The Blessing

I had seen the thumbnail for the video of “The Blessing” being sung in the Hebrew language. I listened to it earlier this morning, and it was something very special. I listened through the whole song twice, and besides how pretty everything sounded, I felt and pictured something difference.

There’s a multi-millennia distance between us and the ancient Church, and longer than that between us and the original Hebrew people. There was something about hearing this song in this way that moved me. I wanted to briefly share my thoughts and what I felt in my heart while hearing it.

I already love this song a lot, but hearing it sung in the language that gets as close as is humanly possible to hearing the original words and intonations of King David, the Psalmist — to hearing the worship of the musicians in the Temple — to hearing the language Jesus changed human existence with — the language the apostles spoke, beginning the unstoppable avalanche of the church. That is what amazed me.

I could almost hear the sound of the ancient Jewish believers, who taught and sang and worshiped in their heart language, despite being surrounded by the anger and persecution of Rome. They did not let their circumstances stop them from blessing their families, their people, and their nation.

With a simple music video, this song pulled my mind to the roots of everything we are and everything we believe and know. I was even more impressed by the mission of the performer of the Hebrew “cover” of the song — his goal to reach his people, to tell them that their Messiah has already come, to bridge the gap and bring healing and unity through his voice.

I don’t know if everyone who listens to this version of the song felt the same way, but I myself won’t be able to listen to this song without hearing the echo of the faith of God’s people over generations.

If this week is a week that frustrated and disappointed you, if the news cycle and the decisions of certain legislative bodies and leaders felt like an attack or an unfair blow, I think that it is better to be reminded that those who came before us endured, and left their legacy of faith embedded in our history.

They faced the injustice of tyranny and endured. We bear the fruit of everything they did — it is only right that we do what they did. Bless our families, our friends, our cities. Bless those who help us and those who curse us.

If they did that, we can do it too.

“‘The Lord bless you, and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine on you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance on you,

And give you peace.’”

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Numbers 6:24–26)