Psalm 129:8 Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be on you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. Although mutuality is beautiful, we are not to be, as Christians, dependent on it. "Bless them that curse you." "Being reviled, we bless." Our responsibilities are the same, under all conditions of human life. Bug it is a pleasant and helpful thing when there is mutuality of blessing. I. THE SPIRIT OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS THAT WE SHOULD LIVE IN OTHERS. This is not merely a doctrine of abstract truth; it is a revelation of the life of God in Christ. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life, — His life of thought, His life of toil, His life of pity and compassion, His life of sorrow, His life of suffering, even unto death, for our sakes. So His whole history was a benediction, and He has left us as partakers of the Divine nature through Him the legacy of His joy and of His peace. II. THERE ARE SPECIAL OCCASIONS FOR THE MINISTRATION OF BLESSING; seasons when we are more alive to our own mercies; seasons when our warm fire-light contrasts with the cold hearths of the poor; seasons of health and strength, when we are called to sympathize with hopeless and incurable disease. III. THE SPIRIT OF BLESSING IS THE SPIRIT OF UNIVERSAL MINISTRY. We are not all called to do the same thing, we are not all called to be bishops, or deacons, or teachers. There are diversities of operation. God chooses His instruments, calls them to their work. You cannot find the man or woman, child or father, master or servant you cannot bless. You may be ineloquent, but you can bless with a look. You may find yourself so nervous that your words are inaudible before man, but for you the whisper at the Throne of Grace is possible. IV. THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL BLESSING ACTS AS A REMINDER OF MERCIES. We are too apt to forget them, too apt to take them for granted, too apt to have the blessing and not to trace it up to the great Giver. Perhaps I have taken God's mercies as though it was natural and proper for me to receive them, as though the consciousness of having done my duty ought to lead me to expect reward; as though my endeavour ought to have been so honoured; as though living a pure life I ought to have health; as though being friendly I ought to have friends. The text reminds us it is "the blessing of the Lord." We shall never know the meaning of the word "blessing" until we look back upon life from the great battlements of heaven, and see all the way that the Lord led us in, to humble us, to prove us, and to try what was in our heart. V. THE SPIRIT OF MUTUAL BLESSING IS THE SPIRIT OF THE SANCTUARY. "We bless you in the name of the Lord," and in another part we read, "We bless you out of the house of the Lord." That is to be, as I take it, the spirit of the Church, and the Church has need to learn in all ages that lesson. The Church of Christ is to be the Church of restoration. If a man err, we are to restore such an one in the spirit of meekness. If men are cast down, we are to lift them up; we are to strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, and to say to them that are of a fearful heart, "Thy God reigneth." (W. M. Statham.) Parallel Verses KJV: Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD. |
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