In 1979, Dr. Gabriel Barkay and his team discovered two silver scrolls in a burial ground outside the Old City of Jerusalem. In 2004, after twenty-five years of careful research, scholars confirmed that the scrolls were the oldest biblical text in existence, having been buried in 600 b.c.e. What I find particularly moving is what the scrolls contain—the priestly blessing that God wanted spoken over His people:
The Lord bless you and protect you!
The Lord deal kindly and graciously with you!
The Lord bestow [divine] favor upon you and grant you peace! (Numbers 6:24-26)
(Numbers 6:24–25). This blessing originates in this week's Torah portion, Naso.
In giving this benediction, God showed Aaron and his sons (through Moses) how to bless the people on His behalf. The leaders were to memorize the words in the form God gave so they would speak to them just as God desired. Note how these words emphasize that God is the one who blesses, for three times they say, “the Lord.” And six times He says, “you,” reflecting just how much God wants His people to receive His love and favor.
We don't go a day without being blessed. Twice daily in the repetition of the Amidah, during the morning service and afternoon service, the shaliakh tzibbur, the one who is the congregation in prayer, recites the priestly benediction. In Jerusalem the kohanim actually ascend the bimah and act as a conduit for God's blessing by reciting this ancient prayer. I am always moved when I am so blessed.
Ponder for a moment that the oldest existing fragments of the Bible tell of God’s desire to bless. What a reminder of God’s boundless love and how He wants to be in a relationship with us. If you feel far from God today, hold tightly to the promise in these ancient words. May the Lord bless you; may the Lord protect you.
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