The words of the Benediction are the words given to Aaron and his sons to speak over God’s people. The Divine Service begins and ends with the name of the Lord (Yahweh). We are now marked with the Lord’s name as it is spoken three times in the Benediction – God’s blessing in which He favors us with His grace and peace.

In each part of this threefold blessing, God moves toward His people and actively engages us. This Old Testament blessing anticipated the Lord’s triune name, which was given to us in the waters of Holy Baptism where we were drawn together. Now with that same name, He sends us back into the world to live out our vocations by the mercy we have received as living sacrifices to the praise of His glory and the good of our neighbor (Numbers 6:22-27; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 28:19).