How can we bless our children, our families, our youth groups, and the larger body of Christ as we assemble together? I was challenged to consider the ancient practice of blessing as I was reading through the account of Solomon’s dedication of the Temple in I Kings. After praying his prayer of dedication, Solomon “stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice” (I Kings 8:55). The blessing he spoke is recorded in I Kings 8:56-61.
As I read through Solomon’s blessing a few times, I was challenged to think about how to adapt his words to my own life, along with how to both speak and pray this blessing over my own children and grandchildren. I took the liberty to adapt Solomon’s blessing to our present time. Perhaps you will do the same, choosing to deliberately speak and pray these words of blessing over those who are part of your circle of family and friends as they spend their days navigating a cultural moment and narrative that can so easily derail us and affections from following Jesus Christ with faithful obedience. . . .
Blessed be the Lord who has given rest to all those who, by His grace shown in Jesus Christ, He has called to be His own, according to all that He has promised in His Word. He has not failed in one word which He has promised. The Lord our God be with us, as He was with all those of His own who have gone before us. May He not leave us or forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His rules, which He commanded those who have gone before us. May our prayers be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may He maintain the cause of His servants as each day requires, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the Lord our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, both this day and all the days of your life.