Verse 1 indicates that citizens of Zion were addressing those who were working through the night in the temple. There were twenty-four Levites, three priests and the captain of the guard on duty in the temple. Verses 1 and 2 express the desires of the citizens for the priests and others who served overnight in the temple; verse 3 is probably the response of the priests to the citizens.
The citizens want the priests and others in the temple to speak well of the Lord. This is what is meant by the call to ‘bless the Lord’. Their God had done great things for them as a nation: he had revealed his mercy in delivering them from enemies, he had blessed them with a land of rest in which they could know his favour, and he had given to them many great and precious promises. This was their desire, to hear their divinely-chosen leaders speak well of their gracious Lord.
The priest and Levites on duty in the temple responded with the words of verse 3: ‘The Lord who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion!’ Immediately we have an example of speaking well of the Lord. In saying this benediction, the temple workers were giving assurance to the citizens that they were remembering their God-given calling. They reminded the citizens of God’s great abilities, of how he could bless them through his great power and covenant faithfulness.
The ‘you’ in verse 3 is singular. The usage of a singular pronoun indicates that each individual would hear the word addressed to themselves independently. Of course, we sense this kind of effect when we listen to the Bible being read. Its promises are addressed collectively and individually.
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