The Blessing of God

Number 622. There's a Jewish priest in the temple at Jerusalem.

And his garments are splattered with blood because he's just made an atoning sacrifice for the sins of God's people. But his work is not over yet.

For having sacrificed and prayed to the Lord for mercy. He must then turn to the people and bless them in the name of the Lord.

So the priest's work is both Godward and manward. He presents sacrifices and prayers to God on behalf of the people of God.

And then he turns and blesses the people of God on behalf of the God whom he represents. And the order is significant.

First sacrifice, then blessing. Because it is on the basis of the sacrifice made to God that his blessing can be given and enjoyed by his people.

Now when they blessed the people of God, the priests were not given the liberty to come up with their own blessing. To wing it, if you will.

Rather, the very words that they spoke were given to them. We see that in our text. This is how you are to bless. Bless. The Israelites.

Say to them, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.

So every morning, those words of blessing were pronounced upon the people of God right after the morning sacrifice had been made. And this blessing then would have played an important role in the religious life of the people of God.

Now, just as the priestly sacrifice of the Old Testament, those priestly sacrifices had their fulfillment and effectiveness in Christ. So this blessing has its fulfillment and effectiveness in Christ as well.

And that simply means that this blessing that we read of here in number six is full of meaning and importance for us who are in Christ.

And I trust that we'll see that this morning. My mind and heart were stimulated by a devotional on this text that a brother from California, Pastor Jeff Oliver, brought a couple weeks ago in our association meeting in Chicopee, Massachusetts.

And I'm drawing much from that devotional this morning. The question might be given. Why speak about this blessing?

And I would say because everyone is interested in living the blessed life, the happy life, the good life. Nobody wants to live a miserable life.

We all want the blessed life. Do you want a blessed life? Then let's consider three questions this morning. Number one, where does blessing come from?

Right away, the blessing says the Lord bless you. The Lord, the covenant name of God who swore by his own name to bless his people.

The Lord bless you. The Lord make his face shine on you. The Lord turn his face toward you three times, not once, but three times. The source of the blessing is mentioned.

Kids, if mom tells you something three times, it must be something real important. And when God tells us something three times right after another. It's because something important is being given.

We dare not miss it. And again in verse 27, so they, the priest, will put my name on the Israelites and I will bless them.

The I is emphatic in the Hebrew, which simply means I myself will bless them. There's no question then as to the source of these blessings.

All the streams of blessings in our lives can be traced right back to the fountain God. And so we sing.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Come thou fount of every blessing.

Indeed, he is the fountain of blessing. But now why such emphasis in our text on the source of blessing? Why is it so repeated and emphasized?

Well, because God knows that we tend to go looking for blessing in all the wrong places. So there's Adam and Eve and they're just swimming in the blessings of God in a perfect environment of the Garden of Eden.

And the devil takes the form of a serpent and tempts Eve on this very point of where does blessing come from? Where is it to be found?

Now, God had prescribed the circle of blessing. It was in communion with him and in step with his commandments in keeping his revealed will.

That's where blessing is to be found and enjoyed. And so he says, here's my circle of blessing. You are free to eat from all these trees of the garden.

There's only one tree that's outside the circle of blessing. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of it, you will die.

Surely die. That's where the curse is. The curse is found outside the circle of blessing. And Satan comes to Eve and says, no, you will not surely die.

You really can't trust God for your blessings. If you want to experience real blessing, you've got to step outside of God's confining and restricting commandments and laws.

The law of God will keep you from blessing. No blessing is to be found precisely in eating the tree that he doesn't want you to eat from. He's holding out blessing from you.

Follow me and I will lead you to true blessing. And she doubted. That God really had blessing. Behind his commandment for her.

And she thought blessing existed outside of him and his law. And so she pursued blessing by eating the forbidden fruit and found it only led to a curse.

And she gave some to Adam and he too ate and was cursed. And so instead of being holy and happy under the blessings of God, they're cast out of the garden and they're sinful and misery under the curse of God.

Seeking it in all the wrong places. It's important that we know where blessing is to be found. And that's what's happening all over the world today.

And the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. They're not seeking blessing in God, but almost in every other place than God.

They're not seeking blessing in the God of the Bible, their creator, their maker, their redeemer, father, son and Holy Spirit.

Not in him as prescribed in his long gospel, but outside of him. Beyond him. In the forbidden fruit. And so blessing is sought by rebelling against parents.

It's sought by taking advantage of people. It's sought by sexual immorality. By stealing. By lying. By coveting.

It's sought in a boyfriend. In a girlfriend. In money. Jobs. Parties. Hobbies. Recreation. The advertisements tell us that the good life is plenty of beer and women and food.

And leisure. And luxury. And it's all sought apart from God. Blessings out there. Not where God is.

That's the blessed life. And yet it's not just them. It's not just the world out there. Rather in Jeremiah 2.13. We find that God brings a charge against his own covenant people.

Those who had received great blessing from him. And he says. My people have committed two sins. They have forsaken me.

The fountain. Of living water. And they have dug their own cisterns. Broken cisterns. That cannot hold water. So here's the ever blessed and blessing God.

The fountain of every blessing that we have. Eternal life included. And yet. How often we forsake him. For some other perceived blessing.

The Israelites forsook him for what? For idols. For God substitutes. What he calls broken cisterns.

Cisterns that cannot even hold water. Much less produce it. Worthless idols cannot bless. Yet they're turned to for blessing. As the ever blessed and blessing God is forsaken.

We saw that. I think it was last year in the book of Hosea. Didn't we? That Israel turned away from God. The blessing God. And they turned instead to the Baals.

To the Canaanite gods of fertility. To the rain God. Thinking that blessings upon my crops. My womb. My animals' wounds.

It's all to be found here. Apart from God. And the living God. The true source of every blessing. Was ignored.

Was slighted. Was forsaken and forgotten. What is it that makes temptation. Such a powerful force in our lives? Is it not just this.

That we think for the moment. That blessing is to be found. Outside of God and his commandments. We think at least. For that moment. Perhaps I'm missing out on some blessing.

That could be found. Outside of God and his law. And so getting even. Getting even. Looks better than overcoming evil with good.

Pornography. Looks better at the moment. Than keeping my eyes pure. Living without. Even a hint of sexual immorality. Temptation comes.

Promising some blessing. In sin. And when we believe that. We give in to it. I'd ask you to do this. The next time you find yourself.

Falling into some sin. And temptation. Ask yourself. This question. What blessing did it promise me? What was the hook? What was the blessing.

That was being promised to me. If I would just transgress God's law. To get it. It's the same reason. We often neglect communion with God.

Because any number of lesser things. Have caught our fancy. And we think. Again. We think that. They will bring us greater blessing. Than time spent.

Listening to God. And talking. With him. Forsaking the fountain. We turn to broken cisterns.

And then we wonder. Why we're thirsty. Well true blessedness. Where is it found? In God himself. And as you're enjoying.

The blessings of God. And God. In his blessings. You are being armed. Against the temptations. That are coming at you.

To seek blessing. Outside of God. It's as you take the cup of blessing. And drink deeply of it. That you. Are forearmed. Against.

All temptations. To go outside of God. For blessing. Where does blessing come from? The Lord.

Bless you. Secondly. What is true blessing? What is the blessed life? Well. Its definition is spelled out. In this blessing. Here in number six.

And this too. Is needful. To have it spelled out. Because we easily. Are fooled. By counterfeit. And we easily settle. For too little. So what we find.

Is that. In general. The word blessing. Means any. Anything good. Anything advantageous. Any benefit. Is a blessing. That which enriches us.

The opposite of blessing. Is curse. It's. It's that which is harmful. And so. The blessing. Well. There's so many blessings. Aren't there?

Life. Health. Family. Food. Freedom. Prosperity. Those were some of the. The blessings. That God promised. To his covenant people. And that we. Enjoy.

