The Lord Bless You And keep You.....

Numbers 6:24-26 - “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

God gave Moses these sweet words of blessing to give to Aaron and his sons. They were to use them to speak the name of God over the Children of Israel. They used it daily as the concluded the daily morning services of the tabernacle.

David Guzik wrote about the first few words… “This simple desire prefaces everything. God loves to bless His people, and He loves to have leaders long that the people be blessed. This also recognizes that all blessing really comes from God; and without His blessing, all is futile.” He makes some great points in his commentary that I will continue to use.

He said about the phrase… And keep you… “To be kept by the LORD is blessing indeed. Some are kept by their own sin and desire, some are kept by idolatry and greed, and others are kept by their own bitterness and anger. But to be kept by the LORD insures life, peace, and success.”

Finally he wrote… “The LORD make His face to shine upon you and give you peace… “To have the glorious, happy face of God shining upon man is the greatest gift one could have. To know that as God looks upon you, He is well pleased - not because of who you are, or what you have done, but because you are in Jesus Christ - there is no greater source of peace and power in life.”

I remember when I was younger singing this as a benediction…the tune is clear and strong in my mind….but I had forgotten that it was a direct quote from the Bible. In my heart…since we are all priests now…it is a great reminder that God wants us pronounce blessings over each other…to fill the space between us as we part with a wish for God to keep them safe and shine on them the brightness of his glory in their life…so they may experience his peace wherever they go.

Father…thank you for the reminder that God wants us to pronounce blessings over each other as we part from fellowship with each other.  Forgive me for the times that hurry and worries have kept me in a mode where selfishness has stolen these moments you intended for blessing others.  Help me to always speak these words of blessing over others as we part fellowship to go our separate ways.  Amen.