THE THREE-FOLD BENEDICTION: verses 24-26.
"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
"The LORD make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
"The LORD lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
We have dwelt upon the meaning of blessing—the moving of the heart towards an object of affection and complacency, and noticed that this is naturally accompanied by gift or ascription, as the case may be. When love overflows, loving words, loving embraces, or loving gifts instinctively follow.
In the light of the fuller revelation of the New Testament we can scarcely fail to see in this three-fold benediction the overflow in blessing of the Father, of the Son, and of the Spirit; and we may read it as follows:—
"Jehovah, the Father, bless thee, and keep thee:
"Jehovah, the Son, the Bridegroom, make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
"Jehovah, the Spirit, lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
So read, we see in these words fuller beauty and appropriateness. Let us now notice the first clause in particular.