Smiled on

Numbers 6:22-27

The Priestly Blessing

22 Then the Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

24 ‘May the Lord bless you

and protect you.

25 May the Lord smile on you

and be gracious to you.

26 May the Lord show you his favor

and give you his peace.’

27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

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Smiles really do make a difference. A smile is a mark of happiness, a sign of joy, a seal of approval. When God smiles on us he is saying he loves us. He will give us what we need, that indeed he loves us! 

We need this blessing. And God knows it. Don't forget it is God who tells Moses that this should be the blessing from God's representatives, Aaron, his sons and the priests to his people!

Look at what God is saying to his people.

Protected Fern

Bless - God intends to do good to his people!

Protect - God is committed to their well being and standing between them and harm!

Smile - God offers approval and joy in them. God is happy with his people. He loves them.

Gracious - God knows the failings, and waywardness of his people but he will provide for them just the same. This blessing is not conditional on the people, but on God's character, which never changes.

Favor - God sees everything but is predisposed to do good to his people. He will conquer their enemies, cause their crops to grow, and give them plenty.

Peace - God rests from conflict with these rebellious people and extends peace. So in a world of fighting and war, God's people will know peace!

and the promise of fulfilling this whenever the priest extends the blessing to God's people!

Maybe it is the promise tacked on the end of this blessing that makes it so powerful! The priest in pronouncing this blessing knowing full well that God is going to fulfil it! That is God's promise. It is as if God is saying listen, when Aaron, his sons, or the priests say these words to you, listen it is my voice. You are hearing the voice of God spoken from the heart of God.

And although this was specific to the Israelites so long ago and Aaron is no longer walking this earth, a better priest by far has come and he still speaks these words of blessing over you. And His Father has promised even greater bounty, and blessing. Jesus is our great high priest and He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing imaginable and far more than you can imagine.

Trust Him and listen to his blessing spoken here through Aaron and now through Jesus!

Hear me friend as I am a priest in God's kingdom and I speak these words of Blessing on you today!

Finally, justice!

Isaiah 11:4 NLT

He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
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The promise God made to King David had always seemed too good to be true. Dynasties don't last forever. David's experience of the promise was seriously threatened before he ever reached the throne. And when the land of Abraham's promise was finally united under David's good rule, it is divided by fights among his sons and generals. Does this throw God's promise into doubt? Solomon appears to be a just king, but he is deeply flawed and wavers.

God's people are waiting for a prophet who will declare his people free of exile and oppression. They are longing for a promised king who will rule with justice and peace. God's people are looking for a Messiah like Isaiah has foretold. Who would be this 'Sent One' whose very words would bring healing and peace?

Surely someone could see that this promise would have to be fulfilled by no one short of God himself. Thus it is Jesus Christ, the God/Man-Messiah, who alone can fulfil this grandiose and outrageous promise from God.

We clearly see in Jesus' words he is the one that Isaiah is speaking of here (read further below).

Do you long for justice? Did your heart crave the peace promised by Isaiah? Does your mind desperately need this safety and salvation?

All this and more is found in Jesus.

Rest assured, Jesus rules a kingdom you can be part of that is all this and more.

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Isaiah 11:1-10 NLT

Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot— yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment. In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all. The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow. The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place.

https://soundcloud.com/wkbode/consider-the-following-03

There will be no end...

ISA 9:6-7 ESV

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

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Isaiah starts right out with 8 chapters that have, for the most part, amounted to a litany of more than disappointing behaviour and an understandably harsh judgement. But things have taken a major turn in chapter 9.

God is beside himself with excitement. God can hardly contain the sense of purpose and accomplishment that comes with seeing through his promise to David. And this plan is far far better than anyone previously expected. Oh to be sure the first 8 chapters of this word from God through Isaiah has been a bit grim. So far the majority of God's revealed plans have been scary. Not the kind of news that warmed the cockles of one's heart. But truth and hope of a sort nonetheless.

But this news is colossal and a whole new order of magnitude in the unfolding love story of God's intentions for humankind.

The promise of God to David was going to be fulfilled by God himself, not simply a representative. And this time it was going to be final, fair, and forever.

With the aid of hindsight we can see this is all about the birth, life and rule of the God /Man Christ/Messiah Jesus of Nazareth born in Bethlehem.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace are magnificently hope-giving names rich with meaning and impossibly achievable in anyone short of a divine person.

So God himself would come and fulfill God's promise to David.

Now, let me direct you a bit closer to home. Have a thought to your own life. What is the status of your hopes and your dreams?

Just think, the promise to David had grown in every conceivable way. So the extent of this everlasting rule of God had no end.

The zeal of the rule of God's Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace had expanded to cover you. This hope of God in the midst of great disappointment and harsh judgement orchestrates justice and righteousness over your hopes and dreams.

Can you put your trust in the plan of God? Can you recognise the tickled pink excitement of God's love of a plan that's come together?

The 'no-end'  nature of God's expansive and extensive kingdom rule covers you with peace.

Get excited with God over his plan to take over for you.