What is the meaning of life?
Why is this happening to me?
Why are they like that?
I just don’t understand! … This is the context of the fourth benediction: Binah, the prayer for understanding. “You graciously give knowledge to man and teach mortals understanding: Give to us from Lord Your knowledge, understanding, and intelligence. Blessed be Thou, O Lord, who gives knowledge”
We pray this prayer because we are to seek after understanding “May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word.” (Ps 119:169) We are to seek after understanding as we week after gold and silver (Prov. 2:1-6) for if we have understanding we will gain everything in life.
Wisdom and understanding existed before the beginning. (Pr. 8) They help us understand God and His ways. (Pr 1:6-7; 28:11; Mt 13:14; Mk 4:12; John 5:20) Understanding is what set Israel apart from other peoples. (Dt 4:6). We are to seek to understand God and His ways.
We are to seek God out and His ways. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” The more we seek for God, the more we grow and understand. We are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding. We should never stop seeking and asking, “Why.”
There is a promise given in James: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (1:5) which encourages us to offer this prayer. “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
We need to seek wisdom in our daily lives – even in the mundane decisions we must make every day. We can ask God when we get up in the morning what we should do that day. When we don’t understand why something didn't work out the way we hoped, we should ask God. We need to ask God about the good things and the bad. The Lord in His time and His ways will show us so we will gain understanding.
As I led our prayer meeting the week after praying for understanding, I realized that this portion of prayer leads us into the next, the prayer of repentance. For as we pray for understanding of God and of ourselves, we also pray for God to show us any sinful way within us. To allow God to show us understanding will allow us to be fully cleansed and draw us closer to Him.
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” (Col 1:9-10)
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Eph 1:18-20)
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Amidah 3
Prayer is a privilege. Our Loving God offers us audience with Him at any time, at any place, and for any reason. This is an incredible invitation. We can speak to the Creator of the Universe (Ge 14:19), Our Mighty God (Lk 22:69), the King of Kings (1 Tim 6:15).
God is Holy (Ex 3:5; Ps 99:9). This means God is not a person like us (Nu 23:19; Job 9:32). God is Sinless (Ps 7:9; RO 1:17; Rev 15:4). God is not desirous of the things of the world. He is not tempted like us. God is not swayed in order to receive our approval. God is Holy, separate from the sins that taint our lives.
God is One (Deut 6:4), but His name Eloheim teaches us that God is Greater than one. His Might, His strength, His Knowledge and wisdom makes Him worthy of our praise, honor and awe.
God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The Lord wants us to approach us and speak to Him (Ps 95:6). God is ever present. His name Yahweh means the God who is there (Ex 3:14). God is to be our banner (Ex 17:15), our Shepherd (Ps 23:1), and our Peace (Jud 6:24).
We are to approach God in awe and in recognition of His Holiness as we begin our prayer.
God is Holy (Ex 3:5; Ps 99:9). This means God is not a person like us (Nu 23:19; Job 9:32). God is Sinless (Ps 7:9; RO 1:17; Rev 15:4). God is not desirous of the things of the world. He is not tempted like us. God is not swayed in order to receive our approval. God is Holy, separate from the sins that taint our lives.
God is One (Deut 6:4), but His name Eloheim teaches us that God is Greater than one. His Might, His strength, His Knowledge and wisdom makes Him worthy of our praise, honor and awe.
God is love (1 John 4:8, 16). The Lord wants us to approach us and speak to Him (Ps 95:6). God is ever present. His name Yahweh means the God who is there (Ex 3:14). God is to be our banner (Ex 17:15), our Shepherd (Ps 23:1), and our Peace (Jud 6:24).
We are to approach God in awe and in recognition of His Holiness as we begin our prayer.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Amidah 2
We have seen in the First Benediction that God is our Father, the Creator, Almighty who can create this world by with only a Word. The Second Benediction takes this further. “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.” (Ps 71:8)
One rendition of this prayer could be: “You are forever Mighty O Lord. You give immortal life; You revive the dead. You sustain the living with loving-kindness, and in Your great mercy lift the fallen and heal the sick, setting free the imprisoned, and keeping faith with those who sleep in the dust. God of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You?
