Psalm 106:48: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel / From everlasting to everlasting! / And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’ / Praise the LORD!”

April 21st, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In this psalm, the psalmist traced the rebellion of Israel and the steadfast love of the Lord from the time of Egypt to his current time, confessing the continual sinfulness of God’s children, and asking for God’s continued forgiveness and favor on their lives. He was confident that he was speaking to the eternal God who forgives sins so he called for the people to say, “Amen!” Some have called the word amen the most universal word in the human language, yet the least understood.

In some circles, it has become popular for believers to shout out the word amen as a compliment to a good point made by a pastor during a service. Some pastors ask their congregations, “Can I get an amen?” They want to make sure their audience is in agreement with them. Perhaps there is also a little insecurity in the question. Something like, “I hope you agree with me . . . do you?” So we wonder if they realize that the Hebrew word means literally, Let it be so. Or, Let it be established. It is an expression of finality.

Ancient rabbis taught amen as an acrostic from the first letters of the 3 words, El Melech Ne’eman, meaning the Lord is trustworthy. Therefore by saying “Amen” we are declaring that we trust in what God is doing in our lives and in the world. But perhaps most of all amen is a word of consecration. Someone said that when we say, “Amen,” we are dedicating ourselves completely to God’s purpose, priority, process, power, and person. We are placing our trust wholly in Jesus Christ, in every aspect of life.

“LORD, we want to carefully but firmly say, ‘Amen,’ to You this day.”