Question 118: