The fountainhead blessing in the Bible is found in Numbers 6:24-26. This is the blessing God ordained that the priests of Israel use to speak blessing in His name over His own children, whom He called “the children” of Israel.
First, I call this the “fountainhead” blessing because this blessing was transmitted to every succeeding generation for use and exercise by faith—right down to the present moment, as we speak it with privileged boldness.
The New Testament clearly reveals that every believer in Christ is not only now called holy—a saint in Christ (see Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2)—but also now bestowed the office of a priest—a minister to God in worship and for God to others (see 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:5-6). This is the Bible’s authoritative grounds for us to speak blessing, knowing that the power of God’s eternal Word and promise are backing up that blessing—that our Father stands fully ready to enforce and apply all its implications unto the full dimensions of their blessed intention.
Second, this blessing is a fountainhead because the ideas contained in it overflow with so much meaning that, if it is understood and not merely repeated, it becomes a warm and powerful invocation loaded with promise and power.
Repeat Numbers 6:24-26 with me, and then examine its depth: “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.”
The rich dimension of this blessing deserves the understanding and conscious desire to commend its scope of goodness upon those over whom it is spoken. Consider the individual phrases:
The Lord bless you and keep you: The thrice-referenced Lord in whose name this blessing is offered is the God of the universe; He is unlimited in His capacity to prosper the efforts of those He blesses, and He is unrestricted in His power to protect those He keeps. (It is perfectly appropriate to add the name of your child after you: “The Lord bless you and keep you, Mary.”)
