HONEST AND TRUTHFUL
March 5, 2025THE “NATIONS” AND THE LORD
March 7, 2025These days, we see so many people talking about “blessings” and so many sermons being preached on “blessings” in the churches. Some have listed, “How to get your blessings.” Some others have ‘enlightened’ their listeners on, “How to declare your own blessings, on yourself.” It is amusing, to be honest, to see such declarations, such pronouncements, and the paraphernalia. It is as though, they are, by “speaking” their “word” are “birthing” blessings. The logic being, they are given that power by God Himself, because, now we are His children.
Well, let us get the litmus test done – let us see what the Bible says about blessings, and how will one get them. Let us read Psalm 128.
– “1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. 4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD. 5 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel.” – Psalms 128
Let us look at verse one, which sets the tone and the tenor of the whole Psalm. Not just that, it also lays down, the ground rules, for any life, that is blessed by God.
– “1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.” – Psalm 128:1
Verse one very clearly lays it out, that…
– “the FEAR OF THE LORD” is the foundation for any life, that is blessed. In fact, anyone who fears the LORD is “already” blessed.
– Now, what is this FEAR OF THE LORD? The very next line, explains to us, what does the Word of God means by the FEAR OF THE LORD – “that WALKETH IN HIS WAYS.”
– The same is repeated in verse four, nor only to emphasise the importance, but also to reconfirm, how a person is truly blessed.
– “4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.” – Psalm 128:4
We are called to fear the LORD. Simply put, we ought to RESPECT, HONOUR, TRUST, and FAITHFULLY OBEY the LORD. This is to “WALK IN HIS WAYS.” Did not the LORD God Almighty already let us know, that to obey is better than sacrifice?
– “22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” – 1 Samuel 15:22-23a
How silly of us, that we want blessings by any other means, other than our obedience to the LORD. Obedience calls for a life of sacrifice, disassociation and distancing from all that LORD does not like. Then, doing, yes, we are called to DO all that the LORD likes – speak the truth, be honest, be transparent, work hard, do not cheat, and the likes – in all our thoughts, words and deeds.
Such a walk will surely, and certainly, cause, immense discomfort; it will dislodge us from all that we are attached to. This will cause suffering and pain…but this is the way that leads to true blessings…as God defined it. Sorry, there is no other way, other than this. Every other way is false, and will lead us to our destruction – BEWARE.
The one who is willing to let go of all human securities, and completely trust God for His safety and provision; and then walks faithfully and obediently, on the way that our LORD had so clearly spoken about, in His Word, is the one, who will be truly blessed. Such blessings will be true blessings, that will last forever, and truly make us blessed.
May the LORD help us to run after true and lasting blessings, and not the ones that the world offers, on duplicitous grounds. Even so the LORD help us.
