Deuteronomy 33:12 (CSB) | He said about Benjamin: The LORD’s beloved rests securely in him. He shields him all day long, and he rests on his shoulders.
The Hebrew word for “rest” here is shakan. The root word for it means to abide, reside, settle down, or make a permanent home. Every time I see the word “abide” in anything, I go back to what I believe the Lord has continued to put before me over the past 10 years or so. His call to abide in him is not a “one and done” thing or a summons to be with him every once in a while. Instead, it’s an invitation to reside in the presence of Jesus — never to leave his presence but to dwell constantly with him (see John 15:1-11, ESV).
And so when Moses blessed the tribe of Benjamin, he referred to them as “the LORD’s beloved.” God’s beloved. Let that sink in. This is the intimacy that YHWH wants with us, his people. Even John, in his gospel, refers to himself as Christ’s beloved (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7; 21:20). I used to think John was boasting out of arrogance. I don’t anymore. I see him living in and believing who he really was to Jesus. Jesus truly loved him. He was Christ’s beloved. What would our lives look like if we lived from our true identity as the beloved of God, rather than as people who are still trying to find his approval?
Moses continued his blessing by reminding the tribe of Benjamin that God was their shield, who protected them (cf. Deuteronomy 33:29), and reminding them they weren’t alone as they prepared to enter the land God had promised his people.
And with all of that, look at Moses’ final words of blessing: and he rests on his shoulders. Slow down, read it again, and let the picture of it bring peace to your soul.
He rests on his shoulders.
As I read up on this, I found that there is a double meaning to this statement. First, it means that God himself rests on the shoulders of his people. Can you picture God, our shield (Deuteronomy 33:29), covering us so we can make it through the rough seasons? I know that many will ask, “If he’s protecting us, then why are things coming at us at all?” Well, remember that we live in a broken world. With that brokenness comes suffering. But with suffering comes God’s work in us (Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4). And while the point of this blog is not to tackle the topic of suffering, can you imagine what life would be like if God completely removed his presence from our world and left us completely to our own devices? Praise God he hasn’t done that.
But second, it means that God’s people rest on his shoulders. What picture comes to mind when you read that? For me? The picture that comes to mind is of my boys, when they were little, of course, sitting on my shoulders. I would put them up there so they could see better in a crowd. I would put them up there if they were tired. Or I would put them up there and then, just for the fun and thrill of it, take off running.
When I was struggling with some things over the weekend, lies that I was believing about myself that weren’t rooted in what God says about me in his word, or what he has confirmed in me over the years, Kelley (my wife for those who don’t know her) sent me this text about this verse:
You are his beloved. Rest secure in Him, in whom he has created you to be. You are called to ministry. He has equipped you for the purposes he has for you. Stand behind his shield. It can withstand anything. Let him carry you. Rest on his shoulders…like he’s picking you up and you’re riding on his shoulders…better view, safe, secure, fun. His shoulders are broad enough to carry the weight of what you’ve been facing.
Some of you may need a reminder to do this very same thing.
So sit on his shoulders. Enjoy the view. Find the rest your soul needs. And experience the thrill of resting on the shoulders of our Heavenly Father.
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