Background:
The Arabic word بركة (barakah) has several meanings and carries significant theological and cultural meaning in Islam. In Judaism, the Hebrew word בְּרָכָה (barakah) also has deep meaning, including as a name for daily prayers or “blessings.” Both peoples consider "barakah" as deeper and more multifaceted than the English word “blessing.”
When I was looking at Ephesians 1:3-14, a kind of song or poem that starts with the theme of God’s blessings, I found that Paul uses the word εὐλογητός (eulogetos) as the Greek equivalent of barakah that is found in the Hebrew scriptures. So when I wrote this poem based on the Ephesians passage, it seemed using this word with so much depth and meaning was appropriate:
Barakah
By Paul Bunge
Blessed be is “barakah”
In temple, synagogue, and scroll
Praise God the source of barakah
He’s the blessings honor roll
God fathered Jesus Christ
Who is our Lord and President
He barakahs us at God’s side
Though he knows our lesser tent
Barakah started long ago
Pre-paleozoic age
The God of law and perfection
Took us at our awkward stage
Before the time of time began
This God of perfect want and will
Of nature planets cosmos rolling
Used barakah to make them still
Insight of God is fact and wise
All inside of us he knows
Our plans and dreams of selfish gain
One cut, it’s gone, as red blood flows
But barakah and baby’s breath
Eternity found in a stable
Put that red blood in sacred bag
To nurture one who would be able
The marrow barakah’d his cheeks
His voice gave life and clarified
In others loss of blood you’re gone
When his flowed out, our sins died
Barakah to us is free
Lavished all he has stored up
He planned it though it’s mystery
All punishment he drank that cup
But wait, there’s more it’s hope he has
We without a bank account
Have all things promised to deliver
Have his will, last testament
The promissory can’t be lost
Barakah between our cells
Holy Spirit gospel faith
In moving body deepest wells
All this promise hope and truth
Now who we are, his final story
He will be back our only vision
In meantime barakah and glory