Deeper Reflection
PAUL’S THREEFOLD BLESSING OF THE PEACE, PRESENCE (v.16) and grace of the Lord (v.18), that he prays to be upon the Thessalonian church reflects the Aaronic blessing in Numbers 6:23-26. In the Old Testament, the “face” (panim) of God is also the presence of God (e.g., Gen 3:8; 4:16³⁸). The blessing of “The LORD make His face (panim) to shine upon you” and “The LORD lift up His countenance (panim) upon you” (Num 6:25a, 26a) parallels “The Lord be with you all” (v.16b). And in His presence with us, the Lord will “be gracious to you” (Num 6:25b) – with “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.18), and “give you peace” (Num 6:26b) as “the Lord of peace” (v.16a).In both the blessing of Paul and Aaron, the Lord’s presence, peace and grace are theologically interlinked. God is our covenant God, and we are His covenant people, whom He has redeemed with “My blood of the new covenant” (Matt 26:28; Lk 22:20) into a covenant relationship with Him. Our covenant relationship is with the very person of God, and thus, God’s presence is with us. The presence of God is the person of God. God’s presence with us is His covenant presence in our covenant relationship with Him, as reflected in this parallelism: “Fear not, for I am with you (presence); do not be dismayed, for I am your God (relationship)” (Isa 41:10). God’s presence with us is a presence of all-sufficient empowering grace (2 Cor 12:9-10) and a presence of peace “at all times in every circumstance”.

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³⁸ “…hid themselves from the presence (panim) of the LORD;” and “…went away from the presence (panim) of the LORD”