Numbers 6:22-27 (New International Version)
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. 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 turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. 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 turn his face toward you and give you peace." ' "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Our church introduced a new practice for the close of our traditional morning worship service. We turn to one another and sing the familiar Aaronic blessing the Lord gave to Moses to give to Israel: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you . . .” (Num. 6:24-26). Our hearts are uplifted as we mutually catch the eye of a fellow believer and extend our blessing to him or her.
One Sunday, I noticed a heartwarming and special exchange that has now become a weekly event. In a pew near the front sat Oscar and Marian Carlson, faithful followers of Jesus Christ and devoted partners for the 62 years of their married life. When we began to sing, Oscar reached over and took Marian’s hands in his. They sang the opening words of this special blessing to each other before looking to others. Everyone nearby sneaked a peek at the look of love and tenderness on their faces.
A benediction is not simply a ritualistic closing; it’s a genuine prayerful wish for God’s goodness to follow the other person. In offering it to one another, Oscar and Marian exemplify its warmest and deepest meaning. In blessing others, we express gratitude for what God has done for us through Christ’s death (Heb. 13:20-21). — David C. Egner
Bless me, Lord, and make me a blessing;
I’ll gladly your message convey;
Use me to help some poor needy soul,
And make me a blessing today. —Anon.
God gives blessing to us so we can be a blessing to others.
I thank God for all the many blessings that He has showered on me and I hope to be able to be a blessing to the people around me. I want to start with my family first. May this Chinese New Year period be one in which I draw closer to my family and build up this bond and love within the family. I hope this CNY will not be like any other, but that God will flood His grace and blessings upon me and my family.
1 comment:
I stumbled across this post while looking up this passage. We do well to note that it's not a prayer, or a wish. It is God putting His name on the people by means of His pastors (ie: Aaron and his sons). It is not "MAY the Lord bless..." or "WE PRAY the Lord would bless.." but simply "the Lord bless..." This is something far more "genuine" than a prayer or wish, no matter how pious the prayers may be. This is God's promise: "Where my name is, there also am I with my blessing." It's not Aaron or Moses who are speaking it, or else it could only be a wish and a prayer. Rather, they speak as the very mouth of God Himself. It is only God who can speak such a blessing, who can put His Name on us and claim us by it, whose Word does exactly what it says.
Post a Comment