(Receive our blog posts in your email by clicking here. If the author links in this post are broken, please visit our Free PDF Library and click on the author’s page directly.)
William Hooper Adams, Sr. argued in The Southern Presbyterian Review (Jan. 1874) that the benediction, which customarily concludes the public service of worship, is not a mere formality, but rather a crucial, and highly significant and meaningful, aspect of corporate worship.
After a study of the Biblical texts, and reference to many commentaries on the inspired Aaronic and New Testament blessings, Adams concludes that the benediction which customarily concludes a public worship service is not a mere dismissal of the congregation, not a mere prayer, and not a mere formality, but is instead rather a crucial affirmation of God’s blessing upon the worship that has just taken place.
Following Biblical precedent, it must be given by the pastor, who, invoking the sacred and holy name of the Most High, speaks peace to the people authoritatively and comfortingly, as the service concludes. In the words of Adams:
The Benediction is not so much our prayer as it is the Lord's "Amen" to his people's prayers and praises. Into it he collects all the desires and vows and holy meditations of the service now being terminated, and in this single sentence assures every true worshipper that every thing conformable with his will shall be accomplished; yea, that he will do exceeding abundantly, filling them with "all the fulness of God."
With this summary, Adams shows us how much the Lord gives to his children in the benediction, and what a high value we ought to place upon such a gift. Read his full essay on the matter here, and take note of what a rich blessing the benediction truly is at the conclusion of every public worship service.
