We know that God blesses us. But the Bible also speaks of us blessing God in the Psalms and James 3:9. Last post, I discussed our disposition toward God, and blessing Him is apart of it. How does that work, though? How can mere mortals “bless the LORD”? What can we do to benefit Him, the One who needs nothing? The blessing that most people think of I the blessing from greater to lesser, such as when God gives gifts to us, but also when kings bestow gifts to their subjects, etc.... But there is also a blessing from lesser to greater. This kind of blessing–when the subject blesses the king or the mortal blesses God. This kind of blessing mainly consists of thanksgiving. Thus, when we bless our food, we are thanking God for it.
Also, consider the liturgy where the pastor says, “Let us bless the Lord.” And we in congregation do so by responding, “Thanks be to God.”
It is also possible to bless someone in the name of the “greater,” as when pastors, in the name of God–that is, in His stead and on His behalf–pronounce a blessing on the congregation as they convey His gifts.
"[B]ut no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God." -James 3:8-9
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