. I want his blessing. What wilt thou give me a blessing? I want the Lord's blessing. Now you know who Caleb was. Caleb was a very special man. His name means faithful dog.
There's always some significance to these names in the scripture.
He, along with Joshua, were the only two Israelites that were
allowed to enter the promised land of the ones that were over
20 years old. The rest died in the wilderness.
Remember what the Lord said about Caleb? He said, he's got another
spirit in him. He followed me fully. And so Caleb was allowed to go
into the promised land. Joshua said, you're going to
take the land. So Joshua goes in and he's in
the process of taking the land that God promised he was going
to have. So we read once again in verse 12, and Caleb said,
he that smiteth Kirk, Jephseph, that's part of the land that
was promised him, and the Amorites or the Canaanites had to be driven
out. And he that smiteth Kirtiath
Seferah, and taketh it, to him will I give Aksau, my daughter,
to wife." Now can't you see the gospel in that passage of scripture?
Remember the Lord said, you search the scriptures, and in them you
think you have eternal life, and they are they which testify
of me. And this is one of those scriptures
that testify of the Lord Jesus Christ. We just heard the story. The Lord gave Christ to people,
but he said, you're going to have to take them. You're going
to have to win the victory for them. They'll be your bride,
but you're going to have to work out a righteousness for them.
You're going to have to pay for their sins, and you're going
to have to take them. You know, when the Lord saves
somebody, when he does, he takes them. I love that passage in Revelation
5 where no man was found worthy to open the book, neither to
look thereon. But John was told by the angel,
don't weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah
had prevailed. And he came, the scripture says,
and he took the book. He didn't ask for it. As equal
with the Father, he took the book. now let's go on reading verse 13 and Ah-na-el you know
what his name means? the power of God you know who
this is What a name. Anytime you see El in somebody's
name, that's one of God's names, God. His name means the power
of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
power of God. And Achnael, the son of Kenaz,
Caleb's younger brother, took it. He gave him, Caleb gave him,
Axa, his daughter to wife. The Lord Jesus Christ came for
this purpose. Matthew 1.21 says, Thou shalt
call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people
from their sins. And that's what he did. And he's given this bride. That's what our Lord did. I love
thinking about this. Jesus Christ, the Lord, came
and kept God's law perfectly. And then he took my sins and
made them his very own. and he takes his righteousness
and makes it mine and by his spirit he takes me and brings
me to himself. Arthnael took her. And you know what she did at
that time? This woman acts off, fetters, deceitful. That's what
she was of herself. Yet she comes. Now let's go on
reading. Verse 14. And it came to pass when she
came to him, her husband, that she moved him to ask of her father
a field. She wouldn't come to her father
on her own. She came in the mighty power of God. We see the intercession
of Christ here. She came Moving in ask my daddy
for a field give me a large place to live in give me a place to
be the place I can be in and have security she moved in to
ask of her father a field and She lighted from off her ass
She came down And Caleb, now she, you see when Aphnael comes
to her, to Caleb, she does too. You know, when the Lord comes,
when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to the Father, all of his people
do too. Now, she comes to her father,
and at this time, he says, What wilt thou? What do you wish? Now, I want to ask you a question.
I'm asking myself this question. If the God of Glory said, what
do you want? What would you ask for? How would you respond? Remember, He cannot be diminished
by what He gives you. None can ever ask too much. And he cannot be enriched by
what he withholds. If he asked you, what do you
want? How would you personally respond? Now let me show you another passage
of scripture where the Lord asks somebody what they want. Turn
with me to Mark chapter 10. Hold your finger there. We're
going to be coming back there. But look at Mark chapter 10. verse 46 and they came to Jericho and
as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number
of people blinded Bartimaeus the son of Timaeus sat by the
highway side begging Blind as a bat, totally dependent upon
the charity of others. He didn't have anything else
to do. He just sits there by the highway side bagging. Verse
47. And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth. Now here's what had taken place.
He heard a commotion. He heard something going on. He heard
that it was Jesus of Nazareth. I don't have any doubt that somewhere
along the line that Bartimaeus heard about this one called Jesus
of Nazareth who gave sight to the blind. And he, in his heart,
said, that's the Messiah. If he ever comes through here,
I'm going to call on his name. So there he is, sitting by the
wayside, begging. And he hears a commotion. And
somebody says, he says, what is this? And they say, Jesus
of Nazareth passeth by. This is His window. This is what
He's been waiting on. Now let's go and read it. And
when He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, He began to cry
out and say, Jesus, thou Son of David! He knew who He was,
didn't He? He knew He was the Son of David, the promised Messiah. He knew! He didn't know much
about Himself, but He knew who He was. Jesus, thou son of David,
he asked for the right thing. Have mercy on me. That's what I need is mercy.
