The 40th Anniversary of the “Year of the Bible,” Part Four: What It Means To Be “Blessed”

In this, the 40th anniversary of President Reagan’s proclamation of 1983 as The Year of the Bible (signed by Congress), I continue to highlight Scripture.

Of the many prominent words throughout Scripture is the word translated “blessed.” It’s found in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. In our culture, we tend to use the word “bless” or “blessed” perhaps without understanding or appreciating its full weight.

The Hebrew word in v.8 from the verse above is ashrey (cf. Ps. 1:1). It’s in the plural tense, which signifies intensity and which offers us insight into the goodness of God in what He has for people who seek Him. Ashrey comes from the root word “to walk straight.” It means to be “supremely happy”; to be “fulfilled”; to be “highly envied”!

Willem VanGemeren correctly and wisely cautions that biblical happiness “is not merely a feeling.” He adds,

“Even when the righteous do not feel happy, they are still considered ‘blessed’ from God’s perspective. He bestows this gift on them. Neither negative feelings nor adverse conditions can take his blessing away.”[1]

Peter Craigie is correct in noting that the “happy” condition of the righteous “is not something given automatically by God, but is a direct result of their activity.”[2]

Charles Spurgeon’s understood this concept of being “blessed” very well, indeed. Although Spurgeon suffered throughout his life with deep bouts of severe depression, yet he could still declare this from personal experience: “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”

I invite you to a deeper study of the greatest Book of Encouragement in existence — the book of Psalms — to live in it and to devour it. God’s truly blessed life — independent of circumstances — is there for you. For more nuggets of key Hebrew and Greek words, see my two devotionals on the subject: https://www.bradabley.com/books

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[1]Willem A. VanGemeren, Psalms, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 5, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1991), 53.

[2] Peter C. Craigie, Psalms 1-50, Word Biblical Commentary, vol. 19, eds. David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker (Waco: TX: Word Books, 1983, 60.

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The Year of the Bible, Part Three

In this, the 40th anniversary of President Reagan’s proclamation of 1983 as The Year of the Bible (signed by Congress), I continue to highlight Scripture. Today, I’ll do so with a passage from Psalm 119:97-104, followed by an important statement on the Bible from President Theodore Roosevelt, and conclude with an insight into the Bible’s importance in our world.

How I love Your Law!
It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever with me.
⁹⁹ I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than those who are old,
Because I have complied with Your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
So that I may keep Your word.
¹⁰² I have not turned aside from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

Please ponder the above verses, but also consider that the Hebrew word translated “Law” comes from Torah, which is the teaching or instruction of Yahweh — the personal, active, covenant-keeping God. Torah refers to the entire Old Testament. Not one of the pagan deities of the surrounding nations was personal, active, or faithful to keep covenant for the benefit of the people.

It’s no wonder that President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) said this of Scripture: “No educated man can afford to be ignorant of the Bible.”

The Golden Rule: “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

Now for the importance of the Bible to our world: Wherever people take Scripture seriously — meaning they base their lives on it — peace, order and harmony ultimately prevail. American culture has virtually lost its understanding of what has been called The Golden Rule for society, and consequently we see a dramatic increase in hatred in every sphere.

Moreover, divorce, family breakups, greed, corruption, perversion, confusion — all nearly dominate our world now because people are ignorant of the teaching of the Bible. If we truly followed The Golden Rule, the horrific statistics of the societal breakdown I just referred to would be reversed.

Why is that? Because God knows that when we live selfishly, we self-destruct. But when we put others ahead of ourselves, we prosper. This is the idea of “doing unto others as you would have them do to you.” I write this blog as a small effort to call our nation back to the foundation we’ve largely lost and are now paying a deep price for our decision.

But may this, my prayer, have more influence still: Father, please revive Your Church, bring a new Reformation to it, and bring a massive awakening to our nation, in Jesus’ name, amen.

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