And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘In this way you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, “May the LORD bless you and keep you. May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”’ “And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:22-27

This is the blessing that God commanded Aaron and his sons to speak over the children of Israel. We often refer to these words of blessing as a benediction because they are good words of blessing which God has commanded to be spoken over His people.

God also says of these words that in this way “they shall put my name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Thus, we see that this blessing is a way in which God’s name is to be placed upon His people; and we see that God Himself has promised to carry out the blessing.

The Aaronic Blessing is a Trinitarian blessing because the word LORD (Yahweh or Jehovah in Hebrew) is to be spoken over the people three times – once for each person in the Trinity. The threefold blessings also depict the work of the LORD for mankind.

It is the Father who has created and still preserves us. “He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life” (Luther’s Small Catechism). He also keeps us. “He defends me against all danger, and guards and protects me from all evil” (Luther’s Small Catechism).

In the person of the Son – who is also the LORD (Yahweh or Jehovah) – the LORD looks upon us sinners with grace and favor; for Christ Jesus, who is “true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary … has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death” (Luther’s Small Catechism). For Christ’s sake, God’s face shines upon us and He is gracious and merciful toward us sinners.

It is the Holy Spirit – also the LORD (Yahweh or Jehovah) – who lifts up His face toward us sinners and gives us peace (shalom) with God through the knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Christ Jesus. He “has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith” (Luther’s Small Catechism). He gives us peace by assuring us that God forgives and accepts us and all who look in faith to Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy.

We recall, of course, that God’s name has already been placed upon us at our Baptism and that we are God’s children through faith in Christ Jesus (cf. Gal. 3:26-27). And, in the Aaronic Blessing, God’s name is also spoken over us and placed upon us! As in Christian Baptism, where the minister applies water “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” and God washes away our sins and makes us His own dear children through faith in Christ Jesus (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 22:16; Tit. 3:5), so also in this blessing, the LORD – the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – grants us His grace and blessing through His Word and Sacraments.

And when we believe His promises, God does mercifully “bless” us and “keep” us. His face does “shine” upon us and He is “gracious” unto us. He does “lift up His countenance upon” us and “give” us His “peace,” all for the sake of Christ Jesus and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross in our stead. And He continues to bless us and keep us throughout our earthly lives, until that Day when we finally partake of the everlasting peace of heaven!

Dear LORD God, graciously grant that we receive Your benediction in faith and partake of the blessings which You give us for the sake of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen.

[Scripture is quoted from the Revised Common Version of the Bible.]