“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.” Numbers 6:22-27
The above passage of Scripture is known as the Aaronic Benediction. It is the words that God gave to the High Priest Aaron by which to bless His people. We remember that any blessing given is ultimately a prayer to God. Because God gave these words to be given back to Him, we can be certain that He hears and answers!
It is the great privilege of Pastors to proclaim this blessings over God’s people and especially at the closing of a Worship Service when Word and Sacrament have been received. It is a wonderful prayer to read each and every day to be received as one lives out the rising to the setting of the sun. What wonderful sentiments are included in this petition knowing that God will bless us, and He will keep us, He will shine His grace upon us with His divine smile and give us peace. Through this blessing, God puts His own Name upon us and assures us that we are His, His forever!
All of the blessings we receive are ultimately found in the work of Jesus! He has guaranteed God’s blessings upon us because He paid the price for sin and rose again in order to give us true life. Through faith, the Holy Spirit continues to bring us these blessings each and every day. Reading the Scripture above regularly grants us strength and confidence to live this life with the certainty that the God of Moses watches over us just as He has always watched over His children!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian
