Psalm 135 is ALL about praising the Lord! The command at the beginning of the Psalm is to "praise" the Lord, the Hebrew word, "halal", which by now we should remember means to boast about, to shine, to glory and to be clamorously foolish over! Then the Psalm ends with the command to "bless" the Lord, the Hebrew word, "barak", which means to kneel before, to adore. Praise Him before people because He is worthy of ALL praise and then worship Him in face to face fellowship because you love Him with your whole heart. You and I cannot be in a better position than that to be blessed by God in order to BE a blessing to others!
If you have already read 2 Corinthians 8, read it again with proportionate or percentage giving in mind! The churches in Macedonia had sacrificially given to meet the needs of those IN need. I especially like verse 12:
12For if the [eager] readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
Don't be concerned with the AMOUNT of your giving. God is NOT! Remember the story about the widow who gave all that she had in the same offering that others gave out of their abundance? Jesus was impressed with the proportion that she gave and the heart that was revealed, and He was NOT impressed with the great amounts given by those who had much. God is not impressed with numbers, He is impressed with generous hearts that operate with right motives and give so that blessings may come to someone, fully trusting in HIM to meet their own needs! Remember, you cannot out-give God! He is and always has been a GIVER!
What we have been reading in the last few chapters in Judges can be summed up in Judges 21:25:
25In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.
There was no "king" because there was no GOD being served! God Almighty HIMSELF was supposed to be the only King that Israel ever would need. Because they couldn't maintain a vital fellowship with Him, they needed to look to man for their help. God was always faithful to provide a deliverer when the people called out to Him in genuine repentance. The Bible reveals that they will AGAIN look to man for the answer when they sign the treaty with the antichrist, but God WILL deliver them AGAIN, and for good, as Jesus Himself begins to rule and reign in Jerusalem for a thousand years! I believe, without doubt, that that time is approaching at a very rapid pace. Be ready! Out "time to fly" is soon and very soon! AMEN! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
