Bless the Lord O My Soul!

Behold, bless the LORD,
All you servants of the LORD,
Who by night stand in the house of the LORD!
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the LORD.
3 The LORD who made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!—Ps 134:1-3

This Psalm seems to be an exhortation from the people to the priests to continued faithfulness, (V1-2) while the priests bless the people as they depart from Zion at the close of a feast to their homes. (V3)

As I read it I thought of the many times in my life that I have been awake during the night watches...tending to little ones (or sometimes big ones), in the midst of a trial...anxious and fearful, in pain or maybe just unable to sleep.  What a perfect time to focus my eyes upward in prayer and praise to our God.   It is an incalculable honor and joy to be a servant of Jehovah.

Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee!  I will bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Your name. I will lift up my hands unto thy commandments which I love and I will meditate on Your statutes. Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!  "Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the night watches! Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord! Lift your hands to him...there is so much on my heart, Father...I bring it to You in prayer and I will praise You!

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.  (Psalms 103:1-5 ESV)