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Numbers 6:24-26 - Famous Godly Blessing.

Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV) The LORD bless thee, 
and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine 
upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD 
lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee 
peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV) The LORD bless you and 
keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and 
be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face 
toward you and give you peace.  

WORD STUDY

This famous Aaronic benediction is a 
blessing on all of the people. The idea of the phrase 
make His face shine is that of pleasure in the 
presence of God. The idea of the phrase lift up His 
countenance is that of sensing Gods smile. [Nelson 
SB] 

A blessing is a hopeful prayer. A blessing 
was one way of asking for Gods divine favor 
to rest upon others. The ancient blessing in 
these verses helps us understand what a blessing 
was supposed to do. Its five parts conveyed hope 
that God would (1) bless and keep them (favor and 
protect); (2) make his face shine upon them (be 
pleased); (3) be gracious (merciful and 
compassionate); (4) turn his face toward them (give his 
approval); (5) give peace. When you ask God to bless 
others or yourself, you are asking him to do these 
five things. The blessing you offer will not only 
help the one receiving it, it will also 
demonstrate love, encourage others, and provide a model 
of caring to others. [Life Application SB] 

INTRODUCTION

Referred to as "the Lord's Prayer of the 
O.T." [Believer's SB] 

   The priest's blessing is one of the most 
familiar and best-loved passages in the Hebrew Bible. 
Through the centuries, worshipers have found comfort 
in its brief but profound lines. This famous 
text is simple and elegant.  
   The priest's blessing invokes the Lord's 
blessing by repeating his name, Yahweh, in each 
appeal, which is generally translated "the LORD" 
(see Exodus 3:15). The repetition of God's name 
reminds God's people of his interest and involvement 
in their lives. This benediction emphasizes the 
relationship between God and his people and helps them to 
remember the source of their blessings. [One Year NLT 
SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Random Acts of Blessing
   "May the LORD... Three phrases begin 
this way in the blessing God gave Aaron to say 
over Israel. The blessing invokes God's 
protection, pleasure, grace, favor, and peace. It is an 
expression of His goodness on the people in general and 
on whomever the priest might specifically 
choose. The priest could speak it "whenever" - no 
limits, no specific events, no regulations. It was a 
benedictory free-for-all. And God promised to honor 
these words. 
   We might see such a blessing as a nice 
thought or best wishes, a pleasantry in conversation 
that may or may not carry any weight. But in 
God's economy, words of blessing are concrete, the 
currency of actual experience. They are the powerful 
answer to a world that lies under a curse, drawing 
God's favor both to the blesser and the blessed. 
They bring heaven to earth. According to God, 
they are profoundly effective. 
   How often do we take advantage of this 
powerful Kingdom privilege? Human nature prompts us 
to withhold blessing from those we disagree 
with, those who offend us, or those we simply 
don't know very well. We want to bless those we 
love. But freely and indiscriminately? We're much 
more reserved with our goodwill. We want to know 
who we're dealing with. We can be very 
discriminating in our blessings. 
   God uses the blessings of His priests - 
all who love and serve Him in the power of His 
Spirit - to step into lives. For whatever reason, 
He generally intervenes in this world to the 
degree we ask Him to. Blessings are an open 
invitation for Him to step in and target the people who 
need Him most. Why would we withhold that from 
anyone? 
   Make it a point to bless people - as they 
pass by you on the street, pull in front of you 
in traffic, carry out their business all around 
you, wherever. Whether they hear it or not isn't 
the point; God does. He will honor your words, 
build His Kingdom, and change lives. Including 
yours. [The One Year Heaven On Earth Devotional by 
Chris Tiegreen] 

COMMENTARY

   Sometimes when people say, "The Lord 
bless you," they may only be repeating some 
nice-sounding words to be polite - or to end a 
conversation. Even so, we ought to take every opportunity 
to receive God's blessings from every source we 
can. When someone says, "God bless you," we 
should reply, "I receive it!" We know from 
Scripture that God will impart special grace when He 
prompts another Christian to speak a blessing over 
us. In today's Scripture, the Lord tells Aaron 
and his sons to bless Israel by saying, "The 
Lord make his face shine on you." Paul echoes 
this theme when he writes that God has given us 
"the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 
in the face of Christ" (2Co.4:4). To be 
blessed, then, is to get a glimpse of the glories of 
God's Son. What a beautiful thing to do for 
someone you love, or even for an enemy! 
   Lord, I pray that You will hear me as You 
heard the prayer of your servant Jabez long ago: 
"Oh, that You would bless me indeed! (1Ch. 
4:10). I long for Your blessings - from sunrise to 
sunset and all through the night. May the glory of 
God in the face of Jesus shine on me. [A 
Spectacle of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry 
Libby] 

See And Hear
   Our prayer is that the Lord will make his 
face shine on us and be gracious to us. Yet 
sometimes it's hard to see his graciousness in our 
lives because we get busy or overwhelmed by 
circumstances. We need to slow down so we can see that 
grace is everywhere.  
   Frederick Buechner said, "Listen to your 
life. See it for the fathomless mystery it is. In 
the boredom and pain of it, no less than in the 
excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way 
to the holy and hidden heart of it, because in 
the last analysis all moments are key moments, 
and life itself is grace."  
   We need to be intentional in listening 
and seeing. We put ourselves in a mode of 
gratitude, which always opens our eyes and ears to 
God's face shining on us, giving us improbable 
moments of grace. His presence, his power, his peace 
are there to be heard as we listen closely. 
   When we slow down to listen, we will see 
and hear his overflowing graciousness. [The 
Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   I have a new song that I can't stop 
listening to. The habit of latching onto a song and 
listening to it over and over again harks back to my 
junior high days. I would find a song that I loved 
and tape it on my tape recorder. (Yep, I am that 
old.) Then I would play that song on repeat - for 
days. It drove my brother and sisters crazy. 
   Fast-forward a few decades, and I just 
replay my favorite songs online. Now I drive my 
husband, Scott, and my boys crazy. The thing is, when 
I listen to a single song on repeat, the truth 
of it starts to work its way into my soul. 
   The latest song I can't get enough of is 
a worship song. It has a refrain about Jesus's 
blessing being poured out on generation after 
generation. Its many truths are powerful: Jesus is for 
us. His blessing is covering us. Lifting us. 
Surrounding us. Hemming us in on all sides. 
   Jesus reminds me of these truths over and 
over again when I read His Word. It is almost as 
if I need to hear those words on repeat so that 
they can work their way into my soul. Jesus loves 
me. Repeat. Jesus is with me. Repeat. Jesus is 
for me. Repeat. It just doesn't get any better 
than that. Susanna Foth Aughtmon 
   Faith Step: Find your favorite worship 
song online. Put it on repeat. Ask Jesus to 
reveal the truth of His love and character to you 
as you worship and sing along. [Mornings With 
Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   Take time to be still in My Presence. The 
more hassled you feel, the more you need this 
sacred space of communion with Me. Breathe slowly 
and deeply. Relax in My holy Presence while My 
Face shines upon you. This is how you receive My 
Peace, which I always proffer to you.  
   Imagine the pain I feel when My children 
tie themselves up in anxious knots, ignoring My 
gift of Peace. I died a criminal's death to 
secure this blessing for you. Receive it 
gratefully; hide it in your heart. My Peace is an inner 
treasure, growing within you as you trust in Me. 
Therefore, circumstances cannot touch it. Be still, 
enjoying Peace in My Presence. (Psa. 46:10; Num. 
6:25, 26) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   Look the right way! In the world around 
you, there are vistas of bright beauty as well as 
dark, ugly wastelands. When you look the right way 
- toward what is true, noble, lovely - you are 
encouraged and strengthened. I created you with a great 
capacity to enjoy beauty and goodness. Your soul 
resonates with these blessings, drawing strength from 
them.  
   As you go through this day, you will 
encounter things that make you cringe, things that are 
wrong or ugly. Deal with these as you must, but do 
not let them become your focus. Remember that I 
am with you, and listen to Me. Hear Me saying 
time after time, "Look the right way."  
   There is beauty not only in the visible 
world but also in what is unseen. This world in 
its fallen condition can never satisfy you 
fully. You yearn for perfection, and I am the 
fulfillment of that deep longing. I am perfect in every 
way, yet I am able to stay close to you as you 
walk through this sin-stained world. So look the 
right way - toward blessings, toward Me - and the 
Joy of My Presence will shine upon you. (Phi. 
4:8; John 10:27; Num. 6:25; Psa. 16:11) [Jesus 
Today by Sarah Young]  

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing.

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150309-1205.html 

Numbers 6:24-26 - The Lord's Prayer of the 
Old Testament. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2008/20080110-1053.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: 
https://stepstopeace.org/ 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Parable of the Sower - Open Heart Surgery by 
Ralph Ringer: https://vimeo.com/666314378 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study 
Guides: 
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible 

Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/  

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The 
Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE