The Priestly Blessing

The LORD bless you and protect you;

the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;

the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.

    – Numbers 6:24-26

God Himself composed the words of this blessing.

He even told Moses why the priests should use the words of this blessing:

In this way [the priests] will put My name on [My People], and I will bless them. (verse 27)

But what does God mean by having His name ‘on’ His People?

We find this same concept of ‘His name being on His People’ in the book of Revelation when God’s People finally have all the wholeness and goodness He intends for them. In that place – in His eternal Kingdom in all its fullness – They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. – Revelation 22:4 

In the repeated themes of the Old Testament, being blessed by God depends upon His presence being with us. This text in Revelation communicates the same thing.

His name ‘on’ us indicates we are set apart, sacred, and protected – because of the sheer power of His presence and His name.

The word “LORD” is used here as an effective substitute for His name – which is not or cannot be spoken or pronounced – it is so sacred. It's no coincidence that it is invoked three times in this blessing.

A person could even recognize each line of this blessing being representative of the effective work of each person of the One God: The Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

As the parent-priest of your people, this is a blessing you can use.

When you tuck your children in bed; perhaps even after you close their door, you can turn, extend your hand toward where they lay, and bless them.

You could say these words over your family at the end of a prayer once a week: Saturday or Sunday dinnertime prayer, or perhaps after family worship on an evening.

For now, receive these words, yourself. As we send this out to you I pray God’s Spirit will enter in and enliven these words for you – the parent-priests who are also in need of blessing as God’s own children.

Receive this blessing, even as you read it:

The LORD bless you and protect you;

the LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you;

the LORD look with favor on you and give you peace.