Blessings On You

The Psalms are packed with more blessings than a shopping mall is packed with gifts before Christmas—and you don’t need a credit card to take advantage of them.

But the Psalms also remind us repeatedly to bless God. How do we do that? By praising him and acknowledging him as the source of all we have. Here are a few verses in the Psalms about blessing, both from God to us and from us to God.

GOD’S BLESSINGS TO US

Psalm 8:5

You crowned us with glory and honor.

Psalm 29:11

The LORD blesses [his people] with peace.

Psalm 91:11

For he orders his angels

to protect you wherever you go.

Psalm 103:3

He forgives all my sins

and heals all my diseases.

Psalm 104:14

You cause plants to grow for people to use.

Psalm 136:25

He gives food to every living thing.

Psalm 138:2

Your promises are backed

by all the honor of your name.

OUR BLESSINGS TO GOD

Psalm 16:7

I will bless the LORD who guides me.

Psalm 26:12

I have taken a stand,

and I will publicly praise the LORD.

Psalm 66:8

Let the whole world bless our God

and sing aloud his praises.

Psalm 100:4

Give thanks to [the LORD] and bless his name.

Psalm 103:2

Praise the LORD, I tell myself,

and never forget the good things he does for me.

Psalm 134:2

Lift your hands in holiness,

and bless the LORD.

Psalm 145:1

I will praise you, my God and King,

and bless your name forever and ever.

The Hebrew root word for “bless,” “blessed,” or “blessings” is barak, and it isn’t easy to translate. It may be translated “oh, the joys” (Psalm 1:1) or “happy” (Psalm 119:1) or “oh, what joy” (Psalm 32:1). When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon’s riches, the same word is translated “what a privilege” (1 Kings 10:8). It carries the idea of being supremely happy and fulfilled in life. The barak person is one who is right with God and who is enjoying the spiritual peace and joy that comes with that relationship.

When Psalm 1 begins with barak, it means that this psalm—and this book of Psalms—is going to tell you how to live a happy and fulfilling life. When Psalm 119 begins with the same Hebrew word, it is saying that God’s Word is the key to this sort of life.

But barak isn’t simply a word connoting absorption. That is, blessing is not something simply to be soaked up like a sponge. Instead, we are also commanded to bless God as well. But how in the world can we mere mortals bless God? By praising him, thereby mirroring God’s blessings toward us. And this is exactly how barak is translated in Psalm 103:1: “Praise the LORD.” By radiating his blessings toward us, we are telling him, as the queen of Sheba told Solomon, “What a privilege!”

God’s blessings are like bonuses on TV quiz shows: You win a prize for coming up with the correct answer, but then suddenly you are unexpectedly showered with other good things.

But make sure you pass it on. Pray for God’s blessing on your children, your church, and your neighbors, but don’t stop there. The apostle Paul writes: “If people persecute you because you are a Christian, don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them” (Romans 12:14). But Old Testament blessings were not merely prayers; they were hands-on actions that passed along God’s blessings to others (see Psalm 106:3).

So how can you be a blessing to someone today?

For we must share if would keep

That blessing from above;

Ceasing to give, we cease to have;

Such is the law of love.

R. C. TRENCH