Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical tradition, priests hold a significant role as mediators between God and His people, tasked with various duties, including the service of blessing the people. This sacred responsibility is deeply rooted in the Old Testament and carries profound theological implications.Old Testament Foundations The concept of priestly blessing is prominently introduced in the book of Numbers. God commands Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on how to bless the Israelites. This is encapsulated in the well-known Aaronic Blessing: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26) This blessing is not merely a wish for well-being but a divine pronouncement of God's favor, protection, and peace upon His people. The priests, as God's appointed representatives, convey His grace and presence through these words. Role and Function The priestly blessing serves several functions. It is a means of invoking God's name upon the people, as stated in Numbers 6:27: "So they shall put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." This act signifies a covenantal relationship, where the people are marked as belonging to God, and He, in turn, promises His blessing. Moreover, the blessing is a communal act, often performed during significant religious gatherings and festivals. It reinforces the unity of the community under God's care and guidance. The priests, through their blessing, remind the people of God's continual presence and His promises. Priestly Blessing in Worship The service of blessing is integral to Israelite worship. It is often associated with the offering of sacrifices and the observance of holy days. In Leviticus 9:22, after offering sacrifices, Aaron lifts his hands toward the people and blesses them, signifying the completion of the sacrificial rites and the acceptance of the offerings by God. The act of lifting hands is symbolic, representing the transmission of divine favor from God through the priest to the people. This gesture is a visual and spiritual connection between heaven and earth, emphasizing the priest's role as an intermediary. New Testament Continuity While the New Testament does not explicitly detail the continuation of the priestly blessing in the same form, the concept of blessing remains significant. Jesus, as the ultimate High Priest, embodies and fulfills the priestly role. In Luke 24:50-51, before His ascension, Jesus blesses His disciples, a gesture that echoes the priestly tradition: "When He had led them out as far as Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them." The apostolic writings also reflect the importance of blessing within the Christian community. Believers are encouraged to bless one another, as seen in 1 Peter 3:9: "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." Theological Significance The service of blessing by priests underscores the gracious nature of God, who desires to bestow His favor upon His people. It highlights the role of the priesthood in facilitating a relationship between God and humanity, serving as a conduit for divine grace and peace. In the broader biblical narrative, the priestly blessing points to the ultimate blessing found in Christ, who reconciles humanity to God and imparts spiritual blessings to His followers. The tradition of blessing, therefore, is not only a ritual act but a profound expression of God's covenantal love and faithfulness. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 6:23-27Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them, Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Hezekiah Ezra, the Priest and Scribe The Rising Storm. In the Last, the Great Day of the Feast' Instructed in the Law of God Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus. Fourth Address. The Book of the Law Jeremiah Leviticus. Resources Does 2 Chronicles 5:14 teach slaying in the Spirit? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the Levitical priesthood? | GotQuestions.org Did Jesus mean that we should never refer to our earthly father as “father” (Matthew 23:9)? Is it wrong for Catholics to refer to their priests as “father”? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Priests were Sometimes: Corrupters of the Law Priests were Sometimes: Drunken Priests were Sometimes: Greedy Priests were Sometimes: Profane and Wicked Priests were Sometimes: Slow to Sanctify, Themselves for God's Services Priests were Sometimes: Unjust Priests were to Live by the Altar As They had No Inheritance Priests: After the Exodus Young Men (First-Born) Deputed to Act As Priests: All Except Seed of Aaron Excluded from Being Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Anointing With Oil Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Clothing With the Holy Garments Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Lasted Seven Days Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Offering Sacrifices Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Partaking of the Sacrifices of Consecration Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Placing in Their Hands the Wave-Offering Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Purification by Blood of the Consecration Ram Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Washing in Water Priests: Divided by David Into Twenty-Four Courses Priests: During Patriarchal Age Heads of Families Acted As Priests: Each Course of, had Its President or Chief Priests: First Notice of Persons Acting As Priests: Garments of Laid up in Holy Chambers Priests: Garments of Often Provided by the People Priests: Garments of Purified by Sprinkling of Blood Priests: Garments of The Bonnet Priests: Garments of The Coat or Tunic Priests: Garments of The Girdle Priests: Garments of The Linen Breeches Priests: Garments of Worn Always While Engaged in the Service of the Tabernacle Priests: Garments of Worn at Consecration Priests: Garments of Worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement Priests: Generally Participated in Punishment of the People Priests: Made of the Lowest of the People by Jeroboam and Others Priests: Might Purchase and Hold Other Lands in Possession Priests: No Blemished or Defective Persons Could be Consecrated Priests: On Special Occasions Persons not of Aaron's Family Acted As Priests: Punishment for Invading the office of Priests: Required to Prove Their Genealogy Before They Exercised The Priests: Required to Remain in the Tabernacle Seven Days After Priests: Required to Wash in the Brazen Laver Before They Performed Priests: Revenues of a Fixed Portion of the Spoil Taken in War Priests: Revenues of all Devoted Things Priests: Revenues of all Restitutions when the Owner Could not be Found Priests: Revenues of First of the Wool of Sheep Priests: Revenues of First-Born of Animals or Their Substitutes Priests: Revenues of First-Fruits Priests: Revenues of Part of all Sacrifices Priests: Revenues of Redemption-Money of the First-Born Priests: Revenues of Show-Bread After Its Removal Priests: Revenues of Tenth of the Tithes Paid to the Levites Priests: Sanctified by God for the office Priests: Services of Blessing the People Priests: Services of Blowing the Trumpets on Various Occasions Priests: Services of Burning Incense Priests: Services of Carrying the Ark Priests: Services of Covering the Sacred Things of the Sanctuary Before Removal Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Jealousy Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy Priests: Services of Encouraging the People when They Went to War Priests: Services of Judging in Cases of Controversy Priests: Services of Keeping the Charge of the Tabernacle Priests: Services of Keeping the Sacred Fire Always Burning on the Altar Priests: Services of Lighting and Trimming the Lamps of the Sanctuary Priests: Services of Offering First Fruits Priests: Services of Offering Sacrifices Priests: Services of Placing and Removing Show-Bread Priests: Services of Purifying the Unclean Priests: Services of Teaching the Law Priests: Services of Valuing Things Devoted Priests: Services of, Divided by Lot Priests: Services of, Ineffectual for Removing Sin Priests: Special Laws Respecting: All Bought and Home-Born Servants to Eat of Their Portion Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Children of, Married to Strangers, not to Eat of Their Priests: Special Laws Respecting: No Sojourner or Hired Servant to Eat of Their Portion Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves by Eating What Died or Was Torn Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves for the Dead Except the Nearest of Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Drink Wine While Attending in the Tabernacle Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Marry Divorced or Improper Persons Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Restitution to be Made To, by Persons Ignorantly Eating of Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Eat of the Holy Things Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Perform Any Service Priests: The Four Courses Which Returned from Babylon Subdivided Into Priests: The Sons of Aaron Appointed As, by Perpetual Statute Priests: Thirteen of the Levitical Cities Given To, for Residence Related Terms Meal-offering (120 Occurrences) Meat-offering (111 Occurrences) |
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