May the Face of God Shine Upon You

I got a call last Monday from my dear Tennessee friend, Lori Long.  She was just calling to check in and we enjoyed catching up.  Before long our phones were on speaker as Les and Doug joined the conversation.  As we were saying goodbye, Les said, "the Lord bless you and keep you."  I piped in with "and make His face to shine upon you!"  Les looked at me a little questioning.  "It's in the Bible!" was my response.  Not only is it in the Bible, it was part of my Bible reading this morning.

Numbers 6:22-27 says:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,
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. 
And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. 

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible says:
The priestly blessing is appointed as a solemn form to be used by the priests exclusively, and in this function their office as it were culminates. God Himself provides a formula, through which from time to time, as His people by obedience place themselves in true and right relationship to Him, the authorized mediators may pronounce and communicate His special blessing to them. It was a Jewish tradition that this blessing was given at the close of the daily sacrifice.
The structure of the blessing is remarkable. It is rhythmical, consists of three distinct parts, and mounts by gradual stages to that peace which forms the last and most consummate gift which God can give His people.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee - The second clause here, as in the other three verses, defines more closely the general tenor of the preceding one. The singular number, which is observed throughout, indicates that the blessing is conferred on Israel “collectively.”

Make his face shine - This is an enhancement of the preceding benediction. “The face of God” imports not merely God’s good will in general, but His active and special regard. With the “face” or “eye" of the Lord accordingly is connected alike the judicial visitation of the wicked, and His mercies to the righteous.

Lift up his countenance upon thee - especially direct His thought and care toward thee. Through such loving providence alone could the peace of God in which the blessing closes be given.

Put my name upon the children of Israel -  pronounce My Sacred Name over them in blessing them. God will give effect to the benediction pronounced by the priests.

I especially like the Pulpit Commentary on verse 25:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee. The "face" of God is his personality as turned towards man, or else turned away from him. His face hidden or turned away is despair and death; His face turned against man is destruction and death; His face turned upon man in love and mercy is life and salvation. It is to the soul of man what the blessed sun of heaven is to his body.

It may be raining or snowing where you are today.  The world as a whole seems gloomy and dark.  But the face of God still shines.  In the darkest times and darkest places, let His face shine on you!