BLESS US

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
² that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
³ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
⁵ Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
⁶ The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
⁷ May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

I wonder what it looks like for God to ‘bless us’ as this Psalm prays? What does it look like to know God’s graciousness and blessings? Is it only good things? Is it a certain outcome you got what you wanted or is it something more? I think of those who encountered Jesus and asked of him to ‘bless them’ or heal them; did they really know what they were asking of their Lord? Do we? And when such blessings do occur, how do we respond?

Prayer

Gracious Lord, we join our voices with the Psalmist asking for your grace and your blessings. In our lives, may it be enough. And in experiencing such blessings, may we truly sing your praises. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.