![]() ![]() This line of the Aaronic Blessing continues the theme of the “face” of God and has the idea of His people receiving His full attention. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. New Covenant believers have the promise of God’s never-ending love (Romans 8:26–38, mentioned above) and have already experienced God’s gracious response to save us from our greatest enemies-sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:56–57). Ancient Israel could expect God’s loving, gracious response to their calls for help. When a person sees a loved one, his or her face “lights up.” God’s “face” radiates divine favor. This line of the blessing has to do with experiencing God’s favor. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The way Paul was safely transported to that kingdom was by the executioner’s blade! Paul, sitting in a Roman prison awaiting his execution, was confident that God would rescue him and bring him safely to the heavenly kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). However, God has also promised that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:36–38). In fact, He has promised persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). While believers hope and pray for physical protection from enemies, we know that God has not promised this. For the New Covenant believer, the protection of God has a somewhat different connotation. For Israel, this would have had a very practical application as they were surrounded by enemies, and God had promised to protect them as long as they were faithful to Him. A blessing from the Lord is requested it’s not just a general blessing but the specific protection of the Lord as we ask Him to “keep you,” words that have the sense of guarding or watching over someone. The blessing itself emphasizes that it is the Lord who blesses the people and does for them what they cannot do for themselves. God originates the blessing-it was God who instructed Aaron on the proper form of the blessing and gave instructions for it to be spoken over the people to begin with. It is also spoken over the congregation regularly in less liturgical services of many Protestant congregations.Ī closer analysis of the blessing shows that the emphasis is upon God. The Aaronic Blessing is also used in Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran liturgy. It is commonly used today in Judaism and known as the Priestly Blessing, the Priestly Benediction ( birkat kohanim), the Dukhanen, or the “raising of the hands,” although the specific time and method of pronouncement differs within the various groups of Judaism. “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”īecause of the simple elegance and profound sentiments expressed in this blessing, it has been used throughout the centuries long after the sacrifices of the Aaronic priesthood ended. “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell Aaron and his sons, “This is how you are to bless the Israelites. The Aaronic Blessing is the blessing that Aaron and his sons were to speak over the people of Israel, recorded in Numbers 6:23–27: ![]()
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