"Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me, (eth) his holy name."1
Lets look at what the scriptures say about the soul. This word for soul, speaks of man as a living person; the breathing substance or being, the inner being of man. The scriptures speak of the soul having desires and passions, of the heart, as my soul rejoices, my soul loves. The soul can have appetite, a hungry soul, thirsty soul, "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."2 It speaks of the loneliness of the soul, how the soul is alienated from, a weary soul. As we learn more about the soul let us have understanding into what it means bless the Lord O my soul.
This word for within me, qereb, means "inward part, midst." It is safe to say a soul that dies without Christ will spend eternity from God. Jesus said one must be born of the Spirit. While this new creation, born of the Spirit differs from the old, the soul is the same in man. I can view myself covered by the blood of Christ but truly God sees my true identity in spirit. Paul writes our spirit sits in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus, this is what God sees. I am this new person though my mind, flesh, and the devil would say otherwise. Transformation by the renewing of the mind is "working out" this salvation from the inward being into my soul.
"For in my inner being I delight in God's law..."4
We can bless people in gratitude, as salutation, congratulations for prosperity, in homage... But did you know a blessing can be a curse? yes, "For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors."6 A blessing without true love is really a curse, "If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but shuts up his heart from him, how can the love of God abide in him?"7 So, we can open our mouth with a blessing while our heart is "shut up" from loving, such is basically cursing him, and a sin the Bible says. The same would be true to God, to bless God but shut up our hearts from him. To love God with all your heart.... it is the greatest commandment.
"Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy."8
We bless the Lord from our inner being, not just words from our mouth. When we learn of his goodness, that he promises to be our protector, we praise him. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him."9 We learn of his goodness when we learn he is our provider, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.."9 "Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper."10
"... all that is within me, (eth) his holy name."1
This word "eth" is difficult to translate in English but basically it means "point," thus blessing the Lord with our soul points to his holy name. I have learned that to bless the Lord is to praise him, for his goodness. Our blessing the Lord is a reward to him, my inner soul delighting in his goodness. Praise is sacrifice of my lips to God and it is my inner being blessing the Lord, pointing to his holy name.
"In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name."10
You see? our joy comes from trusting in him, not something we conjure up. Trust is essential to obedience and holiness. My soul points to his holiness not my own, I stand before his throne of Grace, by faith. So from trust I can truly say my soul points to his holy name. It is a principle worthy to know, "trust in God with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding" as trusting in God is the essence of our faith, hear and understand. Blessing come to those who persevere in the faith.11 Thus faith is essential to blessing. A false religion that wants men to put trust in the authority of men, not in God, is not beneficial to the hungry, thirsty soul.
"for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."9
We can associate the new covenant idea of praise with blessing the Lord. This word for praise, often translated as glory, is from dokeō, which literally means "what evokes good opinion, i.e. that something has inherent, intrinsic worth." You see? we praise God because we find him worthy. Today, this type of religion that praises men instead of God, kills the soul. Paul writes the letter of the law brought death to him and this is what religious rules and regulations do, it kills people and sin takes opportunity to abound. False piety says look at me, how good I am, but true piety says look at how good God is.
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."10
Blessed are the faithful. This is what the blessed look like; the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers...10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Rejoice and celebrate, because great is your reward in heaven." Truly, the blessings of the faithful speak of personal growth in our soul.
"the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."
Blessing in the new covenant points to Christ, his holy name, “Blessed is the King of Israel!”14 "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords."15 In the new covenant, blessed is the one who believes in the Lord.16 Our salvation comes through faith in Christ and we know it is by faith we please God thus all blessings come through faith, "who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."17 Truly, spiritual blessings are much more valuable than earthly gold and silver.
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man."18
Another worthy verse, thats speaks of finding favor in the eyes of God. Let love and faithfulness never leave you, such speaks of the fullness of God that came in Christ, of grace and truth. We can associate grace with love and faith with truth, now abides faith, hope, and love. Let love and faithfulness be bound around the neck and written on the hearts of God's people. "I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."19 When I understand his goodness, truly my soul, my inner being, blesses the Lord, pointing to his holy name.
Then Sings My Soul
"I am good to you because of my goodness, not because you are good. Reward me for my goodness"
Lets look at what the scriptures say about the soul. This word for soul, speaks of man as a living person; the breathing substance or being, the inner being of man. The scriptures speak of the soul having desires and passions, of the heart, as my soul rejoices, my soul loves. The soul can have appetite, a hungry soul, thirsty soul, "For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things."2 It speaks of the loneliness of the soul, how the soul is alienated from, a weary soul. As we learn more about the soul let us have understanding into what it means bless the Lord O my soul.
This word for within me, qereb, means "inward part, midst." It is safe to say a soul that dies without Christ will spend eternity from God. Jesus said one must be born of the Spirit. While this new creation, born of the Spirit differs from the old, the soul is the same in man. I can view myself covered by the blood of Christ but truly God sees my true identity in spirit. Paul writes our spirit sits in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus, this is what God sees. I am this new person though my mind, flesh, and the devil would say otherwise. Transformation by the renewing of the mind is "working out" this salvation from the inward being into my soul.
"For in my inner being I delight in God's law..."4
We can bless people in gratitude, as salutation, congratulations for prosperity, in homage... But did you know a blessing can be a curse? yes, "For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the covetous, whom the LORD abhors."6 A blessing without true love is really a curse, "If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but shuts up his heart from him, how can the love of God abide in him?"7 So, we can open our mouth with a blessing while our heart is "shut up" from loving, such is basically cursing him, and a sin the Bible says. The same would be true to God, to bless God but shut up our hearts from him. To love God with all your heart.... it is the greatest commandment.
"Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy."8
We bless the Lord from our inner being, not just words from our mouth. When we learn of his goodness, that he promises to be our protector, we praise him. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him."9 We learn of his goodness when we learn he is our provider, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.."9 "Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me; O LORD, be my helper."10
"... all that is within me, (eth) his holy name."1
This word "eth" is difficult to translate in English but basically it means "point," thus blessing the Lord with our soul points to his holy name. I have learned that to bless the Lord is to praise him, for his goodness. Our blessing the Lord is a reward to him, my inner soul delighting in his goodness. Praise is sacrifice of my lips to God and it is my inner being blessing the Lord, pointing to his holy name.
"In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name."10
You see? our joy comes from trusting in him, not something we conjure up. Trust is essential to obedience and holiness. My soul points to his holiness not my own, I stand before his throne of Grace, by faith. So from trust I can truly say my soul points to his holy name. It is a principle worthy to know, "trust in God with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding" as trusting in God is the essence of our faith, hear and understand. Blessing come to those who persevere in the faith.11 Thus faith is essential to blessing. A false religion that wants men to put trust in the authority of men, not in God, is not beneficial to the hungry, thirsty soul.
"for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."9
We can associate the new covenant idea of praise with blessing the Lord. This word for praise, often translated as glory, is from dokeō, which literally means "what evokes good opinion, i.e. that something has inherent, intrinsic worth." You see? we praise God because we find him worthy. Today, this type of religion that praises men instead of God, kills the soul. Paul writes the letter of the law brought death to him and this is what religious rules and regulations do, it kills people and sin takes opportunity to abound. False piety says look at me, how good I am, but true piety says look at how good God is.
"But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."10
Blessed are the faithful. This is what the blessed look like; the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers...10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven... Rejoice and celebrate, because great is your reward in heaven." Truly, the blessings of the faithful speak of personal growth in our soul.
"the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him."
Blessing in the new covenant points to Christ, his holy name, “Blessed is the King of Israel!”14 "the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords."15 In the new covenant, blessed is the one who believes in the Lord.16 Our salvation comes through faith in Christ and we know it is by faith we please God thus all blessings come through faith, "who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ."17 Truly, spiritual blessings are much more valuable than earthly gold and silver.
"Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man."18
Another worthy verse, thats speaks of finding favor in the eyes of God. Let love and faithfulness never leave you, such speaks of the fullness of God that came in Christ, of grace and truth. We can associate grace with love and faith with truth, now abides faith, hope, and love. Let love and faithfulness be bound around the neck and written on the hearts of God's people. "I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."19 When I understand his goodness, truly my soul, my inner being, blesses the Lord, pointing to his holy name.
Then Sings My Soul
"I am good to you because of my goodness, not because you are good. Reward me for my goodness"