and we may read
it as follows:--

"JEHOVAH, THE FATHER, BLESS THEE, AND KEEP THEE:

"JEHOVAH, THE SON, THE BRIDEGROOM, MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE,
AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE:

"JEHOVAH, THE SPIRIT, LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE, AND GIVE
THEE PEACE."

So read, we see in these words fuller beauty and appropriateness. Let us
now notice the first clause in particular.

THE BLESSING OF THE FATHER.

Considered as a father's blessing could anything be more appropriate
than "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee"? Is not this just what every
loving father seeks to do--to bless and keep his children? He does not
find it an unwelcome task, but his greatest delight. Offer to relieve
him of the responsibility and to adopt his child, and see what his reply
will be! Nor may we confine ourselves to paternal love in thinking of
this subject; but rather take it as parental love, embracing also the
love of the mother, for "Thus saith the LORD, ... As one whom his mother
comforteth, so will I comfort you." We all know how the mother-love
delights to lavish itself on the objects of its care. With a patience
that never tires, and an endurance almost inexhaustible, and a care all
but unlimited, how often has the mother sacrificed her very life for the
welfare of her babe. But strong as is a mother's love, it _may_ fail;
GOD'S love _never_. "Can a woman forget her suckling child that she
should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget,
yet will I not forget thee."

It was one of the objects of our SAVIOUR'S mission to reveal to us that,
in CHRIST JESUS, GOD is also our FATHER. How He delighted in bringing
out this precious truth the Sermon on the Mount bears witness: "Glorify
your Father." "Love ... bless ... do good, that ye may be the children
of your FATHER." Be "perfect, even as your FATHER." "Thy FATHER ...
seeth." "Your FATHER knoweth," etc., etc. And well may our hearts rest
in the thought which so satisfied His heart, that GOD is indeed our
FATHER.

And what a glorious FATHER He is! the source of all true fatherhood and
motherhood. We have often walked in the fields in the early morning, and
have noticed how the rising sun has turned each dewdrop into a
glittering gem; one ray of its own bright light makes a little sun of
each of the million drops that hang from the pendent leaflets and
sparkle everywhere. But it is helpful to remember that the glorious orb
itself contains