“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!” Psalm 128:1 ESV
Reflection: what do you mean when you wish blessings on someone?
A few years ago, as we were leaving the parking garage of the Boise airport, I asked the woman collecting the parking fee “How are you?” A normal question, and I expected a normal answer with something like “Good, and you?” But I got an unexpected answer back. She said “I am blessed”. This woman was sitting in a tiny booth, probably a low paying job, working late in the evening, having to deal with customers complaining about the cost of parking at the airport. How could she say that she was blessed? I was quite stunned by her response, and had to really rethink the whole meaning of being blessed. How could she consider herself blessed? This word “Blessed” is commonly used within the Christian circles, in prayers like “Lord, bless us”, in greetings like“Have a blessed day!” Etc. it sounds good as a word and phrase, but what specifically do we wish for that person by using the word “bless”?
The word “blessed” in its Hebrew and Greek forms is used about 45 times in the Old Testament and about 50 times in the New Testament, so it is certainly a theme across the entire Bible. And, if you look just at the definition of the word from Strong, it doesn’t say a lot. It basically is interchanged with the word “happy”, and also has roots in meaning like “to be advanced, be led on; to be made happy, be blessed.” So it is a word that we also need to use context in order for it to have full meaning, as we see in the Psalm for today. The focus verse says “Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways!” Psalm 128:1 ESV. But without the meaning here, it seems a bit empty, right? Because our natural question then becomes “why” or “how” is that person blessed by fearing the LORD? The psalmist goes on
“You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.” Psalm 128:2 ESV
Ah, now that is much more specific. That starts defining what blessed mean here, and is really what the psalm is promising. And, we read on “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children! Peace be upon Israel!”Psalm 128:3-6 ESV. Notice that the blessings are specific; not empty.
Another example we can consider is Psalm 1. Since it is pretty short let’s read it. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 ESV. Ok, again, it seems a bit empty without the explanation of what sort of “blessings” follow. Let’s continue to read. “He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1:3-6 ESV. We see here the blessings are not necessarily something simple, something that satisfies the flesh. Like what we would consider “good times” in the world. Blessings may actually be something very difficult for the flesh, but good for the soul.
Jesus famously used this word blessed a number of times saying ““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10 ESV. We see each of the blessings are defined, using “for…” And, we see a clear delineation between flesh and spirit here, between the physical and the spiritual. Jesus finishes the definition of these blessings of His kingdom by saying
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12 ESV.