Brethren, at the conclusion of the Feast of Tabernacles, on the Last Great Day before the final prayer, a significant blessing is pronounced upon God's people, as commanded in Numbers 6:22-27. The Lord spoke to Moses, instructing Aaron and his sons to bless the children of Israel with these words: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. Through this, they shall put His name on the children of Israel, and He will bless them. This priestly blessing, ministered by the Levites, signifies God's commitment to His set-apart people. As it is sung by the choir on the last day, remember the examination and commitment undertaken during the Feast, ensuring worthiness of this divine blessing that separates us from the world and binds us to the Great God. Use this time wisely to be fully committed, for many among us are suffering and in need of this blessing from the Lord.

In the vast flood of human words, where mankind generates billions daily, God's revelation stands in stark contrast with its precision and sparsity, each word chosen with absolute care. Among these sacred words, the priestly blessing emerges as a profound echo of divine intent, particularly when Jesus Christ, after His resurrection, appeared to His disciples and spoke, "Peace be with you" and "Peace to you." This repetition underscores a deep significance, reflecting the deliberate nature of God's communication. This pronouncement of peace by Christ carries the weight of the ancient priestly blessing found in Numbers 6, where God instructed that His name be placed upon His people through a blessing of peace, encompassing His keeping, grace, and favor. When Christ, as the divine High Priest, spoke peace to His disciples, He resumed a conversation from Passover, assuring them of His continued presence despite physical separation. His words promised not only peace but also the accompanying gifts of divine protection and grace inherent in the priestly blessing. Further resonance of this blessing appears in the story of Gideon in Judges 6, where the divine Messenger spoke peace to Gideon amidst fear and external conflict, paralleling Christ's reassurance to His disciples. This peace, declared by God, stands as an attribute of His nature, embodying wholeness and well-being, contrasting sharply with human tendencies toward conflict and agitation. Thus, when Christ spoke peace, it was not a mere greeting but a powerful declaration rooted in His divine essence, offering a profound sense of completeness and spiritual safety to His followers.

The priestly blessing reveals that true peace can only be achieved through our Mediator and High Priest, Jesus Christ. His comprehensive work as the Great Peacemaker and Reconciler accomplished what no other could, reconciling all things to the Father through His sacrificial death. By His blood shed on the cross, He made peace, transforming us radically from our former state to a new being, holy and profoundly different. This reconciliation produces peace with God and should foster peace among humanity, marking us as children of God when we embody this divine trait of peacemaking. As part of His body, we must adopt His character to maintain harmony and peace with Him and with each other, reflecting the unity that comes from our shared connection to Him.