SIVAN 1
Prayer
“This, then, is the way
you should pray:” (Mat 6:9)
Most reputable Bible scholars will agree that the
model our Master used for what is commonly known as “The Lord’s Prayer” is the Amidah, also known as the Shemoneh Esrei, the “Eighteen”. The Amidah
is the 2nd most widely recited Hebrew prayer in the world (the 1st
being the Sh’ma), and the sages
believe that it was first composed in the early days of the 2nd
Temple, during the 5th century BCE.
The Amidah
is also known as the “Standing Prayer”, and it is recited while standing,
preferably facing Jerusalem – for those of us here in the U.S., that would be
to the east. Considered an opportunity
to approach our Elohim in a personal, private conversation, the Amidah is recited three times daily,
quietly, to oneself. Any interruption to
this prayer was not acceptable.
Your basic week-day Amidah is divided up into three sections: 1st, an introduction,
acknowledging and praising our Elohim; 2nd, petitions and request
for various needs; and 3rd, further recognition of our Creator, with
thanksgiving and gratitude for who He
is. Much of this prayer can be tailored
to the individual who is praying; however, the basic structure will always be
synonymous. Shabbat, High Holy Days, and
other special occasions will have their own versions of the Amidah; nonetheless, the foundational
elements of this prayer will remain the same.[1]
Was Messiah Yeshua familiar with the Amidah?
Most certainly, and would have recited it the three times daily that was
expected of Him, as being Jewish. The
similarity between the Amidah and
“The Lord’s Prayer” is no coincidence, therefore, for the structure of both
prayers is much the same. In Matthew
6:9-10, we find our introduction, which recognizes, acknowledges and accepts
our Father, our Creator. In verses
11-13, we make our petitions and requests know to our Elohim, followed by our
confession of emunah (faith and trust) in our Maker – all
of this following the same configuration as the Amidah.
But what do these words really mean? Please, bear
with me in the coming days as I take a closer look at Matthew chapter 6. I pray it is enlightening for all of us.
©2021
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