The LORD bless you, and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’ (Num 6:24-26)
The Lord’s command is that Aaron and his sons bless every Israelite, not just those who have made a dedication to the Lord. The Lord Jesus Christ said to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. (Lk 6:27-28)
A blessing is the opposite of a curse. A blessing is saying that I want good for you and a curse is saying I want bad for you. The first stanza of this blessing says, “The LORD bless you, and keep you.” To keep means to hold on to, watch over, and preserve. When giving a blessing to someone, it is saying, I hope for your well being. The Lord is good, therefore, saying that you want the Lord to keep someone, means that you want the Lord to be favorable to that person. Jesus has told us to hope for the good of our enemies, not just our friends.
“The LORD make His face shine on you, and be gracious to you.” This is saying, I hope that the Lord will show favor to you. It is easy to say to a friend. I hope that the Lord is favorable to you but to say it to someone who curses you takes true love.
“The LORD lift up His countenance on you, and give you peace.” The word countenance used in this stanza means face. To have the Lord’s face lifted up on you to give you peace. The Hebrew word Shalom is most often translated into English “Peace.” It is peace in every way and in all of life. Peace with God and with those whom we come into contact with in our lives. Jesus has told us to hope for the peace of those who curse us.
The Lord commanded that Aaron and his sons, say this blessing to the sons of Israel. However, there has been a shift with the new covenant. The apostle Peter wrote to non-Jewish persons who believed in the Lord, telling them that they are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s possession. (1 Pe :9) Therefore, it is for every believer in Jesus Christ to invoke this blessing of the Lord to our brethren, our neighbors and our enemies.
