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Thursday, 9 November 2017
Psalm 134 - God has called us into His light

Psalm 134:1-3 "Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!" NKJV

"Look here! Bless exactly the Lord, Yehovah, all (you) servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord in the night. Who raise up their holy hands and bless the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion, the Maker of heaven and earth."

This Psalm is the last of the Psalms of Ascent. It is very short and to the point, "Bless the Lord." This is our last "instruction" being sung to us by the priests who are chanting these Psalms of Ascent as we climb the steps to our official appointment before the King of Kings, who created the universe.

Wait! I thought we were making this approach to RECEIVE a blessing. I get to the top of the stairs only to hear that we are to GIVE a blessing? In Hebrew to bless is L'Varech. The root of this word is the same root as "knee", giving a connotation of kneeling.

What is the connection between kneeling and blessing? We all should understand the connection between kneeling and submitting (the word "submit" means to "place under"). With God, it is all "a heart thing". We must place our hearts under God's authority.

When we do, we are giving God the only thing He has not already given Himself, the free will heart of man. Loving and giving are connected (true love is always self-sacrificing). We arrive in the one place on earth that is closest to the place He has called His home to love Him.

Let's lay our hearts on His altar, and declare His praise. Bless the Lord.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 11:06am Comment Comments: 0