May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 134:3

Today's Scripture Reading (July 25, 2022): Psalm 131, 133 & 134

It is an ancient blessing. The blessing is known as the Aaronic blessing. I attended a church several years back that sang the blessing over their children before they were dismissed to their children's time during the teaching moment of the main service. The blessing is found in Numbers 6.

The Lord bless you
    and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

One thing about the Aaronic blessing that always grabs my attention is that the blessing is very personal. The blessing is found within a story that emphasizes the community, yet it is intended for the person. The Lord bless you, keep you, make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. The emphasis of the blessing at every point is on you. As we sang the blessing over the children, while it was a beautiful moment, the blessing was somewhat inappropriate for a group of children because we were tempted to sing what should have been an individual blessing over the group. As I sang the blessing, I would try to look at each child, and in my mind, I was stressing, "this blessing is for you, and you, and you." I would breathe that name in my mind for the children whose names I knew as we sang.

Most commentators read David's Psalm as a reflection on the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6. David's blessing is singular, not plural. It is not a blessing over a community; it is singularly aimed at one person; The Lord Bless you.

David writes that "May the Lord bless you from Zion." Zion, Jerusalem, is a special place for the Jews, but it has no power to bless. The holiest or most charismatic pastors cannot bless us; they can only wish us a blessing. But God blesses us, and God directs that blessing at each one of us. You matter to him. Yes, you. You are important. God knows your name and directs his blessing at you, not the community in which you might worship. My wish for you is that in the silent moments of this day that you would hear him speak your name and hear him say that blessing over you because you are very important to him.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Psalm 138 & 139