Winter 1998
Bless The Lord
By Charles Haun

The word "bless" (Hebrew barac) has a compound meaning, "to bless and kneel." A problem develops concerning these meanings, when God is the activator - "I will bless them." This could not mean that God will kneel before them.

Since "kneel" is a meaning of barac, there must be more to this word than bending that part of the leg. In fact, the authorities add to the meaning, the word "prosperity."

Does "Bless the Lord" then mean to cause God to prosper? Prosperity is multiplication, addition, or increase. How could we add to God? Our lives are an example of a way in which we have an opportunity to please God.

The Lord can receive pleasure from us. Today, we can give to the Lord something He never had before, thus adding to Him. We can yield the right to our lives to the Lord, and allow Him to speak through us in a way that He could not have done before.

"Bless ye the LORD, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of
His, that do His pleasure." Psalm 103:21.

We should consider, and then ask ourselves the following questions;

"What is in me? Am I full of self and the desires of the flesh? Does that which is within me displease God, or does that which is godly fill my life?"

Can I honestly testify, "God is pleased with the qualities that fill my inner being - which allow Him to be seen though me?

"Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me,
bless His holy name." Psalm 103:1.

This "within me" is where the Lord seeks to procure His own blessing. We prepare it for Him by shutting our "gates" to the impurities and shameless unrighteousness of this present age.

Then we provide "blessings" for Him by taking in those elements characterized by purity and godliness.