Parasha Naso 5784

Me

This Shabbat we read Parasha Naso, Numbers 4:21-7:89, which begins with a continuation of the discussion of the duties of the Levites with regards to the maintenance and transport of the Mishkan, particularly the roles and functions of the Gershonites and Merarites.

The first part of chapter 5 deals with purity in the camps of Israel. Specifically as it relates to the need for quarantining those with various issues such as Tzara’at outside the camps until they are better and declared clean by the Kohanim. The rest of the chapter deals with the jealousy ritual if a husband suspects his wife of being unfaithful.

The majority of Numbers 6 deals with the Nazirite vow which when one takes the vow they are to abstain from anything grown on a vine, any fermented drink, they are not to use a razor on their head the whole time they are consecrated, they must also not go near the dead. One who takes a Nazirite vow is especially holy to Adonai while under the vow.

The chapter closes out with the Birkat Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing.

Chapter 7 details the gifts that each of the tribes of Israel brought to the Mishkan after its consecration. For twelve straight days one by one a different tribe would bring their gifts for offering to the Kohanim. What’s most interesting is that no matter the ranking, birth order, or size of the tribe, they all brought exactly the same offerings, revealing that each of the tribes had equal weight and importance before the Lord.

(Talk about hating when people come to coffee shop counter to order while on their phone. You are trying to give them your full attention while they aren’t paying attention to anything and just a plain cup of coffee has a minimum of three questions we have to ask when the customer is ordering… Size, light or dark roast, room for cream?)

We

We’ve all experienced something like this before, probably regularly… Where someone just doesn’t pay attention to us when we’re trying to communicate or relate with them…

God

Principle: The Birkat Kohanim is a divine proclamation of blessing and favor, but to fully experience this reality we must faithfully seek His face.

(Repeat)

Parasha Naso

Numbers 6:22–27 TLV

Again Adonai spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to Aaron and to his sons saying: Thus you are to bless Bnei-Yisrael, by saying to them: ‘Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you! Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’ In this way they are to place My Name over Bnei-Yisrael, and so I will bless them.”

Parasha Naso

In the time of the Temple, this blessing was performed twice daily, after the morning offering and the afternoon offering. The priests stood on a special platform called a duchan while reciting the blessing.

Though the Kohanim are commanded to proclaim the Birkat Kohanim, it is not the priests themselves blessing Israel. In fact, Numbers 6:27 says this with regards to the priests’ proclamation over Israel—

Numbers 6:27 TLV

In this way they are to place My Name over Bnei-Yisrael, and so I will bless them.”

Parasha Naso

It is recited in daily prayer services throughout Judaism today (though some Reform and Conservative synagogues have moved away from including the Birkat Kohanim)

Also, note that despite many translations of this passage, Numbers 6:24-26 does not say “May Ad-nai bless you and keep you”, etc… Rather, the Hebrew is translated best as we see in the TLV and as we proclaim at the end of our services here at CMC, it is a proclamation of something G-d is actively doing for His people, not something He might do if we get some magical procedural formula correct…

We also say this blessing over our children during Erev Shabbat dinner and here at CMC as we bless our children at the beginning of the Torah service.

In Hebrew this blessing is only three lines and only 15 words and it is also called The Threefold Blessing. Personally, the idea of it being a threefold blessing is powerful imagery to me as I believe we can see the fullness of the G-dhead in the blessing:

Numbers 6:24 TLV

‘Adonai bless you and keep you!

In this I see the reality of G-d the Father from whom all blessings flow and who protects and keeps us (shamar).

Numbers 6:25 TLV

Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you!

In this I see Yeshua, the very Image of G-d in which we see and experience His face of whom Colossians 1:15-22 says

Colossians 1:15–22 TLV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created— in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen, whether thrones or angelic powers or rulers or authorities. All was created through Him and for Him. He exists before everything, and in Him all holds together. He is the head of the body, His community. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead— so that He might come to have first place in all things. For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven! Once you were alienated from God and hostile in your attitude by wicked deeds. But now He has reconciled you in Messiah’s physical body through death, in order to present you holy, spotless and blameless in His eyes—

Lastly—

Numbers 6:26 TLV

Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’

In this I see the Ruach HaKodesh, of whom, because of Salvation of Yeshua, we are able to experience the indwelling and feel the literal Presence of G-d in our lives and through whom we encounter the Panav Eilecha (the Face of G-d). Also through whom we encounter the Peace of G-d…

Galatians 5:22–23 TLV

But the fruit of the Ruach is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—against such things there is no law.

Parasha Naso

Principle: The Birkat Kohanim is a divine proclamation of blessing and favor, but to fully experience this reality we must faithfully seek His face.

While our Haftarah focuses on Samson’s birth in Judges 13, we see one major issue throughout the book of Judges, and the heart issue permeates Samuel and Kings as well… And the crux of this issue is the reality that we have a tendency to forget that G-d is always faithful, His blessings are always upon His people, but where is our focus? Are we focused on His Presence? Are we seeking His face constantly? Are we pressing into His Ruach? Is His countenance upon us?

Judges 17:6 TLV

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Parasha Naso

Judges 21:25 TLV

In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

In fact, we see with Samson’s life the very reality that G-d’s Presence and Blessing operates in and through us even when we are chasing everything but G-d.

Parasha Naso

Principle: The Birkat Kohanim is a divine proclamation of blessing and favor, but to fully experience this reality we must faithfully seek His face.

Parasha Naso

We see a beautiful example of what it looks like to experience true adversity yet pressing into the Presence of G-d’s faithfulness, Presence, and blessing in the book of Acts 16:19-28

Acts 16:19–28 TLV

But when her masters saw that the hope of profit was gone, they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. And when they brought them to the chief authorities, they said, “These men are throwing our city into an uproar! Being Jewish, they advocate customs which are not permitted for us to accept or practice, being Romans.” Then the crowd joined in the attack on them. So the chief authorities ripped their clothes off them and commanded them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to guard them securely. Having received this charge, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a great earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. Immediately all the doors were unlocked, and everyone’s chains came loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

Parasha Naso

Principle: The Birkat Kohanim is a divine proclamation of blessing and favor, but to fully experience this reality we must faithfully seek His face.

You

(Call worship team back up and unmute)

We