Live Long and Prosper

In my 1970s childhood, this was a very familiar figure on our television set:

"Live long and prosper." Hmm...sounds like a blessing to me.

Who knew that this Vulcan sign was inspired by Leonard Nimoy's experiences in an Orthodox temple as a child? (Ardent Trekkies should understand this to be a rhetorical question.) Nimoy was influenced by the sign made by the Kohen, or priest, one of the lineage of Aaron, as he recited the Priestly Blessing, found in the Book of Numbers. The sign is actually made using both hands. It represents the Hebrew letter shin, which stands for shaddai, or Lord:

A gravestone of a Jewish Kohen or priest

You can learn more about this here. (Looking for a blessing this morning? Scroll down to the first image to hear a priest chanting the Priestly Blessing.)

Sunday's sermon was from this same Priestly Blessing, handed from God to Moses to Aaron to the descendants of Aaron. It is found in Number 6:22-27, and is surely the most-quoted verse from the Book of Numbers. For over sixty years, it has been used at the close of Methodist youth meetings as the MYF Benediction.

Yup. They said it, too.

God gave this blessing, with very specific instructions that it be handed on to the Israelites, during a time when God's people were acutely aware of their need to be dependent on God. The blessing says that God will not forsake them or forget them. God will, indeed, be present with them.

The Old Testament often speaks of blessing in terms of an increase in material wealth and well-being. And it is easy for us to equate God's blessing with the objects that represent abundance. But even in OT terms, these objects were not themselves the blessing. The blessing always has to do with God being with you. God's presence is the blessing: the rest is just bonus.

In the New Testament, Jesus speaks of blessing in very different terms: blessed are the meek, blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are you when people persecute you and revile you. (Matthew 5:1-12). It sounds like the concept of blessing has changed. But Jesus' words also speak of a God who will not forsake you in your time of need. It isn't only material wealth that indicates God's presence. Arguably, those who are experiencing hardship are better able to understand that God will supply their needs. 

In our society today, are we too quick to associate "blessing" with "abundance?" Are we too quick to associate "abundance" with "God's special favor?" 

The Monday Connection: What does God's blessing mean to me? When we say, "I am blessed," are we speaking in terms of material well-being? How do we understand God's presence itself to be the blessing? Do we feel this blessing in our lives? How does material comfort keep us from seeking God's blessing - God's presence - in our lives?