Enjoy His Blessings
One of the parts that someone remembers most while praying is probably the blessing section. When the blessing is given by the worship leader, it feels so serene and as if God Himself is greeting our existence. In some church traditions, one of the blessing sentences that is usually said comes from the Book of Numbers 6:24-26. Let's read the passage slowly:
The LORD bless you and protect you;
The LORD will shine His face on you and give you grace;
The LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Beautiful isn't it? Especially if we read it slowly and truly appreciate it. This text is part of God's commandment to Moses when telling him what the priests should say when blessing the people. This is to remind the Israelites of God who is always present in the people's lives or in verse 27 it is expressed as placing God's name on the Israelites. There is a mutually welcome action. God reveals His blessing and the people place Him in their hearts always.
God Shines on Us
Several verb forms are used in the formulation of the prayer of blessing found in the Book of Numbers. Let us look at them slowly. First, God reveals the purpose of His action to the people that He will bless and protect. Both are active verbs which show that God is the moving subject and humans are the receiving objects. What He does is bless and protect. God's protection is placed parallel so that it can be interpreted as part of the scope of God's blessings.
Second, a rather interesting expression is used in the formulation of this blessing. God shines upon the people with His face. Imagine God's face directed towards us. He shines upon us like the sun's rays that never tire of shining upon plants, giving life, and giving birth to growth. Life is created and preserved in His grace.
Third, God turns His face toward us. This verb describes the centrality of God's attention and focus only on us. Imagine God's face directed toward the people with all the complexities they experience, including the various sufferings and struggles of the people.He is willing to look at us with a loving and caring gaze. In our sins we are not worthy to face Him, but it is God Himself who turns His face toward us.
The Only One We Need
In welcoming this new year, we often start it with various worries which is infiltrated by various things that are not necessarily happening. We feel that we do not have enough provisions to bring peace and prosperity in the coming year. Preparing through various aspects to enter the new year is not wrong, but let us reflect that in the end it is only God's plan only that is realized in our lives.
Therefore, what we really need is an awareness of God's presence and His blessings that are always present in our lives. Our appreciation of today's text actually gives birth to an awareness that in the end, God's most beautiful blessing is the willingness -His to always accompany and connect with His creations who are often full of limitations. May God enable us to welcome His blessings with the spirit of maintaining a complete and intimate relationship with Him.
We are about to face the future with a new spirit, namely in peace, inclusion, and God's blessings alone. The path of life to come may be winding, but in His blessings we are enabled to face Him. May God help us.
To Ponder :
How has God blessed you over the past year?
What gives you hope as you enter this new year?