And many charged him, and this is what's going to happen when
somebody starts crying like this. Hold his peace. But he cried the more
a great deal. Thou son of David, have mercy
on me. And Jesus stood still. Now he had already set his face
like a flint. He was on his way to the cross
at this time. And everybody had been calling his name and he
kept going, but this stopped him. Jesus stood still. Do you know he always stands
still for this cry for mercy? Let's go on reading. And Jesus
stood still and commanded him to be called. And they called
the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise. He
calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment,
I have no doubt that that's that old filthy garment of human righteousness. He cast it away and rose and
came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto
him, What wilt thou that I should
do unto thee? Now here's the Lord asking him,
what do you want that I should do? Now he's blind. What's he going
to ask for? You see, you're going to ask
for what you need. When the Lord says to you, what
wilt thou that I should do unto thee? What's Bartimaeus say?
Lord, that I might receive my sight. He asks for what he needs. Now, the Lord says to me, what
wilt thou? Oh, I sure hope he says to me.
I sure hope he's speaking to me. What wilt thou that I should
do unto thee? What do I need? The first thing I need is I need
to be found in Christ. I need sovereign grace to save
me. I need to be elected. I don't
argue against election. I need to be elected. Lord, choose
me. I need to have my sins blotted out. I need to have Him to forgive
me of all my sins. I need His grace to reign in
me and cause me to come into His presence. Blessed is the
man whom Thou choosest and causest to come unto Thee. I need Him
to do everything for me. I absolutely need Him to save
me by His sovereign grace. I need Him to preserve me. I
need the intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ. What wouldest
Thou? Lord, Whatever your blessing
is, that's what I need. Give me a blessing. You know, children ask their
parents for things and parents love to give their children things.
And God is the father of all of his children. They ask him
for blessings. And he delights to give them. You know, he's a lot more willing
to give you mercy than you are to receive it. Did you know that? Think for a moment about God's
power to bless. He has all power. There is nothing He is unable
to do for you and me. He is all wise. He knows what
would be good or destructive to you. And He's gracious, He
delights in blessing sinners, in pouring out blessings. For
Christ's sake, ye fearful saints, fresh courage take. The clouds
you so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings
on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble
sense, but trust Him for His grace. Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face. Oh, the Lord's power to bless.
First thing I think of, obviously, when I think of the Lord's blessing,
is I think of spiritual blessing. Ephesians 1, 3, Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with
all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. He hath
blessed us. All spiritual blessings. It means
we have them all. He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him freely
give us all things? And what are the blessings he
speaks of in Ephesians 1? Hold your finger there and judge and
look at this. Ephesians chapter 1. Verse 3. Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. who hath blessed us with all
spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, according as
he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy, and without blame before him." There's what
Glorious Mother... chose me to be holy. Chosen me
to be without blame. Oh, those are blessings I want.
I want to be holy. I want to be without blame. I
want to be pure before God. I want Him to see me and see
no sin. I want to be blameless. What
a blessing that is! in love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself. I
want to be His child. Oh, I want Him to be my Father,
according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of
the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us. in the Beloved. I sure want,
I want to be accepted in the Beloved. I want to be found in
the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His
grace. Oh, what glorious spiritual blessings! The forgiveness of
all my sins blotted out, redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord,
give me this blessing. Spiritual blessings. And then
there's every other kind of blessing. emotional blessings, family,
friends, relationships, material blessings. We all want his blessings. And you know I'm not talking
about a health wealth. Anything like that. I love what that leopard
He didn't need he wasn't asking for money. He wasn't asking for
material blessings He was asking to be clean to be clean before
God I want every blessing the Lord has to give now back to
our text in Judges chapter 1 Verse 15 and she said unto him
Give me a blessing. For thou hast given me a south
land. He gave her that parcel of land
that her husband asked her daddy for. Thou hast given me a south
land. You've given me a place to be
in. But I also need something in
me. I need water in me. Give me springs
of water. What would a land be without
water? I need water. I'm thankful for
that which I'm in. In the Lord Jesus Christ. I also
want Him to be in me. Now I know she was talking about
physical water. But this water represents the
Holy Spirit. Let me show you this. Turn to
Luke chapter 11. Luke chapter 11. Verse 9. And I say unto you, he says this
to every one of his children. Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek,
and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened
unto you. For everyone that asketh, receiveth. He that seeketh, findeth. To him that knocketh, it shall
be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any
of you that's a father, will he give him a stone? Of course
not. If he ask a fish, will he for
a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will
he offer him a scorpion? Of course not. If you then, remember
he's talking to his disciples. If you then, being evil. Shoof it! Shoof it! If you then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall
your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask
Him? Lord, I need the Holy Spirit
to enable me to believe I need the Holy Spirit to enable me
to come to the Lord Jesus Christ. I need the Holy Spirit to cause
me to persevere. I need the Holy Spirit to reign
in me. I need the Holy Spirit. Oh, I need Him. Now how did the Father answer? Back to Judges. She said unto him, Verse 15,
give me a blessing. For thou hast given me a south
land, give me springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper
springs and the nether springs. He didn't rebuke her for asking
for too much and not being content with what she had. Remember she
had already asked for a parcel of land and he gave it to her.
