While struggling to
keep myself awake, I was reading chapter 6 from the Book of Numbers. Towards
the end, I read a prayer that the Lord said to Moses to be used to bless the
people. Upon reading it, I was reminded of a musical rendition of this song
during my early years at a university choir. There is a more popular version of
this song, but I couldn't help but reminisce the time that I sang John Rutter's
version of "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." During the first time I
sang this piece, I had difficulty with the soprano line. The female voices
would sing the first half of the prayer first. The way that the soprano line
soars was quite a challenge to me then. But if sung very well, it's that
feeling of soaring successfully that makes the effort worth while.
The repeating lines
and the extended "Amen" made me relax and calm and even made me stay
awake during the reading of the bible. So much so that I think this is a
song--a keepsake--that's worth sharing. Here is a rendition of the song by the
Philippine Madrigal Singers. Hope that it will uplift your hearts and souls to
God and be at peace knowing that He will always bless us with everything that
we need to do our duties for the coming week.
