June 3, 2023: Parashat Torah Portion Naso
This week’s Parashah Torah Portion Naso is taken from Numbers 4:21-7:89. Join Dr. Jeffery Myers, as he deeply embellishes on this beautiful Torah portion about the famous priestly blessing, the profound elements found within, and how YESHUA is our priestly blessing!
Follow along in the AUDIO PODCAST, by clicking on the play button below, and reading along with the notes, as you listen to today's Parashah Torah Portion:
Lion of Judah Speaks: Parashah Torah Portion Naso - Numbers 4:21-7:89
In the parashah of Naso, we read Numbers 6:24-27 which says, “Y’varekh’kha Adonai v’yishmerekha. Ya’er Adonai panav eleikha vi’chunekha. Yissa Adonai panav eleikha v’yadem l’kna shalom. "May Adonai bless you and keep you. May Adonai make His face shine on you and show you, His favor. May Adonai lift up His face toward you and give you peace.” The priest was commanded by Elohim to bless the Israelites in this manner. However, it was actually Elohim doing the blessing but using the priest as He peeked out from the lattice of their fingers. The word “Bracha” (blessing) shares the same root word as “Breicha” meaning “a pool of water—a big pool.” For so many of us the inside of our heart is so closed our “pool” is not open for blessings—not open for what He wants to give us. This blessing is so beautiful and is such an opportunity because He desires to give us MUCH LIGHT—His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
The priestly blessing is made up of 3 lines: First line consists of 3 Hebrew words and represents divine completion and perfection. The second line consists of 5 Hebrew words and represents grace and goodness, Torah. The third line consist of 7 Hebrew words and represents resurrection, spiritual completeness and Father’s perfection. Our response should always be: Keyn yehi ratzon meaning “May it be so!” In the first line Adonai is proclaiming May He open up the inside pool—the deepest part of our heart and bless you so you know Truth—that you got it and that the blessing sticks.
We know that in Elohim’s creation things are fundamentally good, and it is in the physical world that Elohim’s blessings are to be found. However, the material blessings can sometimes dull our sensitivities toward Elohim. Herein lies a great irony: that when we have most to thank Elohim for often we thank Him least. We tend to remember Elohim in times of crisis rather than in time of prosperity and shalom. We see in today’s society a decline and fall of civilization. We seem to have lost the very qualities that made earlier generations great, seemingly less motivated by ideals than by the pursuit of pleasure, we think less of others and more of ourselves and we have become deaf and blind to those in need. So, when Elohim says in Num. 6 -- “May He bless you and protect you”, He means may He protect you from the blessing turning into a curse from or by you or the thief.
The second line says, “May his light shine upon you and show you favor.” The word favor is grace. What is grace? Biblical Judaism is a religion of intellect, study, questioning, ideas, arguments and the life of the mind. Yet, Proverbs 3:3-10 tells us “Grace” takes precedence over good intellect. Grace is the quality which sees the best in others and seeks the best for others! It is a combination of gentleness and generosity. May Elohim’s face shine on you…means may His Presence be evident in you; may He leave a visible trace of His being on the face to show to others.
The third line says, “May Adonai’s face be lifted toward you and bring you shalom.” In order to make peace in the world we must be at peace with ourselves. To be at peace with ourselves we must know that we are unconditionally valued. Sadly, this does not often happen! People value us for what we can give them. It is called conditional love or a “love that is dependent on a cause.” Elohim values us unconditionally! We are here because He wanted us to be here! Our very existence testifies to His love. Unlike others, Elohim never gives up on us. He rejects no one, He never loses faith, however, many times we fail and when we fail, He lifts us up. He believes in us more than we believe in ourselves. He “turns His face toward us” means He recognizes us! The recognition that counts is our reflection in the eyes of Elohim. His love for us for what we are and what we could become. He loves the good in us, not the successful or persuasive or charismatic ways…the good! He ignores the image we try to project because He knows us from within. He wants us to know that with Him, we don’t have to pretend. He knows us and knew us from the very beginning. He knows us because He made us and He made us because He wanted and needed us or more precisely because the world needs us. There is a task only you can do! We need to be strong and do it! We don’t need to seek praise. We will not be deflected by criticism because He will be with us every step of the way. When we feel most alone—that is when He will be the closest. This is making eye-contact with Elohim!
However, the most profound element of the Priestly blessing is found in Num. 6:27, “Elohim is blessing you not the priest.” “V’yaseim lecha shalom” …Bring you peace. Wow…this is the deepest depth: If you make peace with someone you know what you have to do. You have to lift yourself up to a higher level, you cannot go into the same place where you were fighting and then make peace. It has to be a different place—a different space. We are given the privilege of bringing peace to the world and that means that for whomever you meet, for that moment lift them up to a higher level.
Shalom also means connected and shares the same root with the word “Shaleym” which means whole and complete. So, to bless someone with shalom means more than not fighting and competing…it means we should feel connected and we should each feel whole and complete by being connected. To be blessed with shalom is to be complete and whole in thought, speech and action. Protection, grace and peace…those are Elohim’s blessings! Yeshua is our priestly blessing, Rev. 5:13, “And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea—yes, everything in them—saying, “To the One sitting on the Throne and to the Lamb belongs praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever!”
Here is the million-dollar question: How do we walk this blessing out in our lives? Let me give you 7 quick keys with the Scripture reference so you can study these out. Are you ready?
Here are the 7 keys:
1. Refuse to partake of the blessing of this world: Gen. 14:17-24
2. Walk in the blessing of Elohim: Ps. 1:1-3
3. Walk in the safety of Elohim: Isa. 54:17; Jere. 23:5-6
4. Walk as a LIGHT to the nations: Matt. 5:13-16
5. Walk as a Priest of grace: II Peter 3: 18
6. Walk in the favor of Elohim: Luke 2:52
7. Walk in the shalom of Yeshua: John 14:27
Amen, amen and amen!
Shabbat Shalom Mishpocha,
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Walk in the blessing Adonai speaks over you. Be the light He has created you to be. Receive His blessing and then become a blessing to others. Enjoy His Sabbath as we gather to worship King Yeshua. See you at the altar!
Shalom Aleichem