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1 Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! 2 Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord. 3 May the Lord, maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.

 

This Psalm served as a closing prayer priests in the temple offered to praise and “bless the Lord” during night shifts. This is a very straight forward message captured in three very short verses. Straight forward because we see that the writer uses the word “Bless” in each of the verses. Within this context the priests not only lifted praises and blessings to the Lord during the day at the temple but also at night.

Most of us attend church during the day and through scripture, song, prayer and communion worship the Lord. Sometimes we worship in the evening hours during special services such as our recent Lenten services. We are called to praise the Lord not just in the mornings but in the evening hours too! Our whole lives are meant to be worship, every thought, action and every word. In church, outside church, in our families, in our work, in the very fabric of our daily lives. Every act of praising God is a blessing in itself plus God promises to add his own blessings to it.

Bless you! How many times have we heard that or do we say it? Let’s think about what that straight forward but simple phrase means. To offer someone our blessings or to receive blessings is a prayer that God would lead, guide, direct, save, deliver, help, protect, and provide for us. And here is the Good News… that is exactly what our Lord does for each of us! So, I invite you to join with me the next time you hear or use that phrase, whether it is morning, noon, or night, think about all the ways God is blessing each of us and those around us. A life that blesses God is a life that is blessed by God.

Dear Lord, please help us to lift our voice of praise for you and be ever mindful of all the blessings you bestow on us and your creation.

Sharon Rhodes

Sharonrrhodes76@hotmail.com

 

Prayer Concern: For those who may be in the night times of their life and do not feel God’s blessing.

Additional scripture: Exodus 24:1-11