The Priestly Prayer of the Blessing

The Hebrew word for countenance is again panim, which we have already discussed in the chapter about the word face. This word is plural because it describes the entire behavioral actions of a person. It means “everything that makes up who you are.”

Your heavenly Father has lifted us up in His divine, strong, and loving arms and He carries us. Yet now, like the loving Father He is, we look up at His face as He smiles upon us and hugs us and even lovingly kisses us on our forehead.

In the first portion of the Priestly Prayer of the Blessing, your heavenly Father kneels in front of you, His spiritual son or daughter, as a good parent desiring to make Himself available and minister to you.

In this second portion your heavenly Father places His arms around you with a divine embrace, holding you in His strong arms of protection and security.

In this portion of the Priestly Prayer of the Blessing it’s as if He loosens His divine embrace and while still keeping His holy hands upon your shoulders, He pulls away enough for you to see Him face-to-face. You begin to experience His reality and His very person. Your heavenly Father makes His to face shine upon you! This is G-D the Father saying to you, “You are my beloved son or daughter, in whom I am well pleased.”

• This is your heavenly Father lifting you up with His divine strong arms and carrying you, continually looking down at you as He walks. He is your loving heavenly Father.

• He is also lifting up all of who He is toward you. He is putting all of Himself at your disposal. He is bringing everything that He is to your aid.

• He is supporting you with His entire being. Nothing is being withheld. You have the one true G-D of the universe on your side!

• He is lifting His gaze continually toward you. Even when you aren’t thinking about Him, He is near to you and is watching over you.

• Your heavenly Father is giving you His full attention moment by moment, each and every day.

The Scriptures speak of your heavenly Father desiring to make Himself fully available to you.

Through Yeshua we have been “born again” as a spiritual son or daughter of the Most High G-D.

Even if you are an orphan, YHWH desires to take care of you as your heavenly Father.

The Scriptures Are Clear That Your Heavenly Father:

• loves you like no other can love you!

The LORD has appeared to him from afar, saying: “Indeed, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.”

—JEREMIAH 31:3

Consider how much love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of [G-D]. Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

—1 JOHN 3:1

• has compassion on you as a good Father!

Like a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD gives compassion to those who fear Him.

—PSALM 103:13

Blessed be [G-D], the Father of our Lord [Adonai] Jesus Christ [Yeshua the Messiah], the Father of mercies, and the [G-D] of all comfort.

—2 CORINTHIANS 1:3

• cares for you even when you may be forsaken by others!

Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of [G-D], that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.

—1 PETER 5:6–7

• delights in you and takes pleasure in His relationship with you!

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation.

—PSALM 149:4

The LORD your [G-D] is in your midst, a Mighty One, who will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

—ZEPHANIAH 3:17

• desires intimacy with you and to call you by name!

But now, thus says the LORD who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you. And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame kindle on you.

—ISAIAH 43:1–2

• gives you continual consideration!

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

—PSALM 34:15

• calls you His beloved friend!

The Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed [G-D], and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of [G-D].

—JAMES 2:23

• raises you even when you are forsaken by your flesh and blood parents and brethren!

If my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me in.

—PSALM 27:10

• desires to be patient and gentle with You!

The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

—PSALM 103:8

The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness. But He is patient with us, because He does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

—2 PETER 3:9

• desires to teach and guide you throughout your life!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye on you.

—PSALM 32:8

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your [G-D], who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.”

—ISAIAH 48:17

• encourages and upholds you!

Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your [G-D]. I will strengthen you, I will help you, yes, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

—ISAIAH 41:10

• provides for you in ways you may never truly recognize!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

—PSALM 23:1

Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints; for the ones who fear Him will not be in need.

—PSALM 34:9

• enjoys bestowing upon you good gifts!

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no change or shadow of turning.

—JAMES 1:17

• is kindhearted and forgiving toward you!

For You, LORD, are good, and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call on You.

—PSALM 86:5

Who is a [G-D] like You, bearing iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not remain angry forever, because He delights in benevolence. He will again have compassion upon us. He will tread down our iniquities, and cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea.

—MICAH 7:18–19

• disciplines you as a good Father who loves you and desires that you walk in His blessings and promises!

My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be weary of His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights.

—PROVERBS 3:11–12

Through words—Just as our natural parents can express their love to their children through the words of kindness, praise, and appreciation, so too YHWH has given us His Word made alive in us as He speaks it over us.

Through affection—YHWH also created us with a need to receive physical affection. Through this Priestly Prayer of the Blessing He makes Himself available to us to experientially sense His divine love and embrace!

Through meaningful time spent together—In the natural the father or mother who takes time to listen to, play with, or just be with their children communicates that their children are important, worth their time and attention. YHWH makes Himself available to us through His divine prayer as He carries us in His arms and imparts the fullness of Himself, His love, and His pleasure concerning us!

Every child needs to know the world into which they were born is a safe place to live! They need to know that their parents are there to protect them from harm! YHWH provides the utmost in security to us, His children!

Every person needs to know that their life has a purpose and value. YHWH not only unveils to us His calling, His purpose, and His destiny for our lives while here on earth, but He also enables us to accomplish it.¹

I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. —2 CORINTHIANS 6:18