Blessed to Bless

#BLESSES TO BLESS 

Psalm 134

A SONG OF ASCENTS.

 Praise the Lord, all you servants

of the LORD

who minister by night in the

house of the LORD.

Lift up your hands in the

sanctuary

and praise the LORD.

May the LORD bless you from

Zion,

He who is the Maker of heaven

and earth.

 This is the last of the series of fifteen psalms with the title ‘A Song of Ascents,’ psalms that we began studying in January 2024. The pilgrim worshippers had climbed to Jerusalem for worship, an ascent that is both physical, as Jerusalem is situated on a hill, and spiritual, symbolizing drawing closer to God. It is in this drawing closer to God that God bless us. While our last Psalm echoes this invitation to praise and worship God, it poses an important question: Do we genuinely believe that God rewards those who seek Him?

 The structure of this Psalm is straightforward. Two groups are singing. The first group is the congregation. Each of them, all the way back in Psalm 120, decided to leave their homes to worship God in Jerusalem. As they journeyed, they sang. When they came to Jerusalem, they sang. When they entered the temple, they sang. But, now, as they leave for home, they turn and sing one last song. It isn’t a song to God, but to God’s special instruments, the priests who tended to the temple by night.

What an encouragement it must have been to these lonely night-shift Levites to hear these people sing a song of blessing upon them for the work they were doing. As the pilgrims were unable to worship in the temple again until the following journey, they must have found great encouragement in the priests who worshipped God there continually — set apart for the service of God and representing them before Him.

 We read in 1 Chronicles 9:33 that the Levitical singers were ’employed in their work day and night.’ This beautifully points us to John’s writing in Revelation, where he describes the redeemed serving the Lord day and night in His temple. And while it is comparatively easy to bless the Lord in the daytime, it is much more challenging to do so in the night hours, when we are alone and all around us is darkness and sleep is heavy upon us. This night service symbolizes vigilance and dedication, reminiscent of the watchfulness Jesus encouraged in his followers.

 Before we proceed to the second verse, we must take note that this psalm is addressed to the servants of the LORD, indicating that praise should be added to all our work. After all, as servants of the Lord, the Levites, but for that matter, all believers, for all are called to serve God with their lives,

to partner with God in His work, which is a special privilege.

to enjoy the nearness that comes with working together with God, and

to receive special strength and anointing as they serve Him.

 The above is also true today and should remind all pastors, missionaries, Bible and Sunday school teachers, deacons, elders, and the worship band that no one should serve God out of compulsion, but all should bless God for permitting them to serve Him.

 But what does it mean to bless the Lord? This phrase is translated in most modern translations as praising the Lord, rejoicing over the endless excellencies of God. The Westminster Catechism summarizes it as: The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.” This is not only our greatest purpose but also our response to what He has already done for us.

 This idea is reinforced by the second verse, where the lifting up of our hands in the presence of God is encouraged. This was to bless the Lord by giving him thanks, honour, praise and glory. In addition to being a familiar gesture in prayer among the ancient Hebrews, it also signifies surrender to God, the Creator of heaven and earth. As the Hebrew term “barak” or “bless” implies kneeling and adoration, we kneel before God, acknowledging His sovereignty and goodness. But, obviously, God doesn’t kneel or bow down to us. When God blesses us, he reaches down to take care of us and our needs, loving us and providing for us.

 How apt it is then that the psalmist ends with an appeal to the Creator-God, the Great King of the universe, to bless the works of his hands, the very souls He has not only created but redeemed! This blessing pouring forth from Zion is to all people everywhere. What a beautiful and fitting close to the Songs of Ascents. The people came to Zion on pilgrimage to bless the LORD and sing songs to Him. Now, these songs conclude with the idea that God’s blessing accompanied each of them, not remaining in Jerusalem but flowing from there and reaching all the way down to the ages until it finds our hearts. How fitting then to be reminded that the life that blesses God is a life that God blesses.

 And with that, I greet you for now. After a short break and an outreach to Peru, where a team of us will climb Machu Picchu, we will embark on a new theme – one that God has already placed on my heart since 2023. Until next time, God bless you as you praise and glorify Him at home, in your family, at work, driving on the road, visiting friends, etc – and doing that in spirit, soul and body.