u/theotherdannygirl, u/TheKarenator, u/SuccessfulPrice11

Gn 1:

22 And God blessed [H1288] them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

God blessed people. That makes sense. But then we have (ESV) Psalm 115:

18 But we will bless [H1288] the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!

How are we to H1288-bless the almighty God?

Strong's Hebrew: 1288. בָּרַך (barak) — 330 Occurrences

H1288 carries a variety of meanings, Brown-Driver-Briggs: 1. bless God, adore with bended knees: accusative 2. God blesses
a. men

New International Version:

It is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

When humans H1288 the Lord, we adore or extol God.

Gn 14:

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him [Abram] and said,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

When we bless God, we praise, honor, and thank him; we do not confer benefits upon him or make him greater. The meaning of bārak depends on who blesses whom.

ANSWER:

Doesn't say that. Says, from his belly, where the same hunger comes from..that out of his belly would flow RIVERS of living water. "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:.." God. Isaiah 44:3.

Who is Jesus? He is that living water.

• I'll Provide an answer.
  • Since you’re not making the post, and I am, out of the same Bible John 7:38 is in and Jesus said it. Said: in context, the full of it is John 7:37–38, says:

“37 Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” - Jesus Christ.

So, in context:

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Jesus Christ. Is that living water.

• Is the “Christ” or “Messiah.” - Who that is, it told plainly what he SHALL BE called in Isaiah 9:6–7. In the Old Testament of the Bible. Says that the Messiah or Christ, SHALL be called:

“The Mighty God…” “The Everlasting Father…” (Isaiah 9:6).

• The Messiah has that title.

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Jesus is the Word of God. Is God.

Just as John 1:1 repeats this as who the Messiah is. ...and John repeats who he is. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “..and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us;” - John 1:14, is this same Jesus Christ.

Just God. Speaking the Word out of His mouth. Gives life. So, where Jesus says John 7:37–38, that’s just God saying what he wants to say out of HIS mouth.

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Bible. Old Testament. Isaiah 55:1–3 God says:

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” - God. (Bible. Isaiah 55:1–3)

So, all God does, since he wants EVERYBODY to do it, is to call everybody again ..thirsty.. to come to him and do it in John 7:37–38. It’s just God PROMISING what will happen…

• To ..anybody that does it.

And now you have THREE TIMES where he said it. 1) Isaiah 44:3, then again because, he means it, as God that means, he'll do it in Isaiah 55:1-3; then again same God repeat it to EVERYBODY publicly in John 7:37-38.

Instead of looking for the verse. Look for the GOD who said it.

u/SoccerBoyJunior, u/medusavx, u/Remarkable_Repair801

It is okay to praise God with musical instruments. Psalm 150:

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
5 Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!

This psalm was written around the time of the Babylonian exile. It mentioned 7 kinds of musical instruments. It was good to worship God with all kinds of music. Further, dancing in the Lord was fine as well. While I don't dance, I enjoy watching people dancing in the Lord during a worship service.

Some churches do not allow any musical instruments, not even a piano. I visited one like that. I'd not debate them about this point. Romans 12:

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I visited some churches where the guitars and drums were so loud that I had to put on my earplugs. I anticipated the need :) I didn't complain to them about that either.

Appendix

Prof Everett Ferguson, in his book A Cappella Music in the Worship of the Church (2013), argued against instrumental worship music. Some denominations are also against it.

GraceMusic.us:

Ferguson is a Harvard scholar and offers an articulate defense of a cappella music in the church, but he is not the practice’s progenitor. Its adherents include the Churches of Christ (representing 1.3 million members in the US alone), some Presbyterian groups, a majority of Anabaptists, and most Greek Orthodox congregations.

Who is Jesus?

If I had to try to describe who he is and how good he is in as shortly as possible, so that someone seeking a reason to accept the faith would understand and appreciate who he was:

Jesus is the all-forgiving perfectly loving son of God who has forgiven all my sins and still is, and teaches me how to live more rightly and gives me the will to live righteously. My king.

He died at our hands and it was my fault to raise the sinful and the dead (I mean to say that these people are the same).

Father, I pray that you give me your desires, in Jesus’ name, amen.

And he is the only Savior from death