I recently listened to an interview with Warren Marcus. Warren is an Author, Filmmaker, TV Producer, Speaker, and ordained Messianic Jewish Minister.
He shared a story of a revelation he received in understanding a priestly (prayer) blessing found in the book of Numbers. Warren had read this blessing in the bible many times but it wasn’t until he heard the blessing in Hebrew and understood the fullness of its Ancient Hebrew meaning that he experienced the glory of the Heavenly Father. Warren’s journey to understand the priestly blessing began when he heard about this discovery:
“In 1979, a small silver amulet was discovered at an archaeological site opposite the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It was inscribed with the oldest surviving reference to the Ancient Hebrew Bible (at least 400 years older than the Dead Sea scrolls).
The inscription is the only prayer written by the God of Israel Himself. It is the Ancient Priestly Prayer of the Blessing contained in the Book of Numbers”.
Warren studied the ancient Paleo Hebrew meaning of the blessing and his mind was opened to the Father’s heart.
First, we will read the English translation from our Bible, then we will look at “what it really implies”.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
“The Lord bless you and keep you: The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Numbers 6:22-27 RSV
The Lord bless and keep you:
May Yahweh, your Heavenly Father (He who Exists) kneel before you making Himself available to you (like a good Father kneeling before His child) to order, minister, and bestow His gifts and promises.
The Lord make His face shine upon you:
May Yahweh, your Heavenly Father (He who Exist) illuminate the wholeness of His being toward you -continually bringing you to order -so that you will fulfill your God-given destiny and purpose.
and be gracious to you:
May Yahweh, your Heavenly Father (He who Exists) provide you with perfect love and fellowship- never leaving you -and give you sustenance, provision, and friendship.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you:
May Yahweh your Heavenly Father (He who Exists) lift up and carry His fullness of being toward you (bringing everything that He is to your aid), supporting you with His divine embrace and his entire being.
and give you peace:
and may Yahweh, your Heavenly Father (He who Exists) set in place all you need to be whole and complete so you can walk in victory moment by moment, by the power of the Holy Spirit. May He give you supernatural health, supernatural peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, propriety, perfect fullness, rest, and harmony as well as the absence of agitation and discord.
Many theologians believe that this priestly blessing (Numbers 6:22-24) was the same blessing Jesus Bestowed upon the disciples before his ascension. It literally gives me chills to consider the significance of this blessing being “upon the body of Christ” and it is my prayer that each one of us will capture (in belief) the true implication, experiencing the heart of our Father (His glory).
“Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Luke 24:50-53 RSV
Listen and receive: