Blessed
Scripture Reading: Genesis 14-17; Matthew 5; Psalm 5
Today’s Scripture readings share a common word: “Blessed.” Melchizedek blesses Abraham and God, the Psalmist invokes God’s blessing on the righteous, and Jesus pronounces who the truly blessed are.
There are nuances in the way the word is used in each text, but at its heart, the word means to be under God’s favor and, therefore, to be joyful and happy of heart.
In our culture, it’s common to see the word blessed used to caption a selfie, often showcasing new possessions or life milestones. It’s a way to display achievements while maintaining an air of humility. Yet biblical blessedness often looks very different.
Abram was blessed as he stood before Melchizedek, weary from battle, his garments still stained with the blood of his enemies, and his soul still engaged in battle against the tempting offers of Sodom’s king. Sodom’s offer of wealth seems to strike at Abram’s glaring problem – he had no son to be his heir.
The Psalmist speaks of blessing while grappling with groaning, crying, and pleading before the Lord. His enemies surround him, plotting harm even while offering deceitful flattery. Despite the turmoil, the Psalmist finds refuge in the Lord’s favor.
Jesus pronounces that the men and women who, by their culture’s standards, were the least favored of all people. The poor, the mourning, the meek, the hungry…these, Jesus said, are blessed.
In each case, God’s blessing seems paradoxical. Outward circumstances don’t immediately suggest blessedness. But that’s precisely the point, isn’t it? True signs of God’s favor aren’t parked in a garage or hung in a closet.
The truly blessed, like Abram, are those brought into a covenant relationship with God by grace. They are endowed with positional righteousness through Jesus Christ, so when God looks at them, He sees not their sin but His Son.
This is why Jesus can call the poor in spirit, the mourners, and the persecuted blessed (Matthew 5:3–12). Their outward struggles mask an eternal reality: they are under God’s favor, and their reward is great in heaven.
Whatever difficulties we face here and now are not the full story. Those who are truly blessed can rejoice and be glad, knowing their ultimate joy is secure in Christ.
