Monday Reflection –\u00a0 2017<\/p>\n
The Lord bless you and keep you. Numbers 6:24<\/p>\n
In most of my conversations with others, I usually end with the words, \u201cBless you". This is really my prayer that God would bless the individuals; thus it is not my blessing but offering God's blessing. When we speak of God\u2019s blessings, I believe we are talking about the favour of God for which we have so graciously benefitted.<\/p>\n
In Numbers 6, God gave Moses instructions regarding how the Nazarites were to prepare themselves for worship and conduct worship at the Tent of the Meeting. The Chapter closes with the instruction to Aaron as to the specific words he should use for the Priestly Blessing or Benediction. This Blessing begins with the words of today\u2019s Watchword \u2013\u00a0
\u201cThe Lord bless you and keep you.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Matthew Poole Commentary, \u201c
Bless you\u201d\u00a0
means to\u00a0bestow upon you all manner of blessings, temporal and spiritual. \u201c
Keep you\u201d\u00a0
iscontinue his blessings to you, and preserve you in and to the use of them; to keep you from sin and its bitter effects.<\/p>\n
For Matthew Henry, \u201cThe priests were solemnly to bless the people in the name of the Lord. To be under the almighty protection of God our Saviour; to enjoy his favour as the smile of a loving Father, or as the cheering beams of the sun; while he mercifully forgives our sins, supplies our wants, consoles the heart, and prepares us by his grace for eternal glory; these things form the substance of this blessing, and the sum total of all blessings.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is one of the Benedictions pronounced at the close of our worship services. What we are declaring then is for God to bestow his favour on us, enable us to maximize his blessings, and protect us from sin and its consequences.<\/p>\n
What then is an appropriate response to God\u2019s manifold blessings and constant keeping? We are called to be a blessing to others i.e. share God\u2019s favour and reveal God\u2019s presence in the world. When people ask, \u201cWhere is God?\u201d They should see God in and through us.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Lord\u00a0bless you and keep you; the\u00a0Lord\u00a0make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;<\/p>\n
the\u00a0Lord\u00a0turn his face\u00a0toward you and give you peace.
\u00a0Numbers 6:24-26<\/p>\n
Till next week, receive God\u2019s blessing and be a blessing to others.<\/p>\n
Jermaine Gibson<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
. Numbers 6:24 In most of my conversations with others, I usually end with the words, \u201cBless you”. This is really my prayer that God would bless the individuals; thus it is not my blessing but offering God’s\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"template":"","watchword_topic":[11],"class_list":["post-42","watchword","type-watchword","status-publish","hentry","watchword_topic-prayer"],"yoast_head":"\n