What Do You Mean "Bless the L-RD"?

Can we as created beings really bless the Almighty, our Creator? So I came across a great explanation for why we should bless the L-RD. Not surprisingly, it starts in Torah: Deuteronomy 8:10 is the original context for blessing the L-RD. "So you will eat and be satisfied, and you will bless the L-RD your G-d for the good land He has given you."

Of note is the fact that the commandment (#19 of the 248 positive ones according to Maimonides) is to bless the L-RD not the food. So what does it mean to bless the L-RD? I'm glad you asked. Dr. Brad Young explains, "The Hebrew term barakh [where we get the word "bless"], in this context (Deut 8:10), does not mean to provide a blessing but rather means to worship God by acknowledging His kingdom and His authority, an action which also influences a person's conduct in daily life" (pg 121 from JJT). Many people ask me the question, so how does your understanding of Jewish roots impact your everyday life?

Praying before meal time is a common everyday occurrence for many followers of Jesus so I think this is a great example to address that question. Dr. Young argues that by blessing the L-RD for providing your food (and/or all sorts of other things!) you are going beyond "...mere praise because, in essence, blessing G-d is a full recognition of His lordship and sovereignty. One could say that one is actually acknowledging the kingdom of G-d, His rule, and His reign as sovereign L-RD of His creation" (pg 120 from JJT). Even as I write this it makes me want to bless the L-RD! Speaking words into existence have real power in His kingdom just as He taught us to pray "Your kingdom come, Your will be done". By blessing Him we are acknowledging the reality of His kingdom!

Dr. Young goes as far as to say that "the failure to bless G-d for benefit received from the world is to deny His goodness and His authority over all that He has created" (pg 121 from JJT). Maybe this is why Shaul (also known as Paul) implores the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17). Let's bless the L-RD in all things!

I Have Officially Entered The 21st Century

So, after much pressure from Leah and many others of the blogging community, I have leaped the technological hurdle of computer saviness (with generous support from Leah) to begin my journey into blogging. By nature, I am a face-to-face person. I do not prefer email, phone, texting, or blogging for communication purposes. However, I do enjoy reading other peoples' blogs. I am the guy who reads and rarely comments but mainly because I can't figure out the word verification, those things can be pretty hard. So, I thought maybe someone out there might enjoy hearing from me every now and again. Plus, as you all know, I have a lot to say and I am very opinionated, so thank you for taking the time to listen to me and/or the people I am quoting.


The following is a quote from a book I just finished. Dr. Young is a Christian who got his Ph. D. from Hebrew University and studied under Dr. David Flusser (probably the most renowned scholar of his day on the historical Jesus). My journey in discovering the Jewishness of Jesus has been so exciting and life giving that I can't even begin to put it in words. Here is a taste of what I love...

Jesus The Jewish Theologian by Dr. Brad Young pg 273

"So the theology of many Jewish scholars is not to have a theology. At least one should not be overly aware of ones theology. Perhaps blind obedience to the Torah will better reveal the divine presence in everyday experience than the intellectual exchange of conceptual ideas. God is too vast. Mystery and wonder must pervade human perception of God's goodness. Contradictions and inconsistencies are part and parcel of God and His mysteries. One learns by doing. The Eastern mind loves riddles and is fond of mystery. The Western theologian explains much and understands little. The Eastern mindset of Jewish theology reveres God and wonders at His mysteries. All attempts to systematize God will fall short. Stand in amazement. Wonder in awe.

Jesus is like that. He never wrote a creed. He did not occupy Himself with systematic theology. But He is a profound theologian even if He would feel uncomfortable with this Western designation, He is a theologian but His theology is Jewish to the core, being rooted in Torah faithful Judaism. He stressed action more than belief. His theology emerges in the metaphor of parable and a holy reverence for life. God is good. One must stand in wonder and awe before Him."