The Great Exchange: Kneeling into the Blessing of the Lord

Psalm 135:19–21 is a triple (really quadruple) exhortation:

"Bless the Lord, O house of Israel;
Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron;
Bless the Lord, O house of Levi;
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!"

This is not casual advice, it’s an urgent, all-inclusive call for the covenant people of God, the priests, the Levites, and every God-fearing heart to bless the Lord.

The Meaning Behind “Bless”

The Hebrew word used here is ָבּ ַרךְ (bâraḵ). It means to kneel.

In Scripture, this same word describes both God blessing His people and His people blessing God.

That means when we read “Bless the Lord”, it literally means “kneel before the Lord” in a posture of surrender, honor, and reverence.

And when Scripture says “The Lord bless you”, it’s describing God bending toward us in kindness and favor.

Blessing Is Always an Exchange

Here’s what’s incredible: Blessing in Scripture is never a one-way act.

When we kneel in surrender before Him, it’s not just us giving something, it’s an exchange.

• We bend in worship... He bends in kindness.
• We release control... He releases peace.
• We bring honor... He brings joy.
• We offer our praise... He pours out His presence.

This is not transactional, it’s relational and covenantal. It’s in God’s nature to bless. It is scripturally and theologically impossible for you to truly bless God without His blessing overflowing back to you.

Why He Invites Us to Come

This is why God invites us into His presence. This is why the blood of Jesus makes the way for us to approach His throne. Because there is something in the encounter that’s designed for us and comes in our surrender. And surrender requires trust.

Trust Built on History

God has proven that He is trustworthy.

• “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
• “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)

Your history with God, our history with God, shows He has never failed. Even in adversity, battle, confusion, or suffering, He has remained faithful.

That means we can release control of outcomes and trust what He is doing in the midst of it.

Kneeling into the Exchange

When I kneel in surrender, in worship, I experience the great exchange:

• My weakness for His strength.
• My anxiety for His peace.
• My confusion for His wisdom.
• My limited blessing for His divine blessing, the kind that “makes rich and adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22).

The blessing of the Lord rests on His people...And it’s found in the place of surrender.

So today, kneel, bless the Lord, not to get something, but to give Him honor. And, in that sacred exchange, watch how He bends toward you in ways you could never have orchestrated yourself.