"Bless the Lord"
[Psalm 134]
Last Thursday, I reflected on God’s sufficient grace. I thought about this based on the verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9: "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." This was the message God gave to the Apostle Paul when Paul prayed three times for the "thorn in the flesh" to be removed. However, instead of removing it, God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you." Through this, Paul realized that God’s power was perfected in his weakness, and he rejoiced greatly because of it.
Think about it. Paul had prayed three times for God to take away the "thorn in the flesh," but instead of receiving the answer he expected, he was told, "My grace is sufficient for you." Even while still carrying the "thorn," Paul was able to rejoice greatly because of God's sufficient grace. The reason I was reminded of God's sufficient grace again was because last Thursday, my father-in-law, though unable to undergo surgery, confessed God’s sufficient grace. He, together with the pastor and elders of the church he serves, was filled with gratitude and joy. I don’t know the full details, but I imagined that in such a situation, it couldn’t have been easy for my father-in-law to give thanks and rejoice. Yet, in that moment, I couldn’t help but confess that our God is truly a good God.
In that moment, the gospel song "Good God" came to mind: "Good God, good God, my God is truly good." Just as Paul and Silas praised God while in prison, knowing they were facing execution the next day, God's sufficient grace in our lives also enables us to praise God, even in our own difficult circumstances.
In today’s Bible passage, Psalm 134:1-2, the psalmist repeats the phrase "Bless the Lord" twice. What exactly does this call to "bless" the Lord mean? The Bible contains many words referring to "praise," and among them, there are three terms that appear most frequently. Each of these three words illuminates a different aspect of the meaning of praise, offering distinct perspectives and contexts (Source: Internet).
(1) The first word is “hillel".
It is the most commonly used word for praise in the Old Testament, and its basic meaning is “to boast, to praise.” This verb was used both when praising people (Genesis 12:15, 2 Samuel 14:25; Proverbs 12:8) and when praising God. The corresponding verb in the New Testament Greek, "aineo", is used only for praising God. The ministry of praise is a ministry that exalts and magnifies God. It is about realizing how wonderful God is and how amazing the works He has done are, and then expressing our astonishment about it. Therefore, praise starts from an interest in God's character and works, and is expressed with amazement. Praise also involves admiration, excitement, joy, pride, and delight, which arise as our personalities collide with God's character and works.
(2) The second word is “hodah".
Often translated as "to give thanks," its basic meaning is “to confess.” The corresponding New Testament Greek verb, "homologeo", also means “to confess.” The meaning of "hodah" is completely different from the “thanks” we express in society when someone gives us something good or does something good for us. Rather, "hodah" and its noun form "토다" (todah) are often associated with affliction, as seen in Psalm 50:14-15 and 2 Chronicles 20:21. In other words, "hodah" is to praise God while remembering that He is good and faithful, that He rules the entire world, and that He protects and cares for His children, even in difficult circumstances. Praising God in the midst of affliction means looking beyond the affliction and recognizing God’s authority, power, and amazing plans. It means that, although we may not understand the situation, we trust in God. The ministry of praise is a ministry that helps people trust in God by looking at His authority and power.
(3) The third word is “berek", which is used in today's passage, Psalm 134:1-2.
In the King James Version of the Bible, this word is translated in three ways depending on the subject and object: (a) when God "berek" people, it is translated as “to bless”; (b) when one person "베렉" another person, it is translated as “to bless”; and (c) finally, when a person "berek" God, it is translated as “to bless” or “to praise.” Here, "to bless" refers more to acknowledging or testifying to God's divinity, rather than blessing God. While "hodah” focuses on the character of God and His works in two aspects, “berek” focuses on God's actions, especially His grace and blessings. Also, while “hodah” is about confessing God's character during affliction, “berek” is a confession of gratitude for overcoming difficulties through God’s help.
In today’s passage, the psalmist in the Song of Ascents encourages “all the servants of the Lord” to offer praise to God as a confession of gratitude for overcoming difficulties with His help (v. 1). Here, “servants of the Lord” refers to the Levites (priests) who serve God's people in the sanctuary. These Levites (priests) are the faithful servants of the Lord who ministered even at night in His sanctuary. The psalmist is now urging these faithful servants of the Lord to “bless the Lord.” He encourages all of God’s faithful servants who have been helped by God's faithful assistance to bless God as they faithfully serve in the Lord's sanctuary. He also says, “Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary and bless the Lord” (v. 2). This instruction means to bless (praise) God with all your heart and sincerely (Parker Yoonseon).
What does God do for such people? The Bible says He blesses them. Look at verse 3 of today’s passage: "May the Lord, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Zion." The psalmist, while encouraging all the faithful servants of God who serve in the Lord’s sanctuary, also blesses them. Specifically, he prays that “the Lord who made heaven and earth” would bless them. The reason he refers to "the Lord who made heaven and earth" is to remind us that God has the power to bless all His faithful servants (Parker Yoonseon). The God who has the power to bless His faithful servants will indeed bless them.
God blesses all His servants who bless Him. No matter what circumstances you and I may find ourselves in, I pray that by God's sufficient grace, we will always praise God with a heart full of gratitude.
May we continue to praise the Lord's greatness and majesty until our last breath,
Pastor James Kim
(Praying that we may become true worshipers who bring praise that is pleasing to the Lord)