A few thoughts on why we should bless the Lord - at all times…
What does it mean to bless someone? In normal, everyday terms, we use it to mean we want someone else to know what they mean to us…to show honor or extend favor upon that someone. When we bless another person, we essentially tell them how valuable they are to us…we tell them what they mean to us…we express gratitude to them for being who they are to us!
We essentially do the same thing when we bless God. In the Psalms, the word most often translated as ‘bless’ is the Hebrew word ‘barak’ which literally means ‘to kneel’ or ‘to bless’. Psalm 34:1, a Psalm of David, says…
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalm 34:1 NASB
Blessing God is an act of praise. To kneel is to express adoration, or reverence, or praise. We can, of course, bless God with our thoughts…but those thoughts - to be true blessing of God - must be acted upon by spoken word, songs of praise, or physical action. Blessing God - praising Him just for Who He is - has benefits for the believer.
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright. Psalm 33:1 NASB
The word ‘becoming’ means ‘to make one look beautiful’…or in the Jernigan translation, ‘praise suits you and looks good on you as a believer.’
Blessing the Lord leads us to wise counsel and can be experienced even as we sleep…because we never stop our inner conversation; our thought life.
I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. Psalm 16:7 NASB
Blessing God has direct benefits for our soul…cleansing our thoughts, bringing our emotions into the kingdom realm, and helping us see the will of god for our lives.
1 [A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; ... 22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the LORD, O my soul! Psalm 103:1-2; 22 NASB
Blessing God helps us with our point of view by giving us a grand and majestic kingdom perspective.
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty…Psalm 104:1 NASB
When should we bless the Lord?
But as for us, we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forever. Praise the LORD! Psalm 115:18 NASB
Blessing God is an act of surrender to His Lordship.
Lift up your hands to the sanctuary And bless the LORD. Psalm 134:2 NASB
Blessing the Lord is an act of faith in and an expression of our belief in His holy goodness…in spite of our circumstances.
He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21 NASB
When should we bless the Lord? Just the we feel like it? Just when things are going well?
1 [A Psalm] of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle. Psalm 103:1-5 NASB
If those are just a sampling of the benefits of blessing the Lord, why would we ever allow circumstances or feelings to dictate to us whether or not we should bless the Lord? If anything, we should bless Him all the more - right in the midst of our fiery trials and dire circumstances, right in the middle of pain and sorrow…right in the middle of life itself!
Let us make the conscious choice to bless the Lord today - and every day. Life will be more abundant as a direct result!
Dennis Jernigan
To listen to more teaching on blessing God, listen to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast at http://podcast.dennisjernigan.com/e/blessed-be-the-name-of-the-lord-1546981543/