Numbers 6:22-27 comments: a blessing

 

Numbers 6:22 ¶  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 23  Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24  The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25  The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26  The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27  And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

 

This is a wonderful blessing to impart to people at the end of a worship service or at any time. Some small examples of these blessing are evident throughout.

When the Lord blesses you, you are happy.

 

Genesis 30:13  And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.

 

When the Lord keeps you, you are kept from harm.

 

Psalm 127:1  «A Song of degrees for Solomon.» Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

 

Psalm 140:4  Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.

 

When the Lord makes His face to shine upon us we can be restored to fellowship when we have strayed from God as Israel did.

 

Psalm 80:19  Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

 

When God is gracious He is also merciful to us.

 

Isaiah 30:18  And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

 

When the Lord lifts up His countenance toward us He gives us peace. Perfect peace comes with trusting in Him, proven by focusing on Him constantly.

Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

So, with each Christian being in type a type of the nation of Israel, with this prayer we see when the Lord blesses us we are happy, when He keeps us we are kept from harm, and I would emphasize spiritual harm in contrast to the physical, temporal promises made to the Hebrews. He causes His face to shine on us and restores our fellowship with Him. He is gracious and merciful and gives us peace. He does this when we turn our hearts and our minds, our spirits, to Him in trust and acknowledgment of His sovereignty over us.