Genesis 1:27-29 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Yesterday I ended that devotional with “Bless the Lord.” It occurred to me later that we might not understand exactly how we can bless the Lord. I thought it best to search out the meaning and see what His Word has to say about it.

According to the Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon one Hebrew word bless is barak and is defined as bending the knee. It is not the only word used to express blessings but holds the key ideas required to understand how God blessed His creation and how we might bless God.

The classic thought of bending the knee is being in subjection to, recognizing a higher authority and being willing to obey that authorities commands. If you think about it strictly in those terms it does not satisfy God’s blessings upon His creation.

Think of it rather as yielding to the needs of another. When God created life He recognized that life would require a place, sustenance, and purpose. He bless His creation by yielding to the needs of His creation. None one was there to ask God for this blessing, it was God’s intended design and purpose to meet His own need, to love and be loved.

Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

When you interview for a job one of the things you always have to consider is the benefits package. When it is your livelihood and a position to care for wife and children, the benefits package may well determine if you accept an offer of employment.

What does that benefit package look like when you are offered the position of Christian? Here in Psalm 103 we will see a list of benefits which you can look at and see if you are willing to accept the offer.

Forgiveness, health, redemption, love, mercy, satisfaction, youthfulness, righteousness, justice, knowledge and future plans for you are in the offering. That is quite a mouthful and on the surface of that offer, it might seem unrealistic and unachievable but we are talking about God as your boss. Only God can make such an offer. Only God can make those benefits become real to those who choose to serve Him.

Here’s the catch, because there is always a catch. Notice there is no compensation package. There is no promise of wealth. These are just the benefits package and nothing in them states the terms and conditions of employment. What are those terms?

Psalm 103:18-19 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

You have to surrender your life to a sovereign God who shall rule over you. This isn’t a democracy, it is a monarchy.

Psalm 103:21-22 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

Be a blessing to Him in all that you do.