The Blessing of the High Priest

Spurgeon, Charles Haddon

Numbers 6:23-26

Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,…

I. THE GENERAL CHARACTER OF THIS BLESSING.

1. It was a blessing given through a priest. Christ, as the great High Priest who offered Himself without spot unto God, is the Divine channel of blessing. Do we know the Lord's Anointed?

2. This benediction is of the nature of intercession. Never forget that Christ "made intercession for the transgressors." He has, moreover, a special pleading for believers (John 17:9).

3. This benediction is yet of a higher order than intercession. Here is not only faith pleating, but faith receiving and bestowing. The priest speaks the blessing: for which he asks.

4. This blessing is sure. Christ is commissioned of the Father, and anointed of the Spirit, as the ambassador of peace.

5. It is continuous. God blesses ever; curses never.

II. THE BLESSING ITSELF.

1. It passes from the priest to God. "The Lord bless thee." What a blessing the Lord gives! Have we not heard a mother say to her little child, "Bless you "? What a wealth of meaning she threw into it. But when God says, "Bless you! " there are infinity and immutability in it. There can be no limit to the goodwill of the infinite God.

2. Notice that the name of the Lord, or Jehovah, is three times mentioned. Here we hear the voice of One, yet Three.

3. Notice that this benediction is all along in the singular. Why? Because the people of God are one, and He views them as one, and so the blessing comes upon the entire Church as a whole. But, next, I think it is that every individual believer may take the whole of this benediction home to himself.

III. THE DIVINE AMEN. Here is the authority repeated by way of confirmation of what has been said. "They shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them." The priest does his part, and then the Lord makes the blessing effectual. Herein is condescension on God's part, and honour and security for us. When the Lord's name is named upon anything He will guard His own dedicated things. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and within it we are safe. I think I see here a confirmation of those blessings which are pronounced by good men. "They shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them." I loved to have my grandfather's blessing when I was preaching the Word in early days. He has now gone into the glory; but he blessed me, and none can take away the name of God from me. Most of you will remember the blessings of good men who are now gone to glory; and God confirms those blessings. He allows His people, whom He has made priests and kings unto God, to put His name upon others, and to pronounce blessings upon them. Their word shall stand, and what they bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And then comes, best of all, the blessing of our God most surely promised. "I will bless them"; they shall have their troubles, but I will bless them through their troubles. When they have earthly goods I will bless them and make them real comforts. I will bless their basket and their store. If those earthly comforts arc taken away I will give them compensation a thousandfold in myself.

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