“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.” (Ps 103:21-22 AV)
This is an interesting scripture passage because it speaks to those who are already faithful in pleasing God. Note that the psalmist is speaking to those who are presently doing the pleasure of God. Note also the encouragement to bless the LORD is to all His works (that which He has created) that are in His dominion (or those surrendered under His will). The command is a peculiar one. To bless the LORD would be a given if one is in the will of God and also doing His pleasure, right? Wouldn’t the two go hand in hand? Wouldn’t serving the church, witnessing to others, and being a help to the children of God necessarily bless the LORD? The key is in knowing the definition of the word ‘bless’. The word means to kneel in adoration. It is an emotionally oriented word. Other uses of the same word can mean to be happy. Or, it could mean doing something nice for others or for God. But here, the psalmist tells the faithful servant who is in the will of God and doing His good pleasure not to forsake the personal aspect of his relationship with God.
There is a difference waiting on tables of complete strangers and waiting on a table of people you know and are close to. In the restaurant I managed, these situations we common. We had a dining area and served dine-in customers. Our cashiers were also part-time waitresses. They didn’t wait on the table directly, but did see to our guest’s needs. Mostly they cleared dishes, got more soda, or delivered doggy boxes. They were very good at waiting on customers at both the counter and the dining area. That is, until someone they knew came in. This happened quite frequently on Friday nights during High School football season. Having employed many teenagers, it was normal to remind our staff that there were other customers to be waited on and spending too much time with the people they knew was not ideal service. What was the difference? Those whom the cashiers didn’t know were served faithfully. They did not go without their order. They were greeted cheerfully and cashed out the same. There was no disconnect there. But for those whom the cashiers did know, they enjoyed something others did not. They enjoyed the cashiers’ hearts. There was a connection. The first order of service was wonderful. But it lacked a personal connection. The second received a level of service that the first would never enjoy because of an established personal relationship.
Our psalmist is reminding us that in our faithful service and walk toward God, let us not forget the personal aspect of our relationship. Yes, He is our Creator worthy of our faithful worship and service. Yes, He is almighty and above all He has created. Yes, He should be feared. However, the psalmist is reminding us that in all of this, do not forget to fall to our knees in adoration for the person of Jehovah. Our drawing nigh to the Father does not stop with obedience and service. It starts there. What God wants above all other things is for His children to love Him with all their hearts and souls as well as their bodies and minds. In short, the writer is encouraging us to draw nigh to God with more than our lips or hands. He is reminding us to love the LORD our God as He is. Our patient and ever-loving Father.
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