Indeed. Every good thing. That we have. And enjoy. Is a blessing. A blessing. From God. But. But notice. In your. Your. Your. Bibles. How. Blessing.

As defined. Here by God. Is far more. Than just our physical. Blessings. Because at its. Heart and center. Is this. Face to face. Relationship. With the living God.

The Lord himself. Blessedness. True. Blessedness. Is having the Lord. Make his face. Shine on you. True. Blessedness.

Is having the Lord. Turn his face. Toward you. Instead of. Away from you. At the very heart. Of blessedness. Then. Is this. Intimate.

Communion. With God. And his favor. Shining. Upon us. This emphasis. On his face. Makes that.

Clear to us. You can have. All the physical. Blessings. In this world. And yet. Not know. What the blessed. Life is. If you do not know. The face of God.

Shining in. Favor. And grace. Upon you. That's the center. Of blessedness. Now. The face.

Reveals the heart. Isn't that true? Kids. Have you ever seen. A look on mom's face. That says her heart. Is. Has got some issues. With you. Her face. Reveals her heart. And that's what.

What is being said here. About God. His face. Reveals. His posture. To us. His attitude. Toward us. And. A shining face. Is a welcoming. Smiling.

Face. That reveals. A heart. Full of love. And favor. It's the. It's the beaming. Out from the bridegroom's face. That we often see. Standing right here.

As his. His lovely bride. Comes walking down this aisle. To give herself over. For life. To him. And there's. There's no. Problem. Discerning.

What's in his heart. Toward this woman. At this time. His beaming face. Shining. The. The love. And favor. And graciousness.

That's flowing out. Toward her. Even so. True. Blessedness. Is to know. That God. Looks on us. In that way. With grace. And favor.

With joy. And delight. And pleasure. In us. That's what it means. To be truly. Blessed. There is enough.

In the shining face. Of God. To make you happy. On your worst days. If we would. But taste it. And drink. Deeply of it. So. Blessedness. Is a personal. Relationship.

With the living God. And in this relationship. He provides. Three things. The blessing says. He provides. Protection. Grace. And peace. This is the smiling God.

Acting on our behalf. Providing. These things for us. First of all. Protection. The Lord. Bless you. And keep you. May he keep you.

May he watch over you. May he. Protect you. Like a shepherd. Does his sheep. And it's none other than the living God himself. Who is your protector.

And your keeper. And anyone that even dares to think about touching you. Is touching the apple of his eye. The one that he shines with favor upon.

Now we won't prize this blessing unless we realize our danger. What good is a protector if there's no danger. Right. And I think sometimes we can read this.

The Lord bless you. And keep you. And we think. Yeah. We live in a free land. And there's really not much danger. I want you to appreciate God as your protector. This morning.

But you won't. And I won't. Unless I realize. There's some very real dangers. In the world in which we live. There's a devil.

And with him are a horde of demons. Angelic beings. Powerful beings. More crafty. More powerful than us. And their number one goal.

Is to see you damned. Every one of you. To see you come to hell at last. To bring you out of blessing. And into the curse.

Isn't that what we see at the very first. Tempting done in Garden of Eden. Bring them out of blessing. Down into the curse with us. And these demonic.

Fallen angels. Are laboring. For your demise. Indeed. Satan is called. A roaring lion.

On the prowl. Say. Sheep. Find roaring lions. Dangerous. They have no protection. In themselves. They need a protector. And that's what God says.

He will be. These creatures. That know the weakness. Of your flesh. And know. Exactly what. Your weak moments are. In your week. And in your day.

And know. The weak areas. In your life. And exploit them. And know how to exploit your desires. And know just the instruments. And people. And things. And thoughts to use.

To bring you down. They're out to get you. But the Lord bless you. And keep you. Who is this keeper of Israel?

Psalm 121. The Lord. Himself. Watches over you. He who watches over you. Will never slumber. Indeed. He who watches over Israel.

