BLESSING OTHERS as ‘THE PRIESTS OF GOD’!
February
10 Bible Reading: Numbers Chapters 4-6
BLESSING OTHERS as ‘THE PRIESTS OF GOD’!
And
the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying,
'This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious to you; the Lord
lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace." ‘“So they shall put My name on the
children of Israel, and I will bless
them." (Numbers 6:22-27)
After the
Israelites removed all defilement from their midst (see chapter 5) and dedicated
themselves to God (6:1–21), the priests were to bestow a liturgy of blessing on
the people (vv. 22–27). By performing this ministry the priests would “put the Lord’s name” on the people so
that they are identified with God in such a way so as to ensure His grace and
goodness toward them always.
This is one
of the most beautiful priestly benedictions
in the Bible and is given in part in Psalms 4:6 and Psalms 67:1. This blessing continues
to be the ‘priestly prayer for Israel’
and invokes the power of the divine name Yahweh
three times serving as a mark of God’s outstanding grace and mercy. In his book
'Notes from My Bible', the famous
evangelist D. L. Moody wrote these flattering words concerning this priestly
blessing of Numbers 6:22-27:
"Here is a benediction that can
go all the world over, and can give all the time without being impoverished.
Every heart may utter it: it is the speech of God: every letter may conclude
with it; every day may begin with it; every night may be sanctified by it. Here
is blessing—keeping—shining—the uplifting upon our poor life of all heaven’s
glad morning. It is the Lord himself who brings this bar of music from heaven’s
infinite anthems."
This
threefold, divinely inspired blessing was to be pronounced by the priest with
uplifted hands (Lev. 9:22). It moves from a general blessing (v. 24), to an
invocation of God’s favor and presence (v. 25), and finally to a climactic
mention of the peace that comes only with God’s gracious presence (v. 26). The
pronouncement of this blessing placed God’s covenant name ‘Lord’ (Yahweh) on the people (v. 27). This blessing includes God
bestowing prosperity, protection, grace, favor, glory, provisions and peace upon
His people, and they would bear the benediction of His name as a mark of
identification that they were His
people.
As the current priesthood of God (1 Peter 2:5,
9), we are commanded by Jesus Himself to bless those who curse us (Matt
5:43-45) and persecute us (Rom 12:14). We can read words of blessing for
believers in Apostle Paul’s concluding words to his letters (see 2 Cor. 13:14; Heb.
13:20–21). What a privilege it is for us
to share God’s blessing with others! He
blesses us so that we may be a blessing (Gen. 12:1–3). No matter how trying
your circumstances may be, you can always bless others with a smile!
