🍞 Manna for Meditation 190

21 June, 2022

💎 “A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless Adonai, all servants of Adonai who stand by night in the House of Adonai. Lift up your hands to the Sanctuary and bless Adonai. May Adonai bless you out of Zion—Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psm 134:1-3)

Psalm 134 is the last and shortest of the fifteen Song of Ascents (Psalm 120-134). The Song of Ascents are also called Song of Degrees, Song of Steps, Gradual Psalms or Pilgrim Songs. The City of Jerusalem is situated on the southern spur of a plateau in the Judaean Mountains. Traditionally, these psalms were sung by pilgrims when they ascended to the road to Jerusalem for the three main festivals every year. This final psalm demonstrates twofold benediction – blessing God (v.1-2) and being blessed by God (v.3).

Our blessing God (v1-2)

The Hebrew word הִנֵּה (hineh) meaning “behold” is not translated in both English and Chinese NIV versions. It is a demonstrative particle used to point out persons, things, places or actions. The psalmist is getting our attention to a key point – keep awake, stand in the presence of God, and redeem time for ministering God in praise and worship!

The Hebrew word בּרך (barakh) translated “bless” is related to another Hebrew word בּרך (berekh) “knee”. To bless literally means to bend the knee for presenting a gift. To bless God is an act of adoration, worship and gratitude. In our weakness, we humble ourselves, kneel before God, open our eyes to His grace, care and provision, acknowledge His blessedness, praise Him, honour His Name, and gratefully recognise Him as the Giver of blessing.

God’s blessing Us (v3)

We all desire to receive the divine, infinite, abundant and eternal blessings from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Through our communion with God, we receive the benediction by virtue of the Covenant. In verse 3, the servants of the Lord turn to declare God’s blessing upon the people. As God’s servants and maidservants, we have to pray for God’s blessings, not only for ourselves, but also for others.

At BBPN, we always exercise blessing others as follows:

Body: Declare God’s blessings over physical healing and strength.
Labour: Declare God’s blessings over work, studies, vocations…etc.
Emotions: Declare God’s blessings over emotions, pressures, difficulties…etc.
Social needs: Declare God’s blessings over all sorts of relations, such as marriage, parenting, friendship, working…etc.
Spiritual needs: Declare God’s blessings for salvation, being filled by the Holy Spirit, discipleship, spiritual growth…etc.

Let us worship Him!

Psalm 134 in Hebrew – Shir Hamaalot , Psalm 134 music worship

🙏 Dear Father, make us your faithful servants and maidservants to minister You day and night. Deepen our gratitude, praise and worship to honour and adore You with all our heart, all our mind and all our strength. Increase our desire and hunger for all of You, and make us a blessing to all nations. In the Name of Yeshua we pray and bless You, Amen.