Will neither slumber. Nor sleep. The Lord. Is your shade. At your right hand. The sun. Will not smite you by day. Nor the moon.

By night. He's never off duty. The Lord. Will keep you from all harm. He will watch over your life. The Lord. Will watch over your. Coming. And going.

Both now. And forevermore. Now that's the watcher. The keeper. Of Israel. Such intimate concern. Day. Or night.

All your. Comings. And goings. Now. And forever. So whatever the dangers are. We have. The Lord.

Providing. Protection. Secondly. Provides grace. The Lord be gracious to you. Verse 25. The Lord. Causes face to shine on you.

And be gracious. Now this shows that. Blessing. Is God being gracious to us. When God blesses us. God's not treating us as we deserve. But he's rather treating us with unmerited favor.

The definition of a spoiled brat. Is someone who thinks they deserve blessing. Wouldn't you agree? People who are spoiled. Think they deserve.

Everybody doing good for them. It's that entitlement mentality. That plagues all of us by nature. We deserve good. Advertisers know their audiences.

You know they spend a lot of money. Studying us. And L'Oreal. The world's largest cosmetic and beauty company. Knows how to appeal. To their audience.

Because they've done their homework. And so. Their advertising slogan is. Because you're worth it. You're worth it. Woman. Yes it costs.

A little more. But you're worth. More. And. And all that's. Telling us. Is that there's something in us. That likes to think. That we deserve things. And. And that plagues us.

When it comes to God too. We think we deserve blessing. I'm not like him or her. I do a little better than. Than her. And. And I think I deserve something. You deserve. A break.

Today. We. Have this. Within our very. Fallen nature. And into this arrogant. Fascinated with self world. God says. If you ever receive. The slightest blessing from me.

It will be all of grace. Absolutely. Undeserved. The opposite of what you deserve. In fact. Everything from the forgiveness.

Of your sins. Down to. That bite. Of food. You last had. Or that last breath. You just took. It's all. Blessing. Of grace.

Blessing. Is knowing God's love. And having him smiling upon you. In grace. But then. He provides peace as well. The Lord give you peace.

Verse 26. Shalom. It's more than the absence of war. It's rather soul rest. It's. It's. Peace with God. Not to be warring.

Against God. And having him as our enemy. Peace with our own conscience. Peace with each other. The Lord give you peace.

That total well-being. Shalom. The way things were meant to be. The perfect enjoyment of all good. That includes everything. Our eternal salvation.

The Lord gives peace to his people. So what is blessing? What is the blessed life? Well it's God. In relationship with us. God.

Shining his grace. And protection. And peace. Upon us. It's not just things. It's living under the shining face of God. In relationship with him.

Where he himself. Has counted our greatest blessing. Now that's an important reminder. In this blessing. That. That the very heart of blessedness.

Is knowing him. And communing with him. Having his face. Shine upon us. Because. We're very easily satisfied. With God's blessings.

Rather than God's shining presence. We can take his gifts. And even use his gifts. To ignore the giver. Remember Moses.

Is up on Mount Sinai. And he's receiving the Ten Commandments. And the Israelites are down below. Building the golden calf. Breaking every one of those commandments. And God comes.

Through Moses. And he says to Moses. And to the Israelites. You go on up to the promised land. Flowing with milk and honey. And all the good blessings. Go on up.

But I won't be going with you. I'm too holy. And you're too stiff neck. And I might kill you. Along the way. Well I dare say.

There would be a lot of people in church. That would just yawn. And say well okay. I guess if you. If that's the way you want it. I want the blessings of Canaan. With or without.

Your presence. Not Moses. He says Lord. If you're not going with us. I don't want to go. I don't want to go. I don't want to go. I want more.

Than the land flowing with milk and honey. I want to know the smile of your presence. Like the warmth of the sunshine. Every day. Shining upon me.

This is the heart. Of blessedness. Do you prize that blessing. Of God's smile. And favor. That will keep you. From a thousand.

Beguiling charms. Seeking to draw you away. Where does blessing come from? From the Lord. What is it? It is. Primarily. This. Relationship.

Face to face. Relationship. With God. In Christ. Lastly. Third. How do we receive it? How do we get this blessing? Well the Bible from first to last says not by earning it.

We forfeited every blessing from God. In Adam. Our representative. And we all like sheep have gone astray on our own. We have turned each one to his own way.

And the Lord has laid on him. His Messiah. The iniquity. Of us all. So. We left the pathway of blessing. And we turn to our own way.

Of pursuing blessing. And in stepping out of the path of blessing. We now deserve cursing. Instead. Galatians 3. 10. All who rely on observing the law.

Are under a curse. For it is written. Cursed is everyone. Who does not continue to do everything. That is written in the book of the law. If you're not continuing.

To do everything written. If you break one command. You say well I got them all. This week. But if just one day. You don't continue to do. You see.

The curses. Of the law. Rest upon us. Because none of us. Have ever. Continued to do everything. Written in it. Sin puts.

Me under God's curse. The soul that sins. It must die. And it's a death. That lasts forever. It's a death under. God's wrath. And a conscious. Reality. Called hell.

So no amount of law keeping. Can earn me God's blessing. So the. The ultimate question is then. How can I. A sinner. Under the curse.

Ever receive this blessing. From God. God. And the Bible's answer. From first to last. Is through the substitutionary. Curse bearing of Jesus. In your place.

Jesus was the only one. Who ever deserves. To be blessed by God. He was born. Into this world. A true man. Under the law. And he obeyed. Every command. Continually.

Every day. All of it. And so he earned. The blessing of God. Life everlasting. He's the only man. To ever earn it. And at his baptism.

And again. At the Mount of Transfiguration. His father's voice. Booms from heaven. This is my son. Whom I love. With him. I'm well pleased. I've looked him over. With my omniscient eye.

And there's nothing. Displeasing in him. That's. That's the face. Of God's smile. On his son. Wouldn't it be that? To have God say. This is my son.

Whom I love. He is well pleasing. To me. He deserved that. He deserved that. Blessing of God. That was the ultimate. Blessedness.

And that loving kindness. Was better than life. To Jesus. But when this same. Jesus stepped in. As a substitute. In my place. He got my cursing.

And I get. His blessing. He got what I had coming. And I got. What he had coming. And that's how.

Blessing. Comes to sinners. It's the only way. Is if this exchange. He takes my curse. He gives me. His blessing. If that takes place.

All my sins. Laid on Christ. He bears them all. To the cursed tree. Where he is damned. In my place. God did not bless him.

When he took. My sins. Upon him. He cursed him there. He didn't keep. And. And. And protect him. But he delivered him up.

To be bruised. And he himself. Crushed him. God did not shine. His face. Upon him. But he hid. His face. In darkness. From him.

God was not. Gracious. Toward his son. But wrathful. He did not. Turn his face. Toward him. But abandoned him.

He did not. Give him any peace. Because he was. Bearing the punishment. That would. Bring us. Peace. So there was no.

Benediction. For Jesus. Only. Malediction. That read. The Lord. Curse you.

And reject you. The Lord. Hide his face. From you. And hate you. The Lord. Abandon you. And give you. Hell.

Forever. That's what we deserved. That's what it cost. The son of God. To take that wrath. Upon himself. To buy.

Blessing. For us. No wonder. In the garden. Of Gethsemane. As Jesus. Draws near. To drinking. This experience. He speaks of it. As a cup. And he says.

Father. If it be possible. Let this cup. Pass. From me. What was in that cup? Your curses. And mine.

Everything. Everything. We deserve. For eternity. Poured into that cup. And he recoils. With. With. With all that is in him. To be separated. From my father.

Oh father. Let it. Let it pass. Nevertheless. Not my will. But yours. Be done. And there's. His human will. Bowing. To his. Father. In heaven. So the cup.

Of curses. Due to me. Is put into my. His hands. And he drinks it. Down to the dregs. Galatians 3. Says. Christ. Redeemed us.

