Dispersal among the goim – foreign nations – was how God tried to sober up the Jewish people. Heathen/Gentile nations were the bad guys who saw the cheapening of God’s name.

“Now therefore, what do I do here,” says the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock,” says the Lord, “and my name continually all the day is blasphemed.

Isaiah 52:5

The heathen  – nations  – are people whose practices are to be avoided by Israel and Judah.  Essentially, the goim are uncircumcised people, people who are not descendants of Abraham.

Judah was a curse … (who cursed her?)?  Israel was a curse … (who cursed her?)?

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Zechariah 8:13

It is time to revisit that fable about bring permanently, perpetually and irreversibly blessed.

One person may read the following comment – intended to exhort – and get all excited. Another reads it and sees it for what it contains. That should not be strange, should it?

When we accomplish anything good, whether temporal or spiritual, we must bear in mind it is Christ who gives us the strength to do it. Therefore we have to give Him thanks and praise, because there is no strength within us. If we want to be better Christians, we can through Christ. Let’s look unto Christ, sinless is He.

The exhortation also features a Bible verse (one often twisted)

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (2 and 2)

Philippians 4:13

In the exhortation first person (I we us) appears 8 times, third person (him) appears 5 times. In the Bible verse the score is 2 and 2.

How does this exhortation make Christ the significant one?