Learning to rely on the covenant Lord.
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Month: March 2022
“And he blessed them …”
After Aaron is installed as high priest, having offered sacrifice before the Lord for the first time, he turns, and as the Torah says:
וַיִּשָּׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת-יָדָו אֶל-הָעָם, וַיְבָרְכֵם
“And Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them” (Lev. 9:22).
This section of Leviticus may seem a bit dry, uninspired, or even gross, given the subject matter, but the Torah reveals something beautiful.
Aaron used his new position, a position of esteem and responsibility, to bless others. Standing before the congregation he turns toward them, and by lifting his hands in blessing, he embraces them.
We find similar language, when Messiah, as He is ascending to heaven, lifted His hands and blessed his disciples, as Luke records:
“And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (Lk. 24:50-53).
Aaron blessed, and in turn Israel was to be a blessing. Messiah blessed, and in turn, we are to be a blessing.
How might we use our position in turning to others, to bless them, as we have been blessed? Your lifted hands, your embrace, may be the blessing that makes all the difference for someone’s life or need.
You are neither too high, nor too low to not be an avenue of God’s blessing through your hands, or by your embrace. Just turn to them, in Him, and He will do the rest.
Be well. Shalom.
The Well in the Valley
Those blessed of the Lord turn their valleys into a spring, “Passing through the Valley of Baca (weeping), they make it a spring, a well” (Ps. 84:7).
How might you use your valley? Too often we set anxiety down in the valley, while looking for the way out. Leaving anxiety for the one coming behind.
How long? There is no time-table or milage given for the valleys in life, but there is an ultimate destination (Ps. 84:8); yet the way is about the journey, a walking with and trusting in the Lord along that way (Ps. 84:13; Jn. 14:6).
Don’t camp down in the valley, you are just “passing through.” Faith in the Lord will set springs/wells of life-giving water while you are down in that valley.
Blessed people know that they are only passing through, and because of that, they turn the valley into a spring of life.
In his letters to Timothy, the apostle Paul turned his final prison cell into a well. It was, after all, a repurposed cistern twenty (20) feet below the streets of Rome.
Faith turned that deep valley, that prison cell, that repurposed cistern, into a well of God’s Word flowing out and encouraging the saints of God for nearly 20 centuries.
Have you drank from that well? Then you are traveling in the footsteps of Paul (I Cor. 11:1), as he followed after Messiah Yeshua/Jesus.
Now, how might you use your valley to set a well of living and enduring water for those yet to begin this journey?
You will not be conquered by this valley, for are more than a conqueror (Ro. 8:37)! But you can, and you will transform the valley by faith. The misery, and the deep darkness that appears to be landing on you, can be reformed to be a fountain.
Meditate on Psalm 84.
Be well. Shalom.
the mountain mensch 