The Priestley Blessing
Trey Little | 27-Jun-10
"Traveling Mercies: The Priestly Blessing"
A newsflash just came in across my phone--Albany, Texas will soon be empty of people!! No need to panic--authority's say it is just the result of the annual post-Fandangle migration. The authorities wanted to assure all pastors that residents are likely to return no later than August 22.
Obviously I say this in jest--but there is some truth to what I say.
Last night marked the end of Fandangle and for many of you and other Albany residents--the end of Fandangle begins your summer vacations.
Therefore, over the next few Sundays I am going to preach sermons that I hope will strengthen you as you travel. Sermons that can stand on their own--so if you miss a couple of Sundays you will have no problem picking right back up where you left off. Sermons I like to call: "Traveling Mercies."
To begin I want to ask you to turn to Numbers 6: 22-27.
I don't know about you but I am so thankful that 3M invented those little yellow sticky pads! If I could be as committed to God's word as I am to using those yellow stickies, I would be a model disciple of Jesus Christ. Not a day goes by that I don't have a yellow sticky on my desk; in my wallet; on the counter at home; in my truck; on my computer screen--wherever and whatever--I use them everyday. And inevitably--the purpose for the yellow sticky in my life: to help me remember something.
For example: A couple of weeks ago I went to spend a couple of days with my Dad and brother--we had a fantastic time together. Several days prior to my trip I had a yellow sticky--right there in the kitchen--that had a list of things I was supposed to bring on the trip. Things that you would think I would know to bring--things that would seem quite obvious to bring on a fishing trip--but things that I guess I could have easily forgotten--things like fishing pants and shirts and underwear! I also had phone charger and cash on my list. Why are you laughing at me--you know you do the same thing. And here is the real funny thing--I come by this "yellow sticky" addiction honestly. When I got in my Dad's Suburban I looked on his dash board and center console and there were yellow stickies stuck everywhere!
Over the next several Sundays we are going to look at various Scripture verses that we just can't forget to take with us. Texts chosen to remind you what it is really all about. Texts to remind you to keep things in the proper perspective as you run from one place to the next over the remaining weeks of the summer. Texts chosen as "Traveling Mercies" for you and your families.
Anne Lamott wrote a book by the name of "Traveling Mercies." A very interesting book that takes you on a journey through her often troubled past to illuminate her devout but quirky faith. In her book she tells how, against all odds, she came to believe in God and then even more miraculously, in herself (from the jacket cover of the book). But it has always been the title of the book that has stuck with me. I often say to people "Traveling Mercies" as they set out on a journey of any kind. I suppose it originated from Lamott's book--she said: "Traveling mercies," was what the old people at her church said to her when she left. Lamott said, "This is what they always say when one of us goes off for a while. Traveling mercies: love the journey, God is with you, come home safe and sound" (Traveling Mercies, pg. 106).
Pretty good advice, don't you think? Three things we should remember on every trip we take--regardless of destination.
Numbers 6: 22-27 is known as the Aaronic benediction. Benediction, by definition is a "blessing." And in verse 22 the Lord was very specific in His instructions to Moses: He said, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites.'" You see, Aaron and his sons were the priests. They were the ones who were charged with teaching and preaching the Truth to the people. They were the anointed spiritual leaders of their day. And Yahweh believed the people of Israel needed to remember some key points on their journey. Therefore, He instructed Aaron and his sons to consistently give the people a benediction--a blessing--a yellow sticky they could remember. This blessing was pronounced by the priest after every morning and evening sacrifice with uplifted hands. The people responded by uttering an amen.
Thus, now you know why I too, as with most pastors in most churches, conclude our service with a benediction. By doing so we are basically saying, "I want you to remember this, above all else, when you leave here." In other words, "Traveling Mercies!"
First: Love the journey. Aaron was to say to the people of Israel: "The Lord bless you and keep you..." In fact, every sentence in The Priestly Blessing began with "Yahweh." The point was to remind the people that no matter what happened along the journey--Yahweh would bless them and keep them. Yahweh would be faithful to them even when the travel plans didn't go as they had drawn them up. Yahweh would watch over them and keep them even when the journey got a little rocky.
And for you and me that is comforting news to hear. As you travel through your journey of life--you no doubt will get lost along the way. You will come upon obstacles in the road. Perhaps even some pot holes that could literally jar your faith. And sometimes--when those kinds of bumps come along we have a tendency to become bitter about the journey. But "Traveling Mercies" remind us to "love the journey." Knowing the promise from the Lord to bless you and keep you is the first thing we need to remember.
