What does it mean to be blessed?

Perhaps one verse gives a good definition of blessing when it comes from the Lord, Proverbs 10:22, "The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it". That would be in contrast with what comes from other sources.

This therefore shows that real blessing from a Biblical perspective is when God's glory becomes visible; if this greatness is experienced and enjoyed – by God (who accepts our praise) or by unbelievers (who see God's greatness in us and get to hear it from us.)

It means, I think, that not only does blessing come to us freely from God, but that the means of appropriating that blessing is provided by Him.

There are two distinct applications of the word 'blessing.' God blesses His people, and His people bless God, the same word being constantly used for both. It is obvious therefore that it must be understood in more senses than one. Again, we read that "the less [or inferior] is blessed of the better," Heb. 7:7; and though this refers to Melchisedec blessing Abraham, the same thing is true respecting God and His creatures: in bestowing favours God is the only one who can bless. The Christian can say, God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ," Eph. 1:3; but the same verse says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," meaning "Thanks be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This signification is further made clear by the records of the institution of the Lord's supper. In Matthew and Mark the Lord took bread, and 'blessed.' In Luke and in 1 Cor. 11:24 He took bread and 'gave thanks.' "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights." James 1:17. This is God blessing us, and for which we in return bless God by giving thanks, by praise and worship.

God dwelling among His people! What a wonderful thought! There is no true blessing, no true joy, no permanent happiness apart from God. The creature’s blessing is wrapped up in the Creator. In Him is all blessing, its start and its finish, its fulness and its finality. Apart from this blessedness there is absolutely nothing.

Are we seeking happiness, where shall we find it? where shall we get blessing that nothing can touch or hinder, that nothing can separate from, except in God? He is not only the source of our blessing, but the blessing itself. There are indeed many outward blessings given to His children by the way, and these even the unconverted may have; but the strength, the comfort, the joy of the Christian is this - he "has to do" with God. God is the source and centre of his blessing.

Because of the greatness of the blessedness into which it introduces. "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." We can never get higher or better than this. To be brought to God, is to be brought to the knowledge of God — into fellowship with God — full conformity to God — and the eternal enjoyment of God. This is perfect blessedness. "We also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ." "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." Oh! what a place to be brought into! "The midst of the paradise of God." This is rest — God's own rest; a higher, a holier, a happier, can never be found. And to feed on Christ there, as "the tree of life." No "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" there. How different from man's paradise! "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." 1 Peter 3:18; Romans 5:11; Revelation 2:7.

The "joy full" (ver. 4) is from fellowship with the Father and with the Son in the possession of life. God is blessed in Himself. In having fellowship with Him I enjoy this blessedness as well as the manifestation of His grace in Christ.

It suffices to point out here the position of Abraham, called to be the deposit and stock of promise and blessing, "Get thee out of thy country and out of thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, to a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and thou shalt be a blessing. Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." Blessing characterised his calling. He is blessed and a blessing. Blessing is measured out by dispositions towards him. And he is the one source of blessing to all the families of the earth. This is a very remarkable position and a most blessed, and, in its character, a divine one, which we shall do well to consider as regards ourselves. I will suggest a word or two in a moment. But, remark here how divine a one it is in its nature. God is blessedness in Himself. It characterises Him. He is the source of it to all who have any. This was, derivatively, just Abraham's place. He was made blessed, in this sense had blessedness on the earth, distinctively and especially so; he was the source of it to all the families of the earth. If there was a curse, it was only for enmity to this. This is a most precious, and in character divine, place for a creature; a creature blessed no doubt, and quickened of God; but thence only the more precious because the more real.

Two things need to be remembered: First, the position of blessedness belongs to the one man, Christ Jesus, the Son of God, who becomes the root of blessing to others; secondly, this blessing is meant to bear upon the heart of man, that it may go back to God in praise. God does not give His glory to another; but in giving, He so gives that it is all to go back to Him in the perfect enjoyment of Himself, to His own praise. There is more in this than in the thought the censer conveys, because the censer is not capable of enjoyment. God is steady, immovable in His purposes of mercy. Even in the rain which He gives, causing the verdure to spring up, we see it. Blessing He will give, and, give it so that He lays the blessing on the heart; and so lays it, that the heart enjoys it, and gives it back to God in praise. God's creative power has come into the soul; the man revels in the enjoyment of it, and says, "Here it is; I give it back to thee in praise." Thus it goes up to God.