Unreserved Blessing Offered and Undeserved Blessing Received in Psalm 134

As I began to slowly heal from the depths of grief, I began to understand and identify with the Levitical musicians described in 1 Chronicles 25. Earlier in the book, according to 1 Chronicles 9:33, these musicians were on duty day and night. As I began to recover, I found myself praising God for his grace, mercy, peace, love, hope, and comfort.

Like these Old Testament singers, I was on duty day and night.

“Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord!” Psalm 134:1

Considering his sustaining, fresh, surpassing, steadfast, unhindered, and contagious kindness, I found I was overcome with gratefulness. And praise.

Like these Levitical musical servants of the Lord, I was compelled to come into his presence with praise. Day and night. What they did by virtue of their role, I did because I could not restrain my grateful response. I worshipped. I had experienced bedrock in my faith journey.

“Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” Psalm 134:2

Grateful worship often moves beyond the heart to external forms that match the inner compulsion to praise. Some fall to their knees. Some bow in reverence. Some involuntarily raise their hands. Paul says in 1 Timothy 2:8, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands…” This is by no means a habitual or mindless response. It is first heartfelt. Enthused.

The prerequisite to blessing the Lord in the holy place is that it flows from a holy heart. Our hearts are not made perfect in our own goodness. They are made perfect by the blood of Christ. However, we are to keep ourselves unstained. We are to be holy as he is holy.

“Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44

Brokenness shines a light on redemption. God’s goodness to reach down to us is most clearly seen when we are at our lowest. He redeems our life story. He empowers us for living. And yet, we have a responsibility. Paul instructs, “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). We are to consecrate ourselves and act like our holy God. Again, this is God’s doing, not our own. In his book, The Long Walk Home, Matt Carter writes, “Is God holy? Yes, but we must never forget that he is also a God of love, a love the Scriptures say is limitless, never-ending toward his children.” And so, we receive the wonderful blessing from the hand of our loving Lord.

“May the Lord bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!” Psalm 134:3

David reflects the blessing we are giving to God and informs the reader that he is praying that the Lord will bless his people from Zion. This God to whom he prays is the Creator of heaven and earth. He is Lord over all—everything in heaven and earth.

“…the exchange is quite unequal: to bless God is to acknowledge gratefully what he is; but to bless man, God must make of him what he is not, and give him what he has not.” Derek Kidner, Psalms 73-150

An iconic song, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” carries a consoling message. Some attribute the song to a Native American, others to a slave in the American south. Regardless, the simple truth is clear. The Maker of heaven and earth extends blessings to all people who are his possession. He is sovereign over all things. He is Lord and Master over all of heaven and all of earth and everything therein.

In that context, we can wholly trust him and his ways. He is dependable. He will bless you from Zion.

“Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide, and Stay, Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.” Daniel C. Roberts, “God of Our Fathers”