In the Old Testament we find the patriarchs speaking blessings over their children. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Jacob blessed Joseph and his sons Manasseh and Ephraim. And later on in Numbers 6:22-27 the Lord gives Aaron the high priest a special blessing to pronounce over Israel almost as though he were the spiritual father of the nation as a whole.
This idae of pronouncing a blessing over someone is almost foreign to us in the New Testament church. We pray for our children and grandchildren but we don't really pronounce blessings over them in that way. So, I was somewhat surprised when I found myself reading Psalm 20 and thinking about how powerful it would be as a blessings or a prayer spoken over my own children.
I think that must be how this ancient song functioned for Israel. It was a blessing that they sung over one another. And God has preserved it in the Scripture for us so that we too can pronounce this ancient blessing over those close to us. So consider pronouncing or praying this blessing over someone close to you today.
Psalm 20
May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
May he send you help from the sanctuary
and grant you support from Zion.
May he remember all your sacrifices
and accept your burnt offerings.
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
May we shout for joy over your victory
and lift up our banners in the name of our God.
May the Lord grant all your requests.
Now this I know:
The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
with the victorious power of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
They are brought to their knees and fall,
but we rise up and stand firm.
Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call!
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