Differentiating Between Being Blessed By God and Blessing God
Whereas the word Bless when used towards mankind is usually read as "Blessed is the man, the one, are they", when the phrase is on the other foot, we read "Blessed be the name of the LORD" or "Bless the LORD".
To be blessed by God is to receive from God. To bless God is to give to God.
When God blesses us, His Word tells us and those who know us that we are happy in God, that we are to be envied by those who know us. Our relationship to God through Christ should cause others who do not have this relationship to be hungry and thirsty for what we have.
When we bless God, we are worshiping God. There are several different aspects of worship we must consider when we are directed to Bless God. The first is:
For instance, in Job 1:21, when Job chooses to worship God instead of resorting to woe and commiseration, it is not that he is not devastated upon the loss of his children and his wealth, it is that He knows all of his blessings came from God and God is still God:
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In that verse BLESSED is translated from the Hebraic word BARAK, which means to kneel. Job knelt before the LORD and worshiped God. While there are many times, this definition occurs, it is important to note that it is not only people who kneel before God, but all His hosts and all His works, as well (Psalm 103:22).
Whereas the word Bless when used towards mankind is usually read as "Blessed is the man, the one, are they", when the phrase is on the other foot, we read "Blessed be the name of the LORD" or "Bless the LORD".
To be blessed by God is to receive from God. To bless God is to give to God.
When God blesses us, His Word tells us and those who know us that we are happy in God, that we are to be envied by those who know us. Our relationship to God through Christ should cause others who do not have this relationship to be hungry and thirsty for what we have.
When we bless God, we are worshiping God. There are several different aspects of worship we must consider when we are directed to Bless God. The first is:
BARAK
And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In that verse BLESSED is translated from the Hebraic word BARAK, which means to kneel. Job knelt before the LORD and worshiped God. While there are many times, this definition occurs, it is important to note that it is not only people who kneel before God, but all His hosts and all His works, as well (Psalm 103:22).
And, even more than our physical self kneeling, our soul is bless God in this way -- Psalm 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed in splendor and majesty.
Even the enemies of God will kneel before Him. Romans 14:11 For it is written, As I live, says the LORD, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue confess to God. And, again, in Philippians 2:10, 11 'That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.'
When Paul is suffering for the cause of Christ, he reminds the church in Ephesus not to feel bad for him, because "For this cause (his tribulations) I bow my knees unto the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named." Ephesians 3:14, 15. Paul knelt before God in worship for the opportunity to suffer for Him! This should be how we face trials and tribulations in this world: on our knees with humility and praise, as Paul reminds them and us in the rest of the Book of Ephesians.