No, he gave her the upper and the lower springs. And I believe
this refers to The upper springs, spiritual blessings, and the
lower springs, everything else. All the other kinds of blessings.
Spiritual blessings. Do you realize, and you've touched
on this already tonight, it was such a blessing to hear this
and to be reminded of this. He has never turned anybody away
who came to him for mercy. It's never happened. Do you want
to be saved by his grace? Have you asked Him to save you
by His grace? Have you asked for this blessing? Do you want
to have His righteousness clothing you? Have you asked for it? God will give you these spiritual
blessings, but all He gives you, you will ask for. Everything
that you have, you're going to ask for. Everything He's determined
to give you, you're going to ask for. Every single one of
them. Let me show you this in the scripture.
Turn with me to Ezekiel chapter 36. Ezekiel 36. Now the Lord is talking about
all these things that he's going to do. He says in verse 25, then will
I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all
your filthiness, and from all your idols will I cleanse you.
He says in verse 26, a new heart also will I give you, a new spirit
I will put within you. I'll take away that stony heart
out of your flesh, and I'll give you a heart of flesh. I'll put
my spirit within you, and I'll cause you to walk in my statutes,
and you shall keep my judgments and do them. Look at verse 29,
I will save you from all your uncleanness. Verse 30, I multiply
the fruit of the tree. Then, verse 31, shall you remember
your own evil ways and your doings that were not good, and you shall
loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and
for your abominations. He talks about all these things
that he's going to do. Now, look in verse 36, then the
heathen. that are left around about you
shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places and plant that
which was desolate I the Lord have spoken it I will do it thus
saith the Lord God I will yet for this be inquired of by the
house of Israel to do it for them everything God's going to
give you you're going to ask for Our Lord said, ask and you
shall receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock
and it shall be opened to you. You know what? Lord, choose me. If you're going to be elected,
you're going to ask Him to elect you. I know it happened before
the foundation of the world, but you say, Lord, I want to
be one of these people. Lord, call me by irresistible, invincible
grace. Lord, give me a new heart and
a new spirit. Cleanse me from my filthiness.
Lord, do a mighty work of grace in me. Everything that you have
from Him, you're going to ask Him for. And if you don't have
it, it's because you've never asked for it. Somebody says,
well, I've asked the Lord for these things. He hasn't given
them to me. You expect me to believe you are God? You didn't
ask. You might have tried to strike
a deal. You might have tried to bargain. You might have said,
you do this and I'll do that. No, that's not asking. When you
ask, you ask the way that leopard did. Lord, if you will, you can
make me clean. How we covet these blessings
And if I'm not saved, if I don't have these spiritual blessings,
I've not asked for them. All who ask, receive. Do you believe that? Do you really
believe that? All who ask, receive. He gave her the upper springs
and the nether springs. That's every other kind of blessing.
Lord, bless my home. Bless my marriage. Bless my children. Bless my friends. Bless me in
my job. Bless me with friends. Bless
me with prosperity. Bless me with generosity. And
cause me to be a blessing. Turn to Genesis chapter 12 Genesis chapter 12 verse 1 Now the Lord had said unto Abraham,
Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from
thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee and I will
make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy
name great and thou shalt be a blessing now that's the promise
of the gospel I will bless thee and thou shalt be a blessing John Newton said come my soul
thy soup prepare Jesus loves to answer prayer he himself has
bid thee pray therefore will not say thee nay thou art coming
to a king large petitions with thee bring for his grace and
power are such that none can ever ask too much give me a blessing I know I don't
deserve one I know that I'm a snake in chains that's what I am I
don't deserve it I'm not coming in any way by way of merit but
oh for my husband's sake Lord Jesus Christ sake the power of
God give me a blessing I want the upper springs and I want
the lower springs too all his blessing I want Lord give me
a blessing I want to read a hymn to you 168 I love this hymn Lord
I hear of showers of blessing thou art scattering full and
free showers the thirsty land refreshing let some drops now
fall on me pass me not oh tender Savior let me love and cling
to thee I am longing for thy favor while thou calling oh call
me Pass me not, O mighty Spirit. Thou canst make the blind to
see. Witnesser of Jesus' merit, speak the word of power to me. Love of God so pure and changeless,
blood of Christ so rich and free, grace of God so strong and boundless,
magnify them all in me. Pass me not thy lost one bringing,
bind my heart, O Lord, to thee. While the streams of life are
springing, blessing others, O bless me, even me, even me, let thy
blessing fall on me. Amen.