Blessing His Name
And so we finish this week by getting to the chorus of Blessed Be the Name. It goes like this:
Blessèd be the name, blessèd be the name,
Blessèd be the name of the Lord;
Blessèd be the name, blessèd be the name,
Blessèd be the name of the Lord!
A simple chorus, but powerful in its simplicity. The Hebrew word translated as "blessed" is barak, and it means to kneel, to bless, or to praise. Singing "blessed be the name of the Lord" then is a deep act of worship - acknowledging God's worth, His character, and His works.
After all, in Hebrew thinking, a person's name summed up their character and being. To worship at the name of the Lord in this way is to honour and exalt Him in all His fullness and glory!
Biblical Examples of Blessing God's Name
It's a phrase we read regularly in the Bible. Perhaps most profound is how Job used this phrase in Job 1:21: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." He had just lost everything he had - his children, his wealth, his health. Yet even in this awful season, Job blessed God's name. What a lesson - that blessing God's name shouldn't be dependent on good circumstances but on God's character at all times.
The Psalms too, use this phrase. Psalm 113:2-3 declares: "Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised." Psalm 103:1-2 says: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." And in Daniel 2:20 we read Daniel's prayer, which said: "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might." Using this phrase was common among the Israelites to show their love and adoration of their God.
Making His Name Holy
In the New Testament, Jesus taught us to pray "Hallowed be Thy name" (Matthew 6:9). This carries the same theme - treating God's name as holy, honoured, revered.
How powerful, to sing these words from the heart!
So I hope this song will be stuck in your head this weekend! I hope that the words make you burst into jubilant praise of our great God. He is so worthy as the one who reigns, the name above all, the Redeemer, Saviour, Friend, and Conqueror. Blessed be His name!
