TO PRAISEorTO BLESS
READERS REPRESENTING THE PASTOR
August 31 – September 6, 2020
PSALMS 145:10
In this week’s Christian Science Bible lesson, titled, “Man,” the very last Bible citation is a two-part observation by the psalmist in Psalms 145, verse 10, which reads as follows:
“All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee.”
THE DEFINITION OF “PRAISE”
The first observation involves “praising” God.My Webster’s Dictionary defines “praise” as: to commend, to glorify, to worship, to value, to merit.
EASY TO PRAISE GOD
There is so much evidence of the benefits that God bestows on us that it easy to “praise” God.
A NAGGING CONCERN ABOUT “BLESSING” GOD
But, in recent years, as I’ve gained a better understanding of the concept of the word, “bless,” I’ve been increasingly concerned about the numerous instructions in the Bible that I should “bless” God.
My concern came from a fuller understanding of the definition of “bless.”
THE DEFINITION OF “BLESS”
Again, from my Webster’s Dictionary, some of the definitions of “bless” are: to hallow or consecrate, to invoke divine care for.
Well, it would be presumptuous of me to think that I had the power to hallow God (make God holy) because God is already holy!
Nor do have the power to invoke divine care for God.After all, God is the only cause and creator.Therefore, it is God cares for us, His/Her creation.We don’t take care of God!
ANOTHER DEFINITION OF “BLESS”
But, there’s another definition of “bless” that is much more palatable for me.It also means “to praise, to glorify.”
Again, that’s easy!
HEBREW DEFINITIONS
I’m no Hebrew scholar by any means.But, some simple research shows that the original texts use two different words for “praise” and “bless.”But, the meanings are very similar.The main difference is that “bless” refers to a higher, more reverential form of “praise”…to extol God, to glorify God…which is a more exalted form of “praise.”But it’s still essentially “praise.”
SO WHAT’S THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ISAIAH 145:10?
To me, it has to do with: a) how I think about the word, “bless” as I’m reading it; and 2) how I read it aloud.
First, I want to keep clearly in thought that the word, “bless,” essentially means “praise.”
When I read the verse aloud, I want to read it in such a way as to convey to the listener that the words “praise” and “bless” mean essentially the same thing.I’ll do this by emphasizing “praise,” and subduing “bless,” to convey that “bless” is an old concept meaning just about the same thing as “praise.”
I’ll also want to emphasize the two different things that praise God: 1) His “works,” and 2) His “saints.”
Here’s how it’ll come out for me (note: words in all CAPS are emphasized; words within [square brackets are subdued] :
“ALL thy WORKS shall PRAISE THEE, O Lord; AND thy SAINTS [shall bless thee.]”
By downplaying “bless,” listeners will automatically categorize it as an old concept, meaning “praise.”This happens unconsciously because we are so accustomed to the speech patterns dictated by the conventions of conversation.
To me, therefore, this reading would preclude any implication that we have the power to cause anything to happen to God, including: to cause God to be holy, to consecrate God, or to protect God from harm.
But, we can surely praise God and extol God!And we should!!
Hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Don Feldheim
EXPRESSIVE READING COACH
