The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-25
The Aaronic blessing was given by God to be spoken over His people as a community. The priests would confer this prayer with their raised hands holding the corners of their prayer shawls. This created the vivid visual effect of a wing or covering under which they stood.
The blessing was for a people – but it is also deeply personal. In it, God expresses His nearness and Presence, His care and affection and even His intimacy. He reveals His heart for those He loves, His desire to show them favor and have relationship.
While this blessing was commanded by God to be spoken by the priests during the time of Moses, we see a foreshadowing of the same desire of Christ, our High Priest, to bring favor and relationship with God to us. He imparted the same blessing over us through His actions.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9
In Jesus, this blessing has found its fulfillment. We too now are of the priesthood and can proclaim this blessing over His people. He has revealed His unchanging heart and we can proclaim to one another His blessing as a reminder of what God desires for us.
Let us pray once again in accordance with His will:
May the Lord give us His blessing, protection, favor, Presence, grace and peace. And may we walk under the shadow of His wings always.
The Lord bless you, and keep you: the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-25
