Numbers 6:23-26 Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,… I. The priests, among other good offices they were to do, ARE APPOINTED SOLEMNLY TO BLESS THE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. Hereby God put an honour upon the priest, for the less is blessed of the better; and hereby He gave great comfort and satisfaction to the people, who looked upon the priest as God's mouth to them. Though the priest of himself could do no more but beg a blessing, yet being an intercessor by office, and doing that in His name who commands the blessing, the prayer carried with it a promise, and he pronounced it as one having authority, with his hands lifted up and his face towards the people. 1. This was a type of Christ's errand into the world, which was to bless us (Acts 3:26) as the High Priest of our profession. The last thing He did on earth was with uplifted hands to bless His disciples (Luke 24:50, 51). Bishop Pearson observes it as a tradition of the Jews, that the priests blessed the people only at the close of the morning sacrifice, not of the evening sacrifice, to show that in the days of the Messiah, which are (as it were) the evening of the world, the benediction of the law should cease, and the blessing of Christ should take place. 2. It was a pattern to gospel-ministers, the masters of assemblies, who are in like manner to dismiss their solemn assemblies with a blessing. The same that are God's mouth to His people to teach and command them, are His mouth likewise to bless them; and they that receive the law shall receive the blessing. II. A FORM OF BLESSING IS HERE PRESCRIBED THEM. In other of their devotions no form is prescribed; but this being God's command of the blessing, that it might not look like anything of their own He puts the very words into their mouths (vers. 24-26). Where observe — 1. That the blessing is commanded upon each particular person: "The Lord bless thee." They must each of them prepare themselves to receive the blessing, and then they should find enough in it to make them every man happy (Deuteronomy 28:3). If we take the law to ourselves, we may take the blessing to ourselves, as if our names were inserted. 2. That the name Jehovah is three times repeated in it, and (as the critics observe) each with a different accent in the original. The Jews themselves think there is some mystery. And we know what it is, the New Testament having explained it (2 Corinthians 13:14). 3. That the favour of God is all in all in this blessing, for that it is the fountain of all good. (1) "The Lord bless thee." Our blessing God is only our speaking well of Him, His blessing us is doing well for us; those whom He blesseth they are blessed indeed. (2) "The Lord make His face shine upon thee." Alluding to the shining of the sun upon the earth, to enlighten and comfort it, and to renew the face of it. "The Lord love thee, and make thee know that He loves thee." We cannot but be happy if we have God's love, and we cannot but be easy if we know that we have it. (3) "The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee." This is to the same purpose with the former, and it seems to allude to the smiles of a father upon his child, or of a man upon his friend whom he takes pleasure in. If God gives us the assurances of His special favour, and His acceptance of us, that will put gladness into the heart (Psalm 4:7, 8). 4. That the fruits of this favour conveyed by this blessing are protection, pardon, and peace. (1) Protection from evil (ver. 24). "The Lord keep thee," for it is He that keepeth Israel, and neither "slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 121:4), and all believers are kept by the power of God. (2) Pardon of sin (ver. 25). The Lord be gracious or merciful unto thee. (3) Peace (ver. 26), including all that good which goes to make up a complete happiness. (4) God here promiseth to ratify and confirm the blessing (ver. 27). "They shall put My name upon the children of Israel." God gives them leave to make use of His name in blessing the people, and to bless them as His people called by His name. This included all the blessings they could pronounce upon them, to, mark them for God's peculiar, the people of His choice and love. God's name upon them was their honour, their comfort, their safety, their plea: "we are called by Thy name, leave us not." It is added, "and I will bless them." A Divine blessing goes along with Divine institutions, and puts virtue and efficacy into them. What Christ saith of the peace is true of the blessing. When God's ministers pronounce the blessing, "Peace be to this congregation," if the sons of peace and heirs of blessing be there, the peace, the blessing shall rest upon them (Luke 10:5, 6). For in every place where God doth record His name, He will meet His people and bless them. ( Matthew Henry, D. D..) Parallel Verses KJV: Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, |
    |