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)