The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
The Lord promises those who reverence him his continued blessing and ever-growing increase, for themselves and for their children. He is the living Maker of heaven and earth, in contrast to powerless idols, who hears prayer and draws people to himself. His work as Creator marks him out as the true God with authority over all, and lies at the foundation of the Sabbath. The increase comes as his people trust him, believe his promises, and obey all of his will that they know. It is also a prayer for his continual increase of his people until their work on earth is finished, for praise offered in pain and darkness glorifies him from whom all blessings flow and brings greater blessing and victory.
Psalm Setting and Contrast
The psalm to which the promise belongs is presumed to have been written by Asaph and others during the reigns of Asa and Jehoshaphat. It stands among Psalms 113 to 118, the six Hallel psalms sung on paschal occasions. These were sung at Passover and at other Hebrew feasts, including at the close of the Passover meal.
This psalm-song was sung after the last Passover supper. It was sung by Jesus just before His betrayal, the agony of Gethsemane, and the darkness of the cross. He sang it in faith in the Father who is too wise to err and too good to be unkind.
The psalm with scathing irony exposes the impotence and powerlessness of idols and false gods. Against them it sets the living God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who hears prayer and draws people to Himself. Creation is the basis for distinguishing Him from idols and for recognizing His authority.
Promise Teaching and Application
The Lord's power is exercised for the good of his people, and those who fear him are assured of his continued blessing and increase more and more, both for themselves and for their children. The promise belongs with the assurance that God blesses those who fear him, whether small or great. The accompanying declaration that the earth has been given to humanity shows that God has provided a real, material home for his people, and that sin has delayed but has not changed his purpose for the earth.
The psalm distinguishes the living God from false gods by the fact that he made heaven and earth, and that creative work lies at the foundation of the Sabbath institution. The promised increase comes as his people trust God, study and believe his promises, and obey all the will of God that they know.
The words also form a prayer that God will continually increase his people, and this is applied to the growth of the church's worldwide work until the church has completed its work on earth. The psalm connects praise with the blessings that follow it, showing that praise offered in pain and dark surroundings swallows up suffering, glorifies him from whom all blessings flow, and brings greater blessings and victory.
The Lord promises those who reverence him his continued blessing and ever-growing increase, for themselves and for their children. He is the living Maker of heaven and earth, in contrast to powerless idols, who hears prayer and draws people to himself. His work as Creator marks him out as the true God with authority over all, and lies at the foundation of the Sabbath. The increase comes as his people trust him, believe his promises, and obey all of his will that they know. It is also a prayer for his continual increase of his people until their work on earth is finished, for praise offered in pain and darkness glorifies him from whom all blessings flow and brings greater blessing and victory.
Psalm Setting and Contrast
The psalm to which the promise belongs is presumed to have been written by Asaph and others during the reigns of Asa and Jehoshaphat. It stands among Psalms 113 to 118, the six Hallel psalms sung on paschal occasions. These were sung at Passover and at other Hebrew feasts, including at the close of the Passover meal.
This psalm-song was sung after the last Passover supper. It was sung by Jesus just before His betrayal, the agony of Gethsemane, and the darkness of the cross. He sang it in faith in the Father who is too wise to err and too good to be unkind.
The psalm with scathing irony exposes the impotence and powerlessness of idols and false gods. Against them it sets the living God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who hears prayer and draws people to Himself. Creation is the basis for distinguishing Him from idols and for recognizing His authority.
Promise Teaching and Application
The Lord's power is exercised for the good of his people, and those who fear him are assured of his continued blessing and increase more and more, both for themselves and for their children. The promise belongs with the assurance that God blesses those who fear him, whether small or great. The accompanying declaration that the earth has been given to humanity shows that God has provided a real, material home for his people, and that sin has delayed but has not changed his purpose for the earth.
The psalm distinguishes the living God from false gods by the fact that he made heaven and earth, and that creative work lies at the foundation of the Sabbath institution. The promised increase comes as his people trust God, study and believe his promises, and obey all the will of God that they know.
The words also form a prayer that God will continually increase his people, and this is applied to the growth of the church's worldwide work until the church has completed its work on earth. The psalm connects praise with the blessings that follow it, showing that praise offered in pain and dark surroundings swallows up suffering, glorifies him from whom all blessings flow, and brings greater blessings and victory.