Blessed (2128) (eulogetos from eulogeo = to bless <> eú = good, well + logos = word. English = eulogize, eulogy = commendatory formal statement or set oration; high praise; to extol) means to be well spoken of or inherently worthy of praise All the uses of eulogetos refer to God as the One "well spoken of". Eulogetos, used of God indicates praise and adoration on the part of the creature, in recognition of the power and prerogatives of the Creator, and the privileges enjoyed at His hands. In Psalm 103:1, 2 when David says “Bless (LXX = the related verb form eulogeo) the Lord O my soul” he is praising God, speaking well of God. There are 8 uses of eulogetos in the NT - Mark 14:61 (here it used as a title - "the blessed One"); Lk 1:68; Ro 1:25-note; Ro 9:5-note; 2Co 1:3; 11:31; Ep 1:3-note; 1Pe 1:3-note. There are 46 uses of eulogetos in the Lxx - Ge 9:26; 12:2; 14:20; 24:27, 31; 26:29; 43:28; Ex 18:10; Deut. 7:14; 33:24; Jdg. 17:2; Ru 2:20; 4:14; 1Sa 15:13; 25:32, 33, 39; 2Sa 6:21; 18:28; 22:47; 1Ki 1:48; 5:7; 8:15, 56; 1Chr 29:10; 2Chr 2:12; 6:4; Ezra 7:27; Ps 18:46; 28:6; 31:21; 41:13; 66:20; 68:18, 19, 35; 72:18, 19; 89:52; 106:48; 119:12; 124:6; 135:21; 144:1; Da 3:28; Zech 11:5 As Godet says Who is blessed means that He is blessed "because He ought to be so. He is and will be so, whatever the heathen may do in the matter." Forever is the Greek phrase eis tous aionas which more literally is rendered, “unto the ages.” As Godet explains eis tous aionas contrasts God's eternal glory with the ephemeral honor paid to idols, or the temporary affronts given to God." Amen (281) is a transliteration of the Hebrew word amen which means so be it, verily, truly or surely and expresses certain affirmation in response to what has been said. Amen was used in Hebrew after prayers and hymns of praise (and even after pronouncing curses). The idea behind the word is that which is firm, trustworthy and confirms the preceding words and invokes their fulfillment. Here are the 129 uses of amen in the NT (Note especially Jesus' frequent use of amen - often translated "Truly" - And only in John's gospel is amen repeated "Truly, truly" - 25 times) - Matt. 5:18, 26; 6:2, 5, 16; 8:10; 10:15, 23, 42; 11:11; 13:17; 16:28; 17:20; 18:3, 13, 18, 19; 19:23, 28; 21:21, 31; 23:36; 24:2, 34, 47; 25:12, 40, 45; 26:13, 21, 34; Mark. 3:28; 8:12; 9:1, 41; 10:15, 29; 11:23; 12:43; 13:30; 14:9, 18, 25, 30; 16:8; Luke 4:24; 12:37; 18:17, 29; 21:32; 23:43; John 1:51; 3:3, 5, 11; 5:19, 24, 25; 6:26, 32, 47, 53; 8:34, 51, 58; 10:1, 7; 12:24; 13:16, 20, 21, 38; 14:12; 16:20, 23; 21:18; Rom. 1:25; 9:5; 11:36; 15:33; 16:27; 1 Co. 14:16; 2 Co. 1:20; Gal. 1:5; 6:18; Eph. 3:21; Phil. 4:20; 1 Thess. 3:13; 1 Tim. 1:17; 6:16; 2 Tim. 4:18; Heb. 13:21; 1 Pet. 4:11; 5:11; 2 Pet. 3:18; Jude 1:25; Rev. 1:6f; 3:14; 5:14; 7:12; 19:4; 22:20 Godet adds that amen, comes from the Hebrew aman, to be firm. It is an exclamation intended to scatter by anticipation all the mists which still exist in the consciousness of man, and darken the truth proclaimed." The psalms proclaim the proper response of the creature for the Creator: Blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen. (Ps 72:19) A Psalm of Praise, of David I will extol Thee, my God, O King; And I will bless Thy name forever and ever. Every day I will bless Thee, And I will praise Thy name forever and ever. (Ps 145:1,2) C. G. Handley Moule eloquently sums up this section writing that God... left them there where they had placed themselves,” in “the fatal region of self-will, self-indulgence; “unto uncleanness,” described now with terrible explicitness in its full outcome, “to dishonour their bodies,” the intended temples of the Creator’s presence, “among themselves,” or “in themselves”; for the possible dishonour might be done either in a foul solitude, or in a fouler society and mutuality: Seeing that they perverted the truth of God, the eternal fact of His glory and claim, in their lie, so that it was travestied, misrepresented, lost, “in” the falsehood of polytheism and idols; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. He casts this strong Doxology into the thick air of false worship and foul life, as if to clear it with its holy reverberation. For he is writing no mere discussion, no lecture on the genesis and evolution of paganism. It is the story of a vast rebellion, told by one who, once himself a rebel, is now altogether and forever the absolute vassal of the King whom he has “seen in His beauty” and whom it is his joy to bless, and to claim blessing for Him from His whole world forever. (Romans 1:18-32 Commentary) (Romans 1:24-32 Man Given Up to His Own Way: The Heathen) Franz Joseph Haydn - (1732-1809) was present at the Vienna Music Hall, where his oratorio The Creation was being performed. Weakened by age, the great composer was confined to a wheelchair. As the majestic work moved along, the audience was caught up with tremendous emotion. When the passage “And there was light!” was reached, the chorus and orchestra burst forth in such power that the crowd could no longer restrain its enthusiasm. The vast assembly rose in spontaneous applause. Haydn struggled to stand and motioned for silence. With his hand pointed toward heaven, he said, “No, no, not from me, but from thence comes all!” Having given the glory and praise to the Creator, he fell back into his chair exhausted.