Saturday, June 28, 2008
Numbers 6:22-27 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."
THE AARONIC BENEDICTION: A BLESSING OF THE TRIUNE GOD (VI)
Different cultures in the world have invented false, polytheistic religious systems that consist of multiple gods. The one true God of Israel made clear to His people from very early on that there is only one God who is to be worshiped. In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy (4:39) we hear, "Therefore know this day . . . that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; [and] there is no other." A couple of chapters later in that same Old Testament book (6:4) we hear, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the Lord is one!"
And so, the Scriptures have declared from early on that the God of Israel is the only true God, and that He is, indeed, one God -- not two or three or four or five gods. However, as we have discussed in our devotions this week, the one true God does, in fact, reveal Himself as three separate and distinct persons -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Aaronic Benediction is a blessing given by this one true Triune God.
Although we may hear these words of blessing Sunday after Sunday, and it is easy to let them go right past us without paying much attention to them. We ought to try to focus on them each time they we hear them spoken to us and realize just how special they are. These are not just mere words; these are words of blessing, grace and peace from our Triune God who alone has the power to give us these things. These are words of blessing from the Triune God who brings us salvation through Jesus' name.
