May 31, 2023

The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24–26

Having taught through each “movement" of our worship service, it is time to look at the last word in our worship - the benediction. Many of you have undoubtedly noticed that this blessing from Aaron in Numbers 6 is not the only text used for the benediction at Coram Deo. Many are given from the books of Jude, Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians and other biblical sources - some are written extemporaneously to reflect the content of a sermon and the grace therein, others come from sources like chapter 58 from the PCA’s Book of Church Order. 

Whether they come from the Bible or resources beyond, each benediction has a funny habit of agreement with the Aaron’s blessing in Numbers 6. This may be surprising at first, but it makes a lot of sense. God has always had one plan for his people - that we would live and flourish peaceably in his presence and reflect his glory. As we look at the whole sweep of Sunday worship from the Salutation to the Benediction what we see is a microcosm, a tiny example, of the whole Christian life. We are called by God into his presence for worship, our sin is addressed and assurance secured in the ministry of the Son. We “reason together” through confessions, sacraments, hymns, psalms and sermons and are sent into our weeks with the gift of God’s own enduring presence. We come in bringing our own gifts and burdens, and are sent out with God’s gift to the world stamped on our hearts:  the blessing of his favor in Jesus.

Remember - as you raise your hands to receive the benediction from the LORD, you are also sent to play your kingdom roles as husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, children, siblings, friends, bosses and employees. To receive his blessing is to be sent according to his mission. Take comfort - He is with us always, even to the end of the age.

—Matt Allhands