How Blessed - Part 6 (Manifestations of Blessing)

"How blessed is/are ... !" This study in Psalms has revealed five situations in which God gives His blessing. First, He intends special blessing for the nation of Israel. Second, there is blessing associated with being in His presence. Third, blessing comes to those who endeavor to keep themselves free from sin. Fourth, God's blessing falls on those who live righteously. Fifth, God blesses those who trust Him as their source of help.

There is a bit of ambiguity in these situations. For instance, does God particularly bless those who seek His presence, or is the blessing an inevitable result of being in His presence? Does God deliberately bless a man who is free from sin and who lives righteously? Or is the blessing found inherently in the state of being free from sin and the practice of living righteously? In other words, is the blessing the result of some action or is the blessing a characteristic of the state created by that action?

It would be difficult from the verses to define the blessing as being one aspect or the other. More likely, both are true. Scripture clearly teaches that living the right kind of life results in a blessed state. The Bible also reveals that God sometimes bestows special blessing on people in response to their heart and actions for Him. The conclusion of this study will examine some of the visible outpourings of God's blessing. Verses from the Psalms describe various pleasures of life that are evidences of God's blessing.

"The earth has yielded its produce; God, our God, blesses us. God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may fear Him" (67:6-7). These verses repeatedly state that blessing comes from God, and He does so in order that other people would take note of His blessing; God wants all men to realize there is something special in a relationship with Him, and He desires all men to fear Him. Blessing on a Christian's life can be a magnet that attracts others to God. The specific blessing listed is the fruitful production of the earth. God's blessing includes provision for material needs.

"Also He blesses them and they multiply greatly, and He does not let their cattle decrease" (107:38). God's blessings can be displayed as families (or nations) grow through the births of many children. God also blesses by causing herds and livestock to prosper rather than suffer decline. God blesses with family and with success in resources.

"For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your sons within you" (147:13). In this case God's blessing is on the strength and protection of the city as well as on the children or descendants within the city. God's blessing includes peace and prosperity.

"For You meet him with the blessings of good things; You set a crown of fine gold on his head" (21:3). For David in particular, God made him king and gave him riches and other unspecified good things. God's blessing can include power as well as prosperity and pleasures.

"How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate" (127:5). One of God's blessings is that of many children, which are compared to arrows for a soldier, a necessity for his survival. God gives children to aid a man in his life and influence.

"When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table" (128:2-3). The blessings include self-sufficiency in prosperous crops, a happy spirit, and a pleasant, favorable life. The blessings also include a fruitful wife who cares for the house, and healthy, flourishing children who surround their father. In summary, these blessings center around a happy and fruitful family.

"God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us" (67:1). This verse shares two parallel descriptions. God's blessing would look like He is being gracious by showing favor. It would also look like His face is shining on people. It is hard to understand this unusual phrase with any meaning except that God looks on people favorably and with brightness, like the pleasant rays of the sun. When God blesses, His actions are deliberate and purposeful as well as delightful and pleasant.

Clearly, God's blessings are various. These are not the only evidences of God's blessing, and God does not give all of these blessings to every Christian He is blessing. However, when these pleasures of life happen, they are a result of God's blessing.

God's blessing is powerful. "Let them curse, but You bless; when they arise, they shall be ashamed, but Your servant shall be glad" (109:28). God is greater than any adversary. Enemies might do all they can to tear someone down and destroy him, but those efforts cannot override God's blessing. When God decides to bless, the opposition of man is no match for Him.

God is able to bless, because He is the powerful creator. "May you be blessed of the LORD, maker of heaven and earth" (115:15). The One who made all things and sustains all things is able to provide blessings for His people. This psalm contrasts Him with false gods who have no such power. Over the millennia, people have performed horrible rituals, sacrifices, and deprivation in order to seek the favor of their gods. It was all in vain. Regardless of the level of devotion or abuse, gods who are no gods cannot bestow the slightest bit of blessing, but God - the true God - can give abundant blessing, and He does so not because people merit or earn it.  A loving God shows undeserved blessing to all who inhabit the earth, and in particular to those who belong to Him.