HEBREW WORD STUDY

Psalm 103:1-5 is an outstanding section of verses. It begins with "Bless the Lord, O my soul" (v. 1). "Bless" is "barak." It comes from the Hebrew word that means "to kneel" or "knee." To bless is to kneel down before God. Another related word is to "barak" is "fat cattle" ("Be' Ree"). Fat cattle are a blessing to the farmer that means more food on the table.    The word "covenant" is also related: Ba'Ret. To make a covenant or a contract brings about a blessing between individuals, and it brings security. A blessing comes forth from someone, but specifically, a blessing is created. Only God can create something out of nothing, and this is a blessing! So the word Ba'Rah means to create, as creating the heaven and the earth (Gen. 1:1). The word is used only of the Lord who created all things that have come into being. Using the Participle, Solomon wrote "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." To create you is a blessing. We should remember the Lord, our Creator, "before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, 'I have no delight in them (that is, in the evil days)'" (Eccl. 12:1).    103:2-5 tell us why we should be blessing the Lord. We should "bless His holy name," We should forget "none of His benefits," He "pardons all our iniquities," He "heals all our diseases," He "redeems our life from the pit," He "crowns us with lovingkindness and compassion," and He "satisfied our years with good things." What a God we have who blesses us continually, thus our souls should be blessing Him!     Dr. Mal Couch   (12/10)