Blessed from Zion (15 Blessings of Ephesians)
“Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who serve by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 134:1-3 (NASB)
Psalm 134 is what I call, “The song of blessing”—for in it the writer’s bestowing blessing on the Lord as well as receiving the blessing of the Lord. Isn’t that the way the Kingdom works—He gives us blessings, and we give it right back.
The writer says we are blessed from Zion… Zion was the highest mountain in Israel (Psalm 48:1-2), and was the place that David took possession of when he became king. In doing so, he was making the statement that Yahweh was the Most High, the One most worthy of high praise. And from this place, blessing would flow.
One can hardly speak of blessing without mentioning the famous words of Paul, where he exhorts Ephesus:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (in Zion) in Christ…” Ephesians 1:3 (NASB)
Blessing is the Greek word “eulogia” and is a compound word—eu (“well”) and logia (“words, texts.”)—together, it means “well words.” It’s where we get eulogy, a word spoken over someone after their death. Interestingly, when we put our trust in Jesus, we are crucified in Him—dying His death so we can live His life (Galatians 2:20). At this point, the Father begins to speak blessings over our life, all “as a love gift from our heavenly Father… all because He sees us wrapped into Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3 TPT)..
The blessing of Psalm 134 has already taken place in those who put their trust in the Lord—we have been blessed with EVERY spiritual blessing. This means we lack nothing for our journey, and as we progress in our journey of becoming more like Christ, we have everything we need (2 Peter 1:3). We are MORE than conquerors because we have HIM, our first place!
15 BLESSINGS OF EPHESIANS
I have identified 15 blessings in Ephesians 1:4-14 and 2:5-16. These blessings are each distinctive yet defining as we seek to grow in Him. Interestingly, there were 15 songs of ascents as well as 15 steps leading up to the temple. 15 is the number for rest in the Bible, and signify our journey of coming into the fullness of rest and shining forth the fullness of Who He is.
Chose us before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4)
Made us holy blameless through union (1:4)
Predestined us to adoption (1:5)
Freely lavished grace and favor upon us (1:6, 8)
Redeemed us as His possession—made one with Him (1:7, 14)
Forgiven of our sins (1:7)
Revealed the mystery of His will to us (1:9)
Obtained an inheritance in Him (1:11)
Given hope in Christ (1:12)
Sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise (1:13)
Made us alive with Him (2:5)
Raised us up with Him (2:6)
Seated us with Him (2:6)
Saved by grace through faith (2:8)
Made one with His body (2:16)
I want to encourage us to remember all that He has lavished on us. As the writer says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul… forget not all His benefits…” Psalm 103:2 (NKJV). Allow that remembrance to bring you into the act of praise and blessing His name—"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courtyards with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.” Psalm 100:4-5 (NASB)
May the Lord bless you from Zion (His dwelling place) as you:
REMEMBER - BE THANKFUL - PRAISE - BLESS THE LORD
-RA
