Benedictions and Farewell Greetings

In previous blog posts, I mentioned that the word bless can signify a prayer of benediction. One of those is Numbers 6:24-26. I love the way it reads in the New Living Translation.

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 favor and give you his peace.

You’ve possibly heard a pastor say this or another version of it at the end of a worship service. They are speaking a blessing over you for protection, and for the Lord’s mercy, favor, and peace to rest upon you. Receive these words and hold on to them with your whole heart.

One of my pastors often shared this benediction at the close of a service.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21, NKJV

The writer of Hebrews used this benediction in his closing remarks. Paul, Peter, and John spoke blessings in their farewell greetings to the churches too. These are available for us to pray or speak over others and even for ourselves.

Paul ended his letter in 2 Corinthians 13:14 with this verse from the New International Version.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Christ’s grace, God’s love, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit are ours.

As 2 Thessalonians 3 wraps up, Paul gives this greeting in verse 16 from the New King James Version.

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

He’s offering peace and reminding us that the Lord is near.

Here’s my farewell greeting for you today:

May you find peace, joy, and comfort in the Lord. May your walk be blessed with God’s guidance through whatever situations you face today. May you be filled with His wisdom and love.

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Photo by Frank McKenna - Unsplash

Blessings

On our walks near the Rio Grande, my husband Kenn and I often greet those passing by with a “good morning.” I look at those greetings as extending a blessing in hopes these fellow walkers and runners have a good day. Some receive it with a returned, “good morning,” some with a hello or nod, and others walk by without acknowledging us.

As I mentioned in my previous blog post, the Greek word, bless, used here is eulogeo—to speak well of, thank, or a prayer of benediction. This word can also mean, praise.

In Luke 2:28, Simeon blessed God in the temple as he held the Christ child. In verse 34, he blessed Mary and Joseph. I believe when Simeon blessed God, he was thanking and praising Him for allowing Simeon to see the promised Messiah. When he blessed Mary and Joseph, he may have spoken a benediction of protection and favor over them.

Here is another verse that uses eulogeo.

“Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Luke 6:28, NIV

We are to offer a kind word, speak well of, and pray for those who curse and mistreat us.

There’s another meaning for the word blessed in the Bible. The Greek word, makarios, means supremely blessed, happy, fortunate, and well off. My study Bible states, “It is a grace word that expresses the special joys and satisfaction granted the person who experiences salvation.”

Makarios is the word used in the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-11 and Luke 6:20-22. We also find it in these verses.

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out,
“Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the
word of God and obey it.”
Luke 11:27-28, NIV

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me,
you have believed; blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:29, NIV

Excuse me a moment while I eulogeo my Lord. Jesus said, makarios are those who hear the Word and obey it and who have not seen and yet believe. That’s us if we’ve experience Christ’s salvation! We are supremely blessed, happy, fortunate, and well off. We find joy and satisfaction in our salvation. Praise God!

Will you join me in offering thanks and praise to God for His supreme blessings, joy, and the satisfaction He grants to those of us who have experienced His salvation?

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Hayford, Jack W. New Spirit Filled Life Bible: NKJV Kingdom Equipping through the Power of the Word. Thomas Nelson, 2002.