🍞 Manna for Meditation 66

💞 Dear Royal Praying Priests, shalom!

💎 The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: “‘ “ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Num 6:22-27)

💎 “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘ Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Mat 6:9-13)

There are many prayers in the Bible to show us how to call upon God, such as the prayer of Jabez (1Ch 4:10), King Solomon’s prayer of dedication (2Ch 6:14-42), King David’s prayer for deliverance (Psm 3) and Jonah’s prayer for salvation (Jon 2:2-9). However, there are only two prayers in the Bible that God teaches us how to pray verbatim.

1. Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim) – Numbers 6:24-26

In the Priestly Blessing, the sacred name of God יהוה (YHVH) is mentioned three times. The exact pronunciation of the sacred name of God is uncertain, and it is pronounced Adonai in prayer. In English translations of the Bible, it is anglicised as Jehovah or Yahweh and written as “the LORD”.

Numbers 6:27 states that the priests will place the name of God over the Israelites when they say the prayer of blessing. It is God’s desire to put His name in the blessing so we can have His name in us wherever we go. We are called to carry the name of יהוה (YHVH) and to bear on our lives the marks of God.

2. The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord’s Prayer also starts with the name of God. The first thing that Yeshua teaches us to pray is to lift up the name of our God and to declare the greatness in His name.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” May the name of God be kept holy!

If we are tagged with the name of God, how do we live our lives differently?

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.” (1Pe 2:9)

As the believers of Yeshua, we are redeemed by His precious blood and invaluable sacrifices. We are called as priests through the redemption of Yeshua, so we should use our priestly authority to bless others. However, we are crafted in and share in Israel’s blessing. We DO NOT replace Israel. (Rom 11:24) We are also called to bless the Jewish community around us.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for choosing us and calling us your own through the redemption of your precious Son Yeshua. We thank you that now Jewish and Gentile believers are one new man and share the same covenant of God in Messiah. Teach us to use our priestly authority and to be a blessing to bless others. Show us how to live in a manner worthy of Your Son Yeshua, to please Him in all respects, bear fruit in every good work and grow in the knowledge of You. In the Name of Yeshua we pray, Amen!