Why A Blessing?

God, be merciful to us and bless us!
Cause Your face to shine upon us.


This verse, this request of Psalm 67 has an end purpose. We do not request this blessing only for ourselves, but that His ways may be known upon the earth, in our families, neighborhoods and among friends and acquaintances. The prayer gives the ultimate end purpose for mercy and blessing and that His face shine upon us ~


" That Thy way may be known upon the earth, Thy saving health among the nations."


The goal of His blessing on our lives is that the nations will see this and become glad and sing for joy! They will see that there is an end result to living for God, a reward for praising and depending upon God for our need.


" Let the nations (our neighbors, family and friends) be glad and sing for joy! For He judges (makes correct decisions ) and governs the nations of the earth. Selah (Think on this).


Let the people praise Him, let ALL the people praise Him. For only He is worthy of all praise. Then (after this) the earth shall yield her increase, and God, even our own God, shall bless us.


The Hebrew word for praise means to extend the hands, to revere and worship. Or to bemoan by the wringing of the hands; this we do when in times of distress or peril.
King David said, " My soul wait Thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him."


Do not look to the world for any lasting comfort. There are many what I call "numbing agents" to give temporary relief. Alcohol, drugs, television, radio and general noise that dulls the senses and crowds out God's voice in our lives. Run from these; we cannot wonder why God does not speak if we spend most of our time with these numbing agents.


King David points us in the right direction. Speaking through the inspiration of the Spirit of God he says that only God is his rock, his salvation and his defense. In God is our salvation and our glory (boasting). He is the rock of our strength and our refuge is in Him.


Trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart before Him. He is a Refuge for us. Think on this!



We live in troubled times. King David did also. He was appointed king as a young man. He sat in King Saul's court for a season and Saul tried to murder him on numerous occasions. David was surrounded by a band of men that were running from the law, men of questionable character and generally troublemakers. David was honest with God; in a prayer in Psalm 71 he says, " Thou, which hast shown me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.



God shall quicken us! The Hebrew word quicken means to revive, to nourish up, to preserve, repair and recover. If we were not in dire straights sometimes how would we know of His ability to save and restore? He puts us in this position to test and strengthen our faith, hope and dependence on Him. These trials show us that we cannot do anything on our own and bring it to a successful end. He is in charge!


After each trial we are increased, strengthened and given insight of His all encompassing ability and desire to revive, restore and quicken us. We learn this on a first hand basis. How else are we to know? How else does it sink in? We have a great hope.


There is a New Testament concept of this with the Greek word for quicken used. Romans 8:11 says ~


" If the Spirit of Him (God) that raised up Christ from the dead dwells in you - He that raised Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you."



Notice what it does not say. It does not say the Spirit may quicken you, or could possibly quicken you, but that IT WILL QUICKEN YOU!


Reach deep into the things of God. Pay attention to His working in our life. What seems to be great and sore troubles serve eternal purposes. He will bring us up again from the depths. He has promised to do so, and He cannot lie. It is not that He will not lie, HE CANNOT LIE!



Have a wonderful Sabbath thinking upon Him. Pray the the quickening Spirit of God be with us daily! Praise Him. Extend your hands and revere, worship and honor our Great King! One day, very very soon, the whole of creation will praise, acknowledge and worship our Father. Let's get an early start.