A Day-by-day devotional

May 16, 2023

Bountifully blessed

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 6-9

Scripture of the Day: Numbers 6:24-26

You probably hear the priestly blessing prayed over you by your pastor every Sunday at church. This is a very special blessing because it is a declaration, and not a “hope”. It does not start with the word ‘may’ nor is it a statement asking God to do something. It is a clear acknowledgment of God’s blessing over His people by way of pronouncement. It is not something uncertain. In fact, with it goes a definite surety.

This blessing was not penned by man. It was a direct command by God to Moses, to pass it on to Aaron, his brother, who was high priest at that time. It is a blessing to be spoken by the priests to God’s people.

“The Lord bless you and keep you,” is the blessing’s opening statement. In Hebrew, the word used for bless is barak, which means to kneel, a posture that goes from standard high position to a low position. When somebody kneels, joints and legs are bent. To proclaim “the Lord bless you”, is to declare that our Holy God directs Himself towards us, to reach out to us, and pour out from Himself. The second pronouncement is “the Lord keep you”. To keep means to guard or protect. Therefore, this opening statement altogether declares that God pours out from Himself towards us, being ever present among us, as He bends down and reaches out. Being present with us, we are safe and sound in His arms.

The second part of the blessing emphasizes a favorable look of God upon His people. Whenever I am speaking in front of an audience, in the swarm of faces in front of me, I would always look for a familiar, friendly face. It takes away my nervousness and calms me down inside. God shining His face towards you is God looking upon you with great favor. This great favor is the fact that when He shines His face upon us, the light on His face exposes our sinfulness, yet He, being ever gracious, readily pardons us.

Finally, the third blessing repeats the first part of the second blessing. Countenance embodies the face of God. But since God is Spirit, it is a metaphor referring to the expression on the face of the Lord as He looks upon His people. When God looks, there is approval. Knowing that God approves sends peace to His people.

Protection, grace and peace. These are the threefold blessing of God for His people. It is not something you need to ask, if you belong to God. The Lord Himself declared that it is already yours, when He commanded it to be spoken to His people.

Reflection: Oftentimes, we do not realize the power contained in God’s Word. The written Word of God has the power to change hearts as it cuts through like a sword. It changes man inwardly. The Word of God, declared and spoken, however, announces to both the physical and spiritual realm truth that sets free. With truth setting free the bound, bound blessings are also released. Hence, with the spoken Word, not only is the inward man changed, but also his circumstances.

Prayer: The Lord bless and keep me as well as my family. The Lord make His face shine upon us, and be gracious to us. The Lord lift up His countenance upon us, and give us peace. Amen.