Numbers 6-7

God’s message to me: Bless others and be blessed.

Promises: God blesses those who ask. He brings blessing on those who others request it for.

Commands: Bless others. Pray God’s blessings on those you are responsible for. You know that God knows your needs before you do and yet you also know He wants you to pray for those needs. the same is true of blessings. He longs to bless us but it is our prayer for blessings that brings Him to action. While the bible mentions those who pray to be blessed themselves with no negative comment, it most often mentions praying for others to be blessed. It specifically places the job on the priests and the fathers. We are to bless our children and our ministers are to bless their congregation. This is their duty.

Timeless principles: Has someone done something for you that you felt they should be blessed for? Pray God’s blessings on them. God promises to pour out His blessings upon those whom you have blessed in His name. Doing so encourages good things as more people will pray those blessings on you as they feel you deserve. We have gotten out of the habit of blessing others in prayer and in our speech. Imagine the power our churches would have if we simply blessed people when they did something we are thankful for or proud of. Then if we continued to pray for God’s blessings on those people. Imagine the power of a church full of people under God’s abundant blessing.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: Add “God bless you” to “Thank You” and mean it. Pray for those blessings on those around us.

more to learn for in-depth study: The offerings of the tribes were matching. Each tribal leader brought a platter, a bowl, and a pan representing the tribe and filled with offerings of grain and incense for the temple. The also brought a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a peace offering for their tribe. These were used to provide final sanctification of the temple for all the tribes.

The Nazirite Vow: A Nazerite has nothing to do with the vine. He doesn’t use wine, vinegar, grapes, raisins, grape juice, grape seed oil, grape seeds, or anything similar to these things. He doesn’t cut any hair on his body during the duration of the vow. He won’t go near a dead body even for the funeral of his closest relative or friend. A sudden death near him will be treated as starting the vow over again.

The Nazirite vow is a vow of separation for a time. The Nazirite sets himself apart from society for a specific purpose for a specific time to be in the service of God. This was a vow of holiness and Nazerites must be careful not to defile themselves physically, spiritually or ritually during the time of the vow. Even the routine things that others take for granted are forbidden to a Nazerite. They cannot tend to a sick loved one, attend a funeral, be near things that might defile them. This is why a Nazerite vow is , normally, set for a specific time period.

BENEDICTION: The Lord commanded Moses to teach Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel. He taught them a benediction which is commonly spoken over the congregation in Jewish services and which Christian pastors are learning to use in closing a sermon. It is something Christians are wise to emulate so that the congregation will be further blessed of God. Like prayer, God already knows all but, He acts on our speaking it to Him.

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”

tomorrow: Numbers 8-10