What is a Blessing????

Psalm 67:1-5
May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
    your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you rule the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

Psalm 67 contains part of the blessing God commanded Aaron gave to the people of Israel.  This comes from Numbers 6:24-26, “The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  It is called the “Aaronic blessing”, and in many Protestant and Catholic churches it is said at the end of the worship service/mass.  It is usually called the “Benediction”, which means “good word!”. The idea is when the Pastor raises his hands and says the Aaronic blessing, he is literally putting God’s blessing upon the people. 

In the context of this psalm, David says that part of the purpose of being blessed is making God’s ways known.  We often here the phrase, “We are blessed to be a blessing!”  As God blesses us and His face shines on us, and we reflect His glory.  Much like when the disciples came down from the Transfiguration and saw Jesus shine, and Moses came down from Mount Sinai shining with God’s glory. When we encounter God’s presence and pleasure we shine! 

When Jesus spoke on the Sermon on the Mount in the “Beattitudes”, he used the phrase “blessed are those…” nine times.  Eugene Petersen says this word is best translated “happy …”.  This happiness is a deeper than a “worldly” happiness, but a deep, inner joy we might call “true happiness”. 

I don’t know about you, but I think there is a huge need in our society and in our church to give and receive blessing.  The blessing can also be accompanied with a tracing of the cross on someone’s forehead with the words, “You have been marked by the cross of Christ, and sealed by the Holy Spirit forever”.  What a great thing for parents to do with their kids every night before they go to bed. 

Here is a good question for all of us to ponder.  Are we a blessing in people’s lives? Meaning, when we are with others do they feel blessed by God through us? Receive God’s blessing wherever you are right now!


Now may the Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make his face to shine upon you.  The Lord look upon you with favor and grant you His peace, in the name of the Father, Son and  Holy Spirit!

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