This prayer recognizes the mighty power of God. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16). He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. Our Father is the taker and giver of life. “Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. … Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.” (Psalm 21:8-10, 13)
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18) He has the power to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” (Mt 10:8)
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
For more on this prayer, read Deuteronomy 10:14-22.
Paul gave a charge to Timothy based on this prayer: “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21)
One rendition of this prayer could be: “You are forever Mighty O Lord. You give immortal life; You revive the dead. You sustain the living with loving-kindness, and in Your great mercy lift the fallen and heal the sick, setting free the imprisoned, and keeping faith with those who sleep in the dust. God of mighty deeds, and who is comparable to You?
This prayer recognizes the mighty power of God. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:16). He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. Our Father is the taker and giver of life. “Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. At the time of your appearing you will make them like a fiery furnace. In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. … Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.” (Psalm 21:8-10, 13)
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed.” Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18) He has the power to “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” (Mt 10:8)
“Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalm 103:1-5)
For more on this prayer, read Deuteronomy 10:14-22.
Paul gave a charge to Timothy based on this prayer: “Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1:18-21)
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Amidah 1
One translation of the first benediction says: "Blessed are you Lord our God and God of our fathers. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. God, the Great, the Mighty, and Awesome God. Most High who gives kindness plentifully and creates everything. Who recalls kindnesses of the fathers and brings a Redeemer to children's children for the sake of His Name. Oh King, Helper, Savior, and Shield. Blessed are You Lord, Shield of Abraham.
The first benediction of the Amidah give us some roots, an anchor, a place where we see that our faith is not something we dreamed up, but it is given by God and lived out through history by many generations of believers.
This prayer recognizes the Fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These men had a strong faith in God. (Ex. 3:6) It is from these three men that the nation of Israel came forth. "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: `I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." Ex 32:13. The names of these three men are mentioned 19 times in the Torah (Ge 50:24; Ex 2:24; 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5; 6:3, 8; 32:13; 33:1; Lev 26:42; Nu 32:11; Dt 1:8; 6:10; 9:5; 9:27; 29:13; 30:20; 34::4) ... coincidence: Once for each of the Benedictions.
Prayer goes beyond just remembering our ancestors. Prayer is always addressed to God. The scripture says, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Ge 15:6. Abraham believed in God Most High who became his shield (Ge 14:22-15:1) Jesus begins his prayer, “Our Father.” Paul says, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” (Col 1:3). Peter says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Peter 1:3) As these men prayed through the training of the Amidah, they recognized something more. They saw God as the Father who gave an Only begotten Son, and the Son who is the Author and perfecter of our faith. (Heb 12:2)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Eph 1:3-6)
The first benediction of the Amidah give us some roots, an anchor, a place where we see that our faith is not something we dreamed up, but it is given by God and lived out through history by many generations of believers.
This prayer recognizes the Fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These men had a strong faith in God. (Ex. 3:6) It is from these three men that the nation of Israel came forth. "Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: `I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever." Ex 32:13. The names of these three men are mentioned 19 times in the Torah (Ge 50:24; Ex 2:24; 3:6, 15, 16; 4:5; 6:3, 8; 32:13; 33:1; Lev 26:42; Nu 32:11; Dt 1:8; 6:10; 9:5; 9:27; 29:13; 30:20; 34::4) ... coincidence: Once for each of the Benedictions.
Prayer goes beyond just remembering our ancestors. Prayer is always addressed to God. The scripture says, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” Ge 15:6. Abraham believed in God Most High who became his shield (Ge 14:22-15:1) Jesus begins his prayer, “Our Father.” Paul says, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.” (Col 1:3). Peter says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Peter 1:3) As these men prayed through the training of the Amidah, they recognized something more. They saw God as the Father who gave an Only begotten Son, and the Son who is the Author and perfecter of our faith. (Heb 12:2)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” (Eph 1:3-6)
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