Blessing and Benediction

'May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favour and give you His peace' Numbers 6:24-26

Many of us, simply disregard and perfunctorily dismiss the benediction performed at the end of the church worship services; we can't wait to get out of church. We fail to appreciate the wonderful words of assurance, how much the Lord God intends to enrich our lives and bless us. We fail to realise that as we leave after a time of worshipping God, the benediction is like a parting gift to sustain us for the week during which the presence of God will no doubt wane within us as we become distracted by our many chores and to-do lists.

The Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 is the most commonly used Benediction. God instructed Aaron at the time of the Exodus to bless the Israelites. It was given at a time of uncertainty, dangers, concerns as the Israelites realised that the dry and arid desert had nothing to offer. They were completely reliant on God and God did not leave them destitute, God delivered.

• The Lord bless you and keep you. This is a promise of God's protection bestowed as a blessing on His people, the Israelites then and now on all Christians too.

• The Lord make His face to shine upon you. This is a promise of God's presence not just casually but deeply, intimately and close up as if face to face.

• The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. This is the promise of God's peace. 

The end of the a church service is not just a return to society after having worshipped God. It is also God sending us into the world, commissioned for ministry and mission empowered by the Holy Spirit. We receive the blessing of God so that we will have the strength and ability to live lives of blessing to others. Having received the benediction we are sent out as Jesus Christ's witnesses and ambassadors.

The Benediction is both a prayer and pronouncement. The apostles and early church leaders pronounced the benediction as a signature conclusion to their messages using  

• The Benediction as an Encouragement
• The Benediction as a Blessing
• The Benediction as a pronouncement of Grace

Examples are:

Hope 'May the God of hope Fill you with all joy and peace in believing, So that you may abound in hope By the power of the Holy Spirit.' Romans 15:13

Service 'Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory forever and ever.' Hebrews 13:20-21

Endurance 'May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Romans 15:5-6

Love 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all'. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Glory 'Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen' Ephesians:20-21

Peace 'The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' Philippians 4:7

Success 'Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen'  Jude 24-25

Sanctification 'Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.' 1 Thessalonians 5:23

One of the modern benedictions was written and put to music in 1998 by John Rutter, the Clare Benediction. John Rutter has a long association with Clare College, Cambridge University. He read music at Clare in the 1960s and subsequently returned as its director of music and director of the chapel choir.

The Clare Benediction is a set to soothing melody and harmony. Beginning with 'May the Lord show His mercy upon you...' it is a prayer for protection and guidance, when asleep or awake, in this life and the next. 

May the Lord show his mercy upon you;

May the light of his presence be your guide:

May he guard you and uphold you;

May his spirit be ever by your side.

When you sleep may his angels watch over you;

When you wake may he fill you with his grace:

May you love him and serve him all your days

Then in heaven may you see his face.

May the Lord's loving kindness surround you;

Keep you safe as you journey on your way:

May he lead you and inspire you

As he grants you the gift of each new day.

May he bless all your loved ones and cherish them;

Ev'ry friend, ev'ry stranger at your door:

In the name of his Son our Saviour Christ

May God bless you now and evermore

Next time don't just rush out at the end of the worship service. Take time to let the blessings of the Benediction sink in. Then, let us learn to bless each other. We are blessed to be a blessing.

May God bless you now and evermore.

Lionel