Wednesday, June 3, 2015
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: THE FATHER, THE SOURCE OF BLESSING
The first sentence -- "The LORD bless you and keep you..." -- is not restricted to the activity of God the Father, yet it does call to mind His work as the Source of all blessings. Think of the Common Doxology where we praise God "...from whom all blessings flow."
Our Lord Jehovah God wants His children to know and firmly believe that He is their GUARDIAN, their KEEPER. At the same time He is the RULER of the universe; He is the CONTROLLER of the nations; He is the SOURCE of all that is good; He is the UPHOLDER of His marvelous created world, including our individual lives.
Psalm 121 comes to mind: "I will lift up my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber...." Israel often met with danger both on its wilderness journeys and in the promised land of Canaan, but--whenever this Blessing was spoken upon them by Aaron and his sons--they were reminded that God was their PROTECTOR, as Psalm 46 says: "The LORD of hosts is with us…the God of Jacob is our Refuge...."
Dr. Martin Luther comments on this first sentence: "This word of blessing wishes the people that God would grant them good fortune and all good things, and would also guard and protect them. ... It is the Creator who makes and bestows all things, and He must also protect and keep all things, except that we must work and not be idle or slothful."
Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Fill our hearts with joy and peace.
Let us each, Thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace.
Oh, refresh us, Oh, refresh us,
Trav'ling thro' this wilderness!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 50:1)
