How to Bless God at Meals
By Karl D. Coke, Ph.D.

Deuteronomy 8:2 says, "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you." Notice that the blessing is not over the food. Correct order is to 1) eat until satisfied, then 2) Praise the Lord. The blessing should be to the Lord, not over the food. The Lord is worthy of praise for having created the food we eat.

Genesis 1:29-31 says, "Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground--everything that has the breath of life in it--I give every green plant for food.' And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." The food that God gave man to eat is pronounced "good" by God, Himself. It doesn't require man to bless it to make it "good." Since it has been made "good" by God, man should bless God for making it "good."

Christians have been asking God to bless their food before they eat for centuries. Some say the habit began because of the passage of the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 10:27, "If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience." Whatever the cause, believers should thank God following their meal, not bless the food before. Even the context of I Corinthians 10 confirms this idea. Notice verse 30 which says, "If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?"

Jesus blessed God "after" he had eaten as recorded in Matthew 26:26. Jesus took the afikomen (dessert matzos bread) after the meal, gave thanks to the Father, then broke it and distributed it to His disciples.

Jewish blessings are called B'rachot. B'rachot come in three types: B'rachot nehenin--blessings for experiences of enjoyment; B'rachot ha'mitzvot--blessing for the privilege of performing a mitzvot (commandment); and, B'rachot hoda'ah--blessing of petition, praise or thanksgiving. What follows is a group of B'rachot nehenin. This group of blessings forms a never ending awe of appreciation for what the Lord has done for us!

All B'rachot begin with these words: "Baruch atta Adonai Elohenu Melech ha'olam." Translated into English: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe." At meals, one follows the above with these words: "done for us."

For Food:
For wine: "Borey pe-ree hagafen" (Who creates the fruit of the wine).

For bread: "Hamotzee lechem min ha'aretz" (Who brings forth bread from the earth).

For fruit: "Borey pe-ree ha-eytz" (Who creates the fruit of the tree).

For vegetables: "Borey pe-ree ha'adma" (Who creates fruit from the earth).

For cakes, cookies, crackers: "Borey mineh m'zonot" (Who brings forth different varieties of sustenance).

For meat, cheese, processed foods, and all liquids except wine: "She'hakol ni-heyeh bidvaro" (through Whose Word all things were called into being).

The table is considered an altar. We show appreciation to the Lord when we bless Him. We also demonstrate our willingness to obey all His Word by honoring Deuteronomy 8:10.

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