The Blessing
Psalm 133 reveals the key for one of the most significant gifts the Lord could ever offer to humankind. I am speaking here of that which is totally substantial, enriching, and empowering beyond anything we might imagine. It is something capable of bringing sustainable joy, peace, and fulfillment to everyone so endowed. I am writing about what one could simply refer to as “The Blessing.” Although the principle involved here is not exclusively connected with marriage, it is within marriage that I believe this gift is given its most profound meaning and expression.
Let’s look at the essence of this incredible Psalm and see what we can discover. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity…For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Ps. 133:1,3 NIV). To comprehend the full significance of the “blessing,” we need to understand more concretely the meaning of “life forevermore.” This is talking about far more than just living forever. To live forever without purpose would be empty and meaningless. The everlasting life that God gives comes with dignity, purpose, and fulfillment. This is precisely because it is the very life of Christ that he bestows. This is the incarnational reality which fully satisfies the heart of God. This is fulfilling what Jesus told his disciples when he said he must return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit might be sent to them. Incredibly, the Lord is offering the very life of Christ to all who are willing to make this a reality.
All of this provides greater significance for Jesus’ birth, life, and resurrection. Removing the horrible stain of sin from our lives was just the first step in a much grander scheme for our lives. Jesus’ shed blood at Calvary completely satisfied the justice of Almighty God and opened the way for us to share the very life of the Lord Jesus Himself having been reconciled to the Father. To accept redemption and reconciliation only, while ignoring or rejecting the incarnational reality of Christ, would be the height of selfishness and hypocrisy. In essence, this would be a man-centered approach to salvation. It would be answering the question, “What’s in this for me?”
In a sense, there is a condition associated with this tremendous gift. It is not as if someone were earning the gift or were in some measure deserving of it. Rather, it is a matter of creating a capacity allowing the gift to be given. There has to be “space” in one’s life wherein the blessing can find residence. The best way I can define the creation of this capacity is in one’s behavior of self-denial. The life of Christ can in no way find a place where “self” is prominently displayed and defended.
Herein lies the crux of what inhibits most, if not all, Christian maturation. In reality, this is the core problem at the heart of all relationships. Whenever self is elevated to the throne of one’s life, the condition is such that the needs of others become secondary. In a sense, the relational atmosphere becomes charged for conflict of some nature. I believe self-denial is very much embedded in Jesus’ call to salvation as expressed in Luke 9:23, “…If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” The renowned German pastor and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, put it this way, “Come and die.”
We need to understand that by definition, being a Christian also means being a follower and a disciple of Jesus Christ. You can’t separate these concepts as if they were different levels of Christianity. When I chose to believe in Jesus as the Son of God and in His redeeming propitiation through the cross, I was also declaring my allegiance as His disciple and my commitment as a follower. I know that the eleven disciples of Christ held a special and unique relationship with Him. However, contemporary disciples have positioned themselves so as to be fully nurtured into the likeness of Christ. Luke 6:40 reminds us, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”
The denial of self, as rendered in the Bible, is not some warped or confused effort at repudiating one’s personhood. Rather it is the noble desire to serve the needs of others before yourself. Additionally, self-denial is refusing to bless yourself with anything that could be deleterious to your spiritual growth or wellbeing. Self-preservation is a powerful motivation in everyone. However, self-preservation can often bleed over into a personal desire to satisfy one’s selfish wants.
I think we can see how self-centeredness and selflessness are really just aspects of the larger issue of self-preservation. Continuing Jesus’ caveat from Luke 9 we read, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.” This is another spiritual oxymoron. In essence, salvation comes through surrender. Looking further into Jesus’ teachings we read, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives” (John 12:24 NLT).
The “Blessing,” the life of Christ, is graciously reproduced within the context of biblical unity. Possibly the greatest proving ground for this unique experience exists within the milieu of marriage. I believe marriage to be a biblical institution sanctioned by Almighty God. In Ephesians 5 we read, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Scripture goes on to explain how this is a mystery but it illustrates the way Christ and the church are one.
The holiness of marriage doesn’t come from being married in a church by a minister. It derives its sanctity from being the ordination of Almighty God. What an incredibly high privilege to be able to reflect the reality of Christ and His church in our marital union.
Unfortunately, this holy institution has gradually fallen into disrepute over many years. When you see the Lord’s intent and the awesome potential for our lives, the rate for failed marriages is demoralizing. The divorce rate for first marriages is around 43% while increasing to 60% for second and 73% for third. When you look at the increasing acceptance of co-habitation and homosexuality in this nation, it is as if marriage were held in contempt.
The “Blessing” expounded to us in God’s Word is far more than simply a scriptural option. It is an imperative for the new life Christ has called us into.
“Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit…Till we all come in the unity of the faith…”. Eph.4:3,13 KJV
