Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation! Selah. Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death. (Psalm 68:19-20)
It has always been God’s intention to pour out blessing and life on mankind; this is certainly evident in the beginning before Adam made that fateful decision to disobey. But in spite of mankind’s rebellion, it remains God’s desire to see His people blessed and prosperous, although the choice to receive blessings or curses has been given to us. As it is written, “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). I would add to this, however, that God will encourage us to choose blessings over curses by allowing situations to touch our lives that accentuate the error in choosing our own way.
It is this thought that brings us to this: the Hebrew words translated as “who daily loads us with benefits” is more literally translated as “He burdens us.” Obviously, this latter rendering seems to fly in the face of the former. Are we to believe that God places burdens on us, and moreover, we are to bless Him for this? Actually, Yes. As I said, God permits, and sometimes orchestrates, the trials and challenges that affect our lives. And while it is often difficult for us to discern while in the midst of the trial, He does this in order to reward us with blessing and life. Think of it this way; minor afflictions are sometimes intended to keep us from major tragedies. God will burden us with situations that are meant to save us from something worse.
In reality, the burden (if that is the proper term) God wishes to load us down with is His goodness and blessing — a scenario made possible only when we choose the path He has intended for us. Moreover, by choosing the path that leads to life, we declare a faith and commitment to view Him as our source for all. When you really think about it, God doesn’t wish to burden us in the way that would cause us to falter; to the contrary, He desires that we would be a burden to Him so that we may live. In choosing life and blessing, God invites us to be completely dependent on Him for all things that pertain to an abundant life, and so it is written: “Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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