The Aaronic blessing not only contains but also anticipates the greater fullness of seeing God face to face, seeing our Creator and our Redeemer as he is, and as a consequence, sharing in his divine life, sharing in his beatitude, his blessedness.

The ultimate climax or aim can be seen, first of all, from the stair steps of the blessing itself. “The Lord bless you and keep you.” That is the Lord’s protection, his preserving power. “The Lord make his face to shine up on you and be gracious to you.” God’s grace. And then the third line is, “The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” And so shalom is that big idea of God reigning for the good of his people and their happiness and his glory. Shalom is in the benediction itself. That’s the goal or the purpose.

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