Blessing God

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At many times in the Scriptures and in the Liturgy we are told to bless God (e.g., Gloria). My question is how? I generally view blessing as something coming from a superior to an inferior – say God to us or a father to a son. So how does this work in reverse?
 
I think it’s used interchangeably with “praise” in that situation.
 
Irish_Becca said:
I think it’s used interchangeably with “praise” in that situation.
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No, in the Gloria praise is a separate action:

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory…
 
JMJ_coder said:
I generally view blessing as something coming from a superior to an inferior
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yea, theres a verse…

Hebrews 7:7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater

but then David blesses the LORD lots of times in the Psalms (bless the LORD O my soul, etc)

actually I don’t know how that works in reverse either…sorry 🙂
But I know that I bless God in my prayers with what I have to bless him with (which relatively speaking is not much) with my thoughts of him, my praise to him, and my glorying in him. With the Holy Spirit and with Christ in us we should be able to bless him. On the other hand though it does sound kind of condescending to God if I say ‘I am the one who blesses thee O God’ as if I could make God more blessed by my blessing him.

or maybe ‘the lesser’ blessing God is in the act of calling him blessed, 🤷 like in this verse,

John 12:13 Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

interesting question
 
Priests blessings impart grace to the believer I hear. Since God is not in need of grace, I am guessing it’s worship he wants and desires, but of course does not need. So I have no idea.🤷
 
The word “bless” has several meanings; one of the meanings of the word “bless” is “to extol as holy; glorify:” This is the context in which one would bless God.
 
Prayer_Warrior said:
The word “bless” has several meanings; one of the meanings of the word “bless” is “to extol as holy; glorify:” This is the context in which one would bless God.
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I was wondering if it was purely a language thing here. I think you are right, that the person is not actually blessing God at all, but by their worship it is a blessing for them to do so.

Makes you wonder how many other things are taken either too literally, or not literally enough.

This was a good example of it.
 
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