"Be With" - How?

It is my desire that perhaps someone reading this blog will help me. Help me understand the history or significance of those two little words "be with."

You hear those words often in the church, especially during prayer. I think our pastor used the phrase seven or eight times in the same sentence last night, not these words but something similar; "Lord, we pray that you would be with so and so; that you would be with our missions group; that you would be with our youth group; that you would be with our service today; that you would be with the pastor as he preaches; that you would be with the folks who need your with and your be."

Is there ever a time that God is not "with" us? We tout the ubiquitous nature of God, yet we always implore His presence. We extol the presence of the Holy Spirit (GOD) in the believer, then we ask for His presence as though He took leave somewhere or somehow.

I expect the phrase is a euphemism for "bless" but I cannot be certain. If you listen to how people use those two words "be with," it certainly implies something more than "bless." The implication is for God to be present at or with the people, function, or intent of either.

There is a historical aspect of it. In Genesis 26:3 God says he will "be with" Jacob in order to fulfill the covenant oath made to his father Abraham.  In Genesis 48:21 Jacob said God will "be with" Joseph; God says he will "be with" Moses as he leads the people out of bondage, etc. etc.  Nicodemus brings that same concept with him to Jesus in John 3:2 when he says that no one can do the kind of things you do "unless God be with him."

Now there are a multitude of other occurrences in the New Testament where these words "be with" are used. The majority are in Paul's letters where he concludes them with "grace be with you" or something similar such as "the God of peace be with you" in Philippians 4:9.   There are a few variations, but clearly the intent in the NT is different than that of the OT.   The presence of God or Christ with the believer(s) is a given. It is not something to be invoked.

Having said all that, it seems to me that "be with" is, as I mentioned earlier, a backhanded way of saying "bless", "guard", "keep safe", or something similar. So why don't we just say that?

If what we are doing is based on self-design and not God's leading, then invoking His presence or blessing is certainly commendable - even necessary. However, if it is something God is initiating and superintending, then how can it fail?

So how do we want God to "be with" us? To cover us? To confirm His agreement with what we are doing? To affirm our stepping out on faith, or even stepping out by sight? To lead our faltering steps or direct our paths?  Whatever it is, wouldn't it be nice if we just said that instead of some shorthand "be with" phrase that allows us to move on?

"Father, my prayer is that you will be with everyone who reads this particular missive."