From the curse. Of the law. By becoming. A curse. For us. For it is written. Cursed is everyone. Who is hung on a tree. Doesn't stop there.

He redeemed us. In order. That the blessing. Given. To Abraham. Might come. To the Gentiles. Through Christ Jesus. So that by faith.

We might receive. The promise. Of the spirit. He becomes. A curse. For us. That we might. Be blessed. In him. That the blessing.

Promised to Abraham. Might come to us. Eternal life. And the down payment. Of it. In the gift. Of the Holy Spirit. How is it received? He says.

By faith. We might receive. The promised blessing. By trusting. In his perfect sacrifice. For sinners. On Calvary.

It's a faith. That says. I am. A curse. Deserving. Sinner. You're. My only hope. Lord Jesus. God.

I do believe. That Jesus Christ. Died in the place. Of sinners. To give the blessing. Of eternal life. To all that believe. I believe. Your promise. I cast myself.

Upon. Your promise. Of blessing. Look on him. And pardon me. You see.

To come to Christ. By faith. And repentance. Is to step. Outside. Of the curse. And to step. Under. The blessings. Of God.

God. Where are you today? Where are you living? Under the curse. Or under. The blessing. Of God. Every one of us. Right now. Are in one of those.

Two conditions. Those who have not believed. Are already condemned. Jesus says. The curse is already. Pronounced. And hanging over your head.

It's just a matter of time. You're one breath away. From sealing. Your eternal destiny. Under the curse. Of God. But you're also. Just one prayer away.

One believing. Repenting. Prayer away. From. Escaping. All of that curse. And stepping into. The full blessing.

Of eternal life. You know. Jacob was a. A man. Who was a deceiver. Wasn't he? That was his name. Deceiver. Grasper. How did he seek.

Blessing. In his life. Not by faith. In God. But by. By getting. For himself. And he depended. On his lies. His cheating. His deceiving. And.

And he did pretty well. For a while. Didn't he? And then he met his. His father-in-law. Laban. And he got a little. Of his own medicine. And then it didn't. Seem so fun.

Anymore. And then he's ready. To meet up. With Esau. Whom he had cheated. And now he's fearing. For his life. As the chickens. Are coming home. To roost. And. And when he's preparing.

To meet his brother. In fear. God comes. In the form of a man. And wrestles. With Jacob. All night long. And God touches. His hip. It leaves him.

Limping. The rest of his life. And Jacob. Turns. From wrestling. To just. Clinging. On to God. Just. Just hanging. On to him. And. The rays.

Of the morning sun. Start breaking. Over the horizon. And God says. To Jacob. Now let me go. And Jacob says. I will not let you go.

Until you bless me. And that's what God wanted. A man desperate. For blessing. From him. Who would quit. His own conniving. And seeking blessing.

On his own. Elsewhere. But would come to him. And say. I seek all my blessing. In you. The ever blessed. And blessing God. God. And some of you. Are like Jacob. This morning.

You've been seeking. Your blessings. All in the wrong place. By your own doing. And. God wants you to say. I will not let you go. Until you bless me.

Some of you need to get. That serious. With God. To where that becomes. The most. Needful thing. In your life. More important. Than. What you'll do. This afternoon. Tomorrow.

A thousand. Tomorrows. I want. The blessing. Of God. And it's found. In Jesus Christ. Well the Lord. Did bless Jacob. And he'll bless you.

If you come. And receive it. Through the Lord Jesus. And so. A Jewish priest. Outside of Jerusalem. Has made a bloody sacrifice.

On the altar. Of Golgotha's cross. Altar. To atone. For the sins. Of his people. And he gave himself. As the sacrifice.

This was the one sacrifice. To which all those. Earlier sacrifices. Of animals. Pointed. They had no efficacy. And power. To forgive sin. Except. What they drew.

Upon this sacrifice. But Christ's sacrifice. At Calvary. Was not the whole. Of his work. As a priest.

