Online House of Prayer

Aneel Aranha is an author, preacher, and evangelist who has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. You can find a huge selection of his reflections, articles, sermons, songs and other resources on his website www.aneelaranha.com.

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Online House of Prayer

Psalm 67

June 04, 2023 • Aneel Aranha • Season 3 • Episode 67

0:00 | 3:37

The Aaronic blessing is one of the most power-packed blessings in Scripture. Let us extend it to everyone we know today!

Psalm 067 - A Blessing For You - Aneel Aranha

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

The psalmist begins this short psalm with a blessing that may seem familiar to you. He writes: May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us. It has parallels in Numbers 6:24-26, which says, "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."

This blessing, known as the Aaronic blessing because it was given by God to Moses for Aaron and his sons, is a prayer of divine favor and protection and a proclamation of God's presence and peace upon h is people. There is nothing to stop us from extending this blessing to the people we know, so let us understand it better.

The first line, "The LORD bless you and keep you," expresses God's desire to bestow his favor, abundance, and provision upon his people. That's us! It reflects the goodness and generosity of God and the assurance of his faithful care and protection over us.

The following line, "The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you," speaks of God's radiant presence and favor. In the ancient Hebrew culture, a person's face represented their identity and emotions. So, when God's face shines upon us, it symbolizes the pleasure, delight, and grace he extends toward us.

The third line, "The LORD turn his face toward you," reinforces the idea of God's attentive gaze and favor on us. When God turns his face toward us, it shows he is with us, ready to listen, respond, and act on our behalf.

The blessing concludes with, "and give you peace." This peace, as Paul would write later, is a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7), transcends all circumstances, and brings comfort and assurance in the midst of life's challenges.

So, dear friends, "May 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."