More Than Decoration!

‘May the LORD bless you and protect you. May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.’ [Numbers 6.24-26]

This blessing is much more than just a great verse to hang on a wall or bathroom mirror. This may sound like a stretch, but I see this verse related to the following verses in very important ways. It is more than decoration!

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [Matthew 6.10]

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” [Luke 4.18-19]

First, the Numbers passage is a record of the blessing God told Moses that the priests should literally declare over the people of Israel. Note the wording about God's favor in the same context as His peace.

Next, Jesus used the same kind of language in Matthew 6 - not really asking, but declaring the coming of God's Kingdom and His will (with heaven as the standard). The word "may" seems to denote "I join my word and will with the word and will of God."

And then, in the Luke passage, Jesus assigns Himself as the bearer of God's favor (ref the Numbers passage) by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Finally, the significance of all this is realized in Jesus' repeated instructions for His followers to follow His example, even directly stating in prayer to God:

Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. [John 17.18]

And then stating to His followers:

Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]

Jesus put Himself in the same position as the Levitical priests in declaring God's favor upon the people (Luke 4.18-19).

Jesus put US in the same position as priests when He made His 'being sent' and our 'being sent' as synonymous.

I am not making this up! It is time to act on it!

Father, help me to understand the duty placed upon me to represent, in all its fullness, Your favor on those who will receive it.