Was it? No. Remember the priest. Has work to do. After offering. The sacrifice. He must then turn. And bless his people. So we follow. This.

Great high priest. As he makes his way out. To the Mount of Olives. With his disciples. And with the sacrifice. Behind him.

Having died. Buried. Risen. Instructed them. Over a period. Over a period. Of 40 days. He now. Lifts up his hands. And blesses them.

And the Bible says. In Luke 24. That while. He was blessing them. He left them. And was taken up. Into heaven. He ascended.

In the very act. Of blessing. His people. And I just wonder. Did he use. The words of blessing. Found in our text.

Certainly would be a fitting. Blessing to give to us. Because all. Of God's blessings. Find their source. Through Christ. Christ. It's in him.

That. That we have all. The blessings of God. Peace. With God. Grace. Grace. Grace and peace. Through our Lord. Jesus Christ. Be yours.

Whatever it was. The important thing. Is to see. The last sight. Of him. That these believers. Had. Was with him.

Raising his hands. And blessing them. And as he went. Into the clouds. That's the last. Thing they saw. And folks. He's still blessing us.

He's still. Pouring out upon us. All the blessings. That his. Crosswork. Purchased for us. That his sacrifice. Purchased for us.

All the merits. Of his blood. Purchased. Blessings for us. And so he's still. Blessing his church. From heaven. And will.

Forever. Be blessing us. His merit. Is just that. Great. The goodness. Of God. And the gospel. Is just that. Deep. That he will never.

Stop blessing. His people. When Jesus. Blesses. It's more than. Well-wishing. When you and I. Bless someone. What are we saying? We're saying. Oh God. Would you bless. This person. Maybe somebody sneezes.

And somebody says. God bless you. Where'd that come from? Well that's an old. Old habit. Went. Coming way back. From the middle ages. The bubonic plague.

The great. Black death. Because. When people got the plague. One of the symptoms of it. Was to sneeze. Like a third of Europe.

Was gone. Within two. Two days. The thirteen hundreds. And so somebody sneezed. Oh. It's just a matter of time. Your life's done.

So people would say. God bless you. That didn't mean. They would be healed. That didn't mean. That their eternity. Would be good. That was just their way. Of wishing them well. But when Jesus.

Blesses folks. It's nothing like. What we do. When we bless people. When Jesus. Blesses. They are blessed. Whom he blesses. He commands.

The blessing. All the good. Spoken. Over his church. Is communicated. To them. By the virtue. Of his power. And his precious blood.

Guarantees. That they shall have. All that he blesses. Them with. And so what do we have here. In numbers. Chapter six. Well we have a God.

Who knows. Our weakness. And our propensity. To forget even our. Our best things. And so he has Aaron. And his sons. Repeatedly pronounce. This blessing. Over his people.

Every day. After the morning sacrifice. This blessing. Is placed. Upon them. And I say. What is our privilege. In the new covenant. To wake up.

Every morning. To the blessing. That Christ has earned. For us. To start every day. Knowing that whatever happens. Today. I live this day.

Under the blessing. Of God. In Christ. His face. Pouring grace. Down upon me. His grace.

Saying. This too. Is a son. Whom I love. With him. I am well pleased. His grace. That protects. That keeps.

That grants peace. And the highest. Blessing. All one. For us. By the Lord Jesus. Can you think of a better way. To live. A better way. To start. Each day.

Even to end. Each day. Under the blessing. The canopy. Of God's blessing. So I like. Our sister Christine's. Answer to the question. How are you doing today? And you know.

Who've asked her that. You'll get a twinkle. In her eye. And. I'm blessed. I'm blessed. Now that's it. We need to live.

Under that sense. Of blessing. That Jesus has purchased. For us. And under his blessing. Everything.

Must work. Together. For my good. Amen. And now may the Lord bless you. And keep you. The Lord make his face.

To shine upon you. And be gracious to you. The Lord. Turn his face toward you. And give you peace. All through the merits. Of our. Great high priest.

Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen.