Blessing Psalms

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

Psalm 128:1

There are many words of wisdom that would be foolish to ignore. Nuggets like looking both ways before crossing a street, taking a moment to think before speaking, or making sure the toilet seat is down and the toilet is clean before squatting. All of them, if ignored, will have varying degrees of consequences. However, to not fear the Lord has eternal consequences. As you know we have been looking through the different types of Psalms that you may encounter in the book of Psalms and today we consider the Blessing Psalms. What we encounter in these psalms are pronouncements of blessing from a priest upon the hearer(s), generally due to a response or action from the hearer(s).

And an important key to interpreting these psalms is to understand that the person who is being called blessed is not blessed because they are seeking the blessing or earning because of an action. To further elaborate on that point, a child who obeys his parents only because he gets $10 everytime he obeys is not truly an obedient child. If as soon as the reward is removed the child loses all motivation to honor and obey his parents, his heart is exposed. The blessing psalms are not lessons for behavioral modifications, nor are they examples of how to attain God’s favor by simply doing certain actions. On the contrary, these psalms highlight the fact that the person or nation is truly seeking God and so they are blessed. Their desire is only for God and for none other.

There are several examples of these pronouncements made in the Scriptures for those who have been forgiven of their sins (Psalm 32), have God alone as lord (Psalm 33), who trust in the Lord (Psalm 2), fears the Lord (Psalm 128), walks in righteousness (Psalm 1), are disciplined by God (Psalm 94), and who dwell in the House of the Lord forever (Psalm 84). These psalms point to the fact that those who are blessed are those who have been trust and worship the Lord alone. In a New Testament context, we see now that it is those who have been saved by grace through faith. 

As you read through these psalms, rejoice in the salvation that is given to you from the Lord and may your praise awaken the dawn. No matter what your circumstance, find hope and joy knowing that you are truly blessed by God as recipients of His grace. And let those reminders drive you to be bold in your witness, with full trust in Him, as you walk in His ways.

Grace and Peace,
Alex Galvez

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These articles follow the current Bible Reading plan for Overflow Ministries. If you would like to join the reading plan, simply download the plan here: Overflow Reading Plan

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If you would like to read the previous articles in the series, you may find them below:
1. Psalms
2. Hymns
3. Community complaints
4. Individual complaints
5. Individual songs of thanksgiving
6. Royal psalms
7. Torah psalms
8. Oracle psalms
9. Blessing psalms
10. Taunt songs
11. Songs of trust