Second, "Traveling Mercies" remind us that "God is with you." Aaron said to the people of Israel: "The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you." In other words, regardless of where our travels may take us we must never forget the certainty that the Lord is with us. Immanuel--God with us. The One and only God who literally made His face shine upon us when He sent His Son Jesus Christ. The face of Jesus looking upon us from the Cross shone the Light that was able to break through the darkness of sin. He personified the amazing grace of a God who loves His people regardless of where they may have traveled, because His mercy was greater than our sin and He was willing to travel to the depths of the misery and pain of the people He loves. Friends, wherever you are today or wherever you may journey tomorrow--don't ever forget that God is with you--shining His life-giving Light upon you so that you might see His abundant graciousness all around you.
Finally--"Traveling Mercies" reminds us to "come home safe and sound." Aaron would say in the final piece of his benediction: "The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." As believers in Jesus Christ--living in a world that at times can feel very unsafe, it is comforting to know that we always have a safe place--a place we can call home--a place we know is sound.
I love the story about the little girl who had gotten lost--she ventured out on what she thought would be a journey through a familiar neighborhood and it ended up with her on a corner in tears. A concerned person noticed the little girl on the corner--scared and alone--and decided to offer assistance. When they began to drive around--looking for her home she was unable to provide specific directions. Feeling hopeless--the little girl looked out her window and off in the distance she saw the steeple of a church--the cross shinning bright in the sun. She said, "There--take me there--to the cross--I know I will be safe there."
Friends, you are always safe and sound with Him and He will always welcome you home--that is the SHALOM of Christ--the peace that surpasses all human understanding--the peace the comes only from the Lord.
Do you know the way home? Come to Jesus and live.
In each of your bulletins there should have been a yellow sticky--I thought it would be helpful if I could lure you into "the yellow sticky addiction" that I have. Each Sunday, over the next several weeks, you will find a yellow sticky in your bulletin. What I want you to do is write the blessing--the benediction--that you heard from the sermon. And I want you to take that yellow sticky and stick it in your car--perhaps on the dash board like my Dad does. But as you gather those stickies and you read what is on them--perhaps they will become "Traveling Mercies" for you and your family--perhaps they will remind you of the blessings of God--regardless of where you travel to.
So, perhaps for today you will write Numbers 6: 22-27. Perhaps you will write "Love the journey; God is with you; and come home safe and sound." You choose--I just want you to write something that will remind you of the blessings the Lord has for you.
Someone once said: "God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but the man to fit the robe." Traveling mercies my friends--may He shape us into the blessings He has called us to be!! AMEN.
A newsflash just came in across my phone--Albany, Texas will soon be empty of people!! No need to panic--authority's say it is just the result of the annual post-Fandangle migration. The authorities wanted to assure all pastors that residents are likely to return no later than August 22.
Obviously I say this in jest--but there is some truth to what I say.
Last night marked the end of Fandangle and for many of you and other Albany residents--the end of Fandangle begins your summer vacations.
Therefore, over the next few Sundays I am going to preach sermons that I hope will strengthen you as you travel. Sermons that can stand on their own--so if you miss a couple of Sundays you will have no problem picking right back up where you left off. Sermons I like to call: "Traveling Mercies."
To begin I want to ask you to turn to Numbers 6: 22-27.
I don't know about you but I am so thankful that 3M invented those little yellow sticky pads! If I could be as committed to God's word as I am to using those yellow stickies, I would be a model disciple of Jesus Christ. Not a day goes by that I don't have a yellow sticky on my desk; in my wallet; on the counter at home; in my truck; on my computer screen--wherever and whatever--I use them everyday. And inevitably--the purpose for the yellow sticky in my life: to help me remember something.
For example: A couple of weeks ago I went to spend a couple of days with my Dad and brother--we had a fantastic time together. Several days prior to my trip I had a yellow sticky--right there in the kitchen--that had a list of things I was supposed to bring on the trip. Things that you would think I would know to bring--things that would seem quite obvious to bring on a fishing trip--but things that I guess I could have easily forgotten--things like fishing pants and shirts and underwear! I also had phone charger and cash on my list. Why are you laughing at me--you know you do the same thing. And here is the real funny thing--I come by this "yellow sticky" addiction honestly. When I got in my Dad's Suburban I looked on his dash board and center console and there were yellow stickies stuck everywhere!
Over the next several Sundays we are going to look at various Scripture verses that we just can't forget to take with us. Texts chosen to remind you what it is really all about. Texts to remind you to keep things in the proper perspective as you run from one place to the next over the remaining weeks of the summer. Texts chosen as "Traveling Mercies" for you and your families.
Anne Lamott wrote a book by the name of "Traveling Mercies." A very interesting book that takes you on a journey through her often troubled past to illuminate her devout but quirky faith. In her book she tells how, against all odds, she came to believe in God and then even more miraculously, in herself (from the jacket cover of the book). But it has always been the title of the book that has stuck with me. I often say to people "Traveling Mercies" as they set out on a journey of any kind. I suppose it originated from Lamott's book--she said: "Traveling mercies," was what the old people at her church said to her when she left. Lamott said, "This is what they always say when one of us goes off for a while. Traveling mercies: love the journey, God is with you, come home safe and sound" (Traveling Mercies, pg. 106).
Pretty good advice, don't you think? Three things we should remember on every trip we take--regardless of destination.
Numbers 6: 22-27 is known as the Aaronic benediction. Benediction, by definition is a "blessing." And in verse 22 the Lord was very specific in His instructions to Moses: He said, "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites.'" You see, Aaron and his sons were the priests. They were the ones who were charged with teaching and preaching the Truth to the people. They were the anointed spiritual leaders of their day. And Yahweh believed the people of Israel needed to remember some key points on their journey. Therefore, He instructed Aaron and his sons to consistently give the people a benediction--a blessing--a yellow sticky they could remember. This blessing was pronounced by the priest after every morning and evening sacrifice with uplifted hands. The people responded by uttering an amen.
Thus, now you know why I too, as with most pastors in most churches, conclude our service with a benediction. By doing so we are basically saying, "I want you to remember this, above all else, when you leave here." In other words, "Traveling Mercies!"
First: Love the journey. Aaron was to say to the people of Israel: "The Lord bless you and keep you..." In fact, every sentence in The Priestly Blessing began with "Yahweh." The point was to remind the people that no matter what happened along the journey--Yahweh would bless them and keep them. Yahweh would be faithful to them even when the travel plans didn't go as they had drawn them up. Yahweh would watch over them and keep them even when the journey got a little rocky.
And for you and me that is comforting news to hear. As you travel through your journey of life--you no doubt will get lost along the way. You will come upon obstacles in the road. Perhaps even some pot holes that could literally jar your faith. And sometimes--when those kinds of bumps come along we have a tendency to become bitter about the journey. But "Traveling Mercies" remind us to "love the journey." Knowing the promise from the Lord to bless you and keep you is the first thing we need to remember.
Second, "Traveling Mercies" remind us that "God is with you." Aaron said to the people of Israel: "The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you." In other words, regardless of where our travels may take us we must never forget the certainty that the Lord is with us. Immanuel--God with us. The One and only God who literally made His face shine upon us when He sent His Son Jesus Christ. The face of Jesus looking upon us from the Cross shone the Light that was able to break through the darkness of sin. He personified the amazing grace of a God who loves His people regardless of where they may have traveled, because His mercy was greater than our sin and He was willing to travel to the depths of the misery and pain of the people He loves. Friends, wherever you are today or wherever you may journey tomorrow--don't ever forget that God is with you--shining His life-giving Light upon you so that you might see His abundant graciousness all around you.
Finally--"Traveling Mercies" reminds us to "come home safe and sound." Aaron would say in the final piece of his benediction: "The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." As believers in Jesus Christ--living in a world that at times can feel very unsafe, it is comforting to know that we always have a safe place--a place we can call home--a place we know is sound.
I love the story about the little girl who had gotten lost--she ventured out on what she thought would be a journey through a familiar neighborhood and it ended up with her on a corner in tears. A concerned person noticed the little girl on the corner--scared and alone--and decided to offer assistance. When they began to drive around--looking for her home she was unable to provide specific directions. Feeling hopeless--the little girl looked out her window and off in the distance she saw the steeple of a church--the cross shinning bright in the sun. She said, "There--take me there--to the cross--I know I will be safe there."
Friends, you are always safe and sound with Him and He will always welcome you home--that is the SHALOM of Christ--the peace that surpasses all human understanding--the peace the comes only from the Lord.
Do you know the way home? Come to Jesus and live.
In each of your bulletins there should have been a yellow sticky--I thought it would be helpful if I could lure you into "the yellow sticky addiction" that I have. Each Sunday, over the next several weeks, you will find a yellow sticky in your bulletin. What I want you to do is write the blessing--the benediction--that you heard from the sermon. And I want you to take that yellow sticky and stick it in your car--perhaps on the dash board like my Dad does. But as you gather those stickies and you read what is on them--perhaps they will become "Traveling Mercies" for you and your family--perhaps they will remind you of the blessings of God--regardless of where you travel to.
So, perhaps for today you will write Numbers 6: 22-27. Perhaps you will write "Love the journey; God is with you; and come home safe and sound." You choose--I just want you to write something that will remind you of the blessings the Lord has for you.
Someone once said: "God never alters the robe of righteousness to fit the man, but the man to fit the robe." Traveling mercies my friends--may He shape us into the blessings He has called us to be!! AMEN.
