He was the mama’s boy that mama never knew. Rachel literally gave her life in giving him his. As he left the womb, she left this world. In those last moments she named him Ben-Oni, son of my sorrows . . . but his father would name him Benjamin, son of the right hand . . . my boy of favor (Gen. 35:16-18). He was the youngest . . . after Joseph was thought lost, he was the favored and protected . . . he was baby brother Benjamin. And as I’m reading Moses’ final blessings on the tribes of Israel, it’s what’s said of precious Benjamin that grabs me this morning.

Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.”
                                                                           (Deuteronomy 33:12 ESV)

One of those verses that causes one to pause . . . and, at least in my case, causes me to have an initial reaction of, “Huh? God dwells between his shoulders? Don’t know exactly what it means . . . but it sounds right . . . whatever it is, it sounds like something a favored son might know.”

I do a bit of digging and see that other translations say that “he dwells between his shoulders” (NASB) opening up an interpretation that it is Benjamin who dwells, or rests, between the shoulders of God . . . as in, is carried on His shoulders . . . which is where the NIV translators land with it . . . “and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.”

Could be . . . makes sense. That the children of favor are carried between the shoulders of their God and Redeemer is born out in Scripture . . . and in the child of God’s experience.

But the more literal translation in the ESV doesn’t leave open the ambiguity . . . instead it lands on the side that the High God will dwell between Benjamin’s shoulders.

Quickly reading a couple of commentaries, this rendering would suggest an interpretation of where the temple of God would rest . . . if not in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin, then at least on it’s borders. Moses foretelling that the glory of God would tabernacle in the midst of Benjamin . . . would dwell between his shoulders.

And now I’m thinking of the place where God dwells . . . the place where He determines to let His glory tabernacle . . . and I’m thinking the church . . . and how the church can be seen, to some degree, in Benjamin.

The son of sorrows . . the church birthed through the death of the Man of Sorrows (what a Name!). The blood of Jesus shed, the life of Jesus given, that those born of the Spirit might be given new life . . . His life . . . through justification by faith in His finished work . . . and through the sanctification by the active agency of His Spirit.

And isn’t the church also, the son, and the daughters, of His right hand? Adopted as children of God . . . joint heirs with Christ . . . raised up to a place of favor . . . seated together in the heavenlies with God’s Son . . . hidden in Him . . . Who, even now, is at the right hand of the Majesty on High. Christ’s bride . . . God’s children . . . a people of favor . . . the apple of His eye. How special are we in Him? Pretty!!!

And, as the beloved of the LORD, we dwell in safety . . . safe in Him. Eternally secure . . . and presently supported . . . our feet on the Rock . . . our hope in the One who has gone to prepare a place for us. Even more, just as was promised of Benjamin, the High God surrounds us all day long . . . sealed with His precious Holy Spirit . . . indwelt by deity . . . empowered by Him who raised Christ from the dead.

And lastly, He tabernacles between our shoulders. His glory resting in our midst. His presence graciously resting upon the “building” He is constructing out of living stones . . . and inhabiting by His Spirit.

Mama’s boy . . . Abba’s delight . . . and He dwells between his shoulders.

Even so, Father, dwell . . .