Psalm 5.12
In Psalm 1.1 and in Psalm 5.12, the psalmists included bless in their songs. "How blessed," is the affirmation in Psalm 1; in Psalm 5, "it is You who blesses" is the assertion. Seemingly, the words are identical, but they are not (thus, revealing the shortcomings of the English language, and the paradox of translation). A look at the Hebrew text reveals an entirely different reality.
Psalm 1.1 uses the Hebrew word asher. What is the fundamental meaning of this term? In Genesis 30.13, this word for bless makes its first appearance in the Old Testament. The text relates the response of Leah to the birth of another son to her handmaid Zilpah. She joyfully declared, "happy and I, for women will call me happy; so I will call his name Asher [Happy]." Here, then, is a benchmark passage for understanding the sense of the word asher.
In Psalm 1.1, a "happy" man is one who rejects the wisdom and ways of the world, and who delights in and does the Law of the Lord. Interestingly, the KJV provides some telling facts about asher. In the KJV, asher is translated bless only twice, 20 times as happy, and 32 times as blessed. Asher is never translated as blessing, nor is asher ever used in reference to God. Of the 56 OT uses of asher as happy, bless, or blessed, 28 of those, 50% of all uses, are in the Psalms.
One of the most notable features of the use of asher is the context of its usage. Whether translated happy or blessed or bless, the context always suggests a state of existence or frame of mind resulting from obedience or conformity to God’s purposes and demands. This kind of happiness or blessedness, once experienced becomes a constant reminder of the value of doing the right thing. This kind of happiness is never material in its expression or in its essence. This happiness is God’s gift of a contented, fulfilled spirit.
Now, when the Greek equivalent of asher is considered, similar conclusions are reached. The Greek term is makarios, a word meaning happiness as well. The most well-known use of makarios is in Matthew 5.3-11, the Beattitudes. Nine times, blessed is used. Happy, though, as a legitimate alternative reading. "Happy are the poor in spirit, . . . those who mourn, . . . the gentle, . . . ," etc.
Those described in the Beattitudes are the persons whose lives are shown to be progressing towards godliness. The ultimate expression of godly spiritually is to become a peacemakers, for then one becomes a child of God. To be a "child" of someone is an idiomatic expression meaning someone is acting as the parent acts, living in a manner consistent with the character of the parent. So, to be a child of God is to act as God acts. So, to be a child of God, a peacemaker, one will be persecuted because of their righteous character and behavior. Yet, the child of God will be happy nonetheless.
The happiness of the one described in Psalm 1.1 or in Matthew 5.3-11 is not a happiness based upon externals. Those pronounced blessed in this biblical sense are not happy because they are popular, healthy, rich, famous, or powerful. Their happiness is based upon and results from their obedience and conformity to the will and plan of God. Thus, their happiness, their contented state of mind, is wholly internal, and is never influenced by external issues. Indeed, their blessed state of being allows them to overcome the temporary inconveniences of life, whatever those situations and circumstances might be.
God’s plan for all his children is for them to be obedient. Thus, Paul wrote, "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." God is determined that his people will desire and do his will. Thus,"those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, [will] be satisfied."
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