Where does the Lord put his name upon us?

The Lord especially blesses His congregation that is gathered together around His Word and Sacraments, when the pastor blesses them with the Lord’s Blessing. Receiving the Lord’s Blessing alone is sufficient reason to attend the worship service. The Lord does not withhold His blessing from those who for insurmountable reasons, such as illness or old age, cannot attend the worship services, but would desire to do so, but He is also their refuge and help. They too are the objects of His blessing and the prayers of the congregation.

What does the third blessing include?

The third blessing consists of these words: “The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.” In times of tribulation it seems to us that the Lord has turned His face away from us, and is angry at us. In this third blessing He blesses us by freeing us from our distress with His wonderful Gospel promises. He grants us forgiveness for our sins, peace of conscience is restored, and Christ again shines on us as the “sun of righteousness”. Thus we are free of our distress, and we can once again, in faith, enjoy the peace of Christ.

What does the second blessing include?

The second blessing consists of these words: “The Lord make His face to shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee.” In this blessing the Lord blesses by illuminating our Savior’s gentle and gracious face in such a way that it shines on us as the “sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2) or radiates forgiveness of sins to us, and we receive strength to approach Him in faith. As a result of this, He then grants us grace in the sense that we receive the strength and ability to do good works. The first part of the second blessing, therefore, pertains to the forgiveness of sins and the last part, to good works.

What does the first blessing include?

The first blessing consists of these words: “The Lord bless thee and keep thee.” In this blessing the Lord blesses and protects His believers in all matters pertaining to their temporal life, such as government and country, marriage and home, life and health, work, property and livelihood. Compare Luther’s explanation of the First Article of the Creed and the Fourth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer in the Small Catechism.

What is the name of God that is put upon the whole congregation and individual Christians in the Lord´s Blessing?

It is the name of the gracious, blessing-bestowing Triune God. There are three parts in the Blessing, and the Lord’s name is mentioned three times.

In place of the Lord’s Blessing, the Apostolic Blessings, which is similar in content, can at times be used: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all”, 2 Cor. 13:14.

What is the Lord´s Blessing?

The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make His face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

God gave the Lord’s Blessing to Moses and told the priests to bless the congregation of Israel with it. The Lord said: “And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”

Assignment: Read Num. 6:22-27.