Psalm 119:12—“Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes.”
The first statement is one that should be on our lips constantly. Americans sing “God Bless America,” which is certainly a much-needed object. But we ask Him to bless us and then spit in His face with abortion, child-mutilation, transgenderism, homosexuality, adultery, and a host of other sins. We want HIM to bless US without any requirements of obedience on our part. But that is typical humanity. We need to be “blessing God” by being obedient to His word.
We should certainly want God to “teach” us His “statutes.” He doesn’t do this miraculously, of course; He expects us to put in the time and effort to study and learn (II Timothy 2:15; Acts 17:11; John 5:39). This is one way we demonstrate our love for Him. He will, by His gracious providence, provide us ways—good teachers, good materials and opportunities, etc.—in which we can learn His word. In this way, He plays a part in “teaching” us. We can’t, and mustn’t, expect God to always unconditionally bless us with no exertion on our part. Unfortunately, too many people today want something without having to pay for it. Being blessed by God doesn’t work that way. But that is too much of the society we live in.
Let us “bless God,” i.e., give Him thanks and obedience for what He has done for us. Then let us diligently study His “statutes” so He can better “teach” us the way we should live here on earth that we may finally enter the heavenly home.