The Lord Bless You

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Numbers 6:22-23).

This blessing of God delivered through Moses to Aaron is a warm greeting often shared with friends today. I keep a copy of it on my desk. Consider the components as they apply to you.

“The Lord bless you and keep you.” God loves to bless His people. It is He who really provides all of our blessings small and large. His blessings are so numerous and abundant we fail to realize their consistency. It is only when a desired blessing is not realized we seem to be aware of the many good ones we routinely enjoy. His keeping, that is His preserving of us, is a major blessing. He shields us so often we tend to be unmindful of this grace.

To “keep” is a specific blessing given to those with concerns for safety, focusing on God’s sheltering the people from evil and its effects.

“The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you….” One’s face is a revelation of his will. What is going on in the heart and mind shows on one’s face. This comment encourages individuals to conduct themselves in such a way as to please Him. Our loving responses make His face shine, that is,  to radiate with pleasure. His response is to be gracious to us, to bless us.

“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace ….”

This is an expression meaning to look up, pay attention. “Look-a-me God and give me peace. This peace, this shalom is God’s word for wholeness and goodness and total satisfaction in life.  In this idiom, we might say: God smiles on you. The greeting means you want its object to have such peace.

The reference to “you” is mentioned six times in the passage giving emphasis to you personally.

No less emphasis is given the source of all blessings. It is “God,” who is mentioned three times.

Before posting this I have paused to pray for all who receive the following blessing.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.