JUNE 18, 2014
Smile!
Read: Numbers
6:22-27
The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. —Numbers 6:25
A recent study that I
read concluded that smiling can be good for your health. Research shows that
smiling slows down the heart and reduces stress.
But smiling isn’t just
good for you; a genuine smile blesses those on the receiving end as well. Without
saying a word, it can tell others that you like them and that you are pleased
with them. A smile can hug someone with love without giving them even the
slightest touch.
Life does not always
give us a reason to smile. But when we see a heartfelt smile on a child’s face
or through aged wrinkles, our hearts are encouraged.
Smiles are also a hint
of the image of God in us. In the ancient blessing recorded in the book of
Numbers we get an indication that God “smiles”: “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” (Num. 6:25-26). Those words are a Hebrew idiom for the
favor of God on a person’s life, asking God to smile on His children.
So today, remember
that you are loved by God, and that He is pleased to be gracious to you and to
shine His face upon you.
Lord, may my life be
so pleasing to You that You are
pleased to have Your
face shine on me. And as You
graciously smile on my
life, may I find someone
today with whom I can
share Your love through a smile.
Your smile could be a
message of cheer from God to a needy soul.
Insight
In showering the
people with His favor, God instructed the high priest to bestow on the people
the blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26. In the New Living Translation, “The Lord
make His face shine upon you” (v.25) is rendered as “The Lord smile on you.”
The Lord smiling and “lift[ing] up His countenance” (v.26) expresses that the
people have God’s special attention and approval. This benediction, pronounced
by many pastors at the end of church services today, affirms that God provides
for and protects His people, assuring us of His presence, pardon, and peace.
The Hebrew concept of peace (shalom) is all-embracing and includes the concepts
of completeness, security, health, wealth, tranquility, contentment,
friendship, and peace with God and man.
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
