‘ADONAI [the LORD] bless you and keep you!
ADONAI make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you!
ADONAI turn His face toward you and grant you shalom [peace]!’ Numbers 6:24-26, TLV
His Name Over Us. Many of us in the church grew up with this benediction at the end of the service. Kari Jobe did a beautiful worshipful version of it as well. The name of the benediction – known for thousands of years – is the Aaronic Benediction. Do you know the context of this blessing? For many years, I didn’t. It wasn’t until I attended my first Messianic synagogue service (Jewish believers in Yeshua/Jesus), that I learned such important insights.
In this way they are to place My Name over Bnei-Yisrael [the Children of Israel], and so I will bless them.” (vs. 27, TLV Emphasis Mine)
The “they” in verse 27, are Aaron and his sons (vs. 23), the kohanim (the High Priests that came from the line of Aaron from the Tribe of Levi). The kohanim [High Priests] — today many Jewish people carry the name of Aaron’s descendants. There are many iterations of the name Cohen, Cahn, Kohen, et. al. Aaron’s descendants were responsible for the sacrifices within the inner court, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. So, when GOD designates that only Aaron and his descendants are to give this blessing, GOD is placing great significance to this blessing. Why?
Because this blessing places ADONAI’s Name over the Children of Israel. Like a father whose children carry his name, Israel would carry His Name. Like a hen who gathers her chicks to protect them from predators (Matthew 23:37), the LORD longs to do the same for us.
Do we carry His Name?
Since moving to the deep South, I’ve learned certain colloquialisms. In certain situations, if someone says, “Well, bless her/his heart.” Or even “God bless them.” it doesn’t mean a blessing. It means something along the lines of, “Well, they don’t know any better.” Or “Well, they are idiots after all.”
Just as GOD asked that only the kohanim could give the blessing in today’s verses, we must be mindful of how we use a blessing. Does our blessing speak the Name of the LORD over them, or are they just empty words. Don’t we want His Name over us, like wings of protection?
How precious is Your love, O God! The children of men find refuge in the shadow of Your wings. (Psalm 36:8, TLV)
Today, let us speak blessings over one another being mindful of the weight and power of these words. Let us be filled with the Spirit, not criticism and judgment.
