The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 78

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vcrs. 22-27.-Th.e bene.dictwn,. So far as I have observed, the blessing o/tlie peojte has less consideration bestowed upon it than any other of the stated ordinances of Divme service. It is seldom made the subject of discourse from the pulpit; divines seldom treat of it in their books; there is reason to fear that it seldom gets its due place in the minds and hearts of the people. The Benediction occurs in Scripture in several forms. Of these, two are in most frequent use in our Churches: the '' Apostolic benediction'' in 2 Cor. xiii. 14, and the "Aaronic benediction" in the text. Properly these are not two b.enedictioll.S, but only two forms of one and the same. The b,mefits expressed are, in substance, the same. The prinripal difference is that the thrice-holy Name, and the benefits of God's salvation, a.re declared more plainly and articulately in the later than they could well be in the earlier form. There is nothing expressed in the apostolic benediction which was not implied in the Aaronic. "What mean ye by this service?" When our children ask this question, what are we to reply? L IT IS A PROCLAlll.ATION OF THE NAME OF GOD. In bJ.essing the people Aaron wa.s to" put the name of the Lord upon the children of Israel" (ver. 27), thus con- stituting them his witnesses. Compare Micah iv. 6. This design is plain in the cas11 of the apostolic form. Every time that form is used in the Churcl1, it is as much as to say, Let all men know that the Name called upon in this place is the name of the Father Almighty, and of Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son, and of the Holy Ghost. "fhe older form fulfilled the same purpose for the older time. There lurked in it a -suggestion of the Trinity, to be brought to light in due time; and for the time then present, it loudly proclaimed at once the Unity and the personality of God-a proclama- tion sorely needing to be repeated in our time also. There is a philosophy walking .abroad, which invites us to substitute for the living God, whose name is Love, an impersonal "tendency that makes for righteousness." It is the old Pagan substitu• t.ion of nature for God. In opposition to it and to all similar error, the Aaronio bene- .diction is a standing witness, that the God in whom all things live and move and subsist, is the Imm, a personal God, who can think upon us, and be gracious to us. ll. .A DECLARATION 0.11' THE J!ENE.FITS GOD H.AS LAID UP FOR THEM THAT BEll:S:: HIM. If you would understand its true intention, you mu!lt bear in mind that the bene- diction is not e_poken to men indiscriminately. It is for the Israel of God; for those on whcrn Christ's name is called, and who walk in his name. It is a solemn and authoritative declaration of the relation which subsists between him and CII, VI. 22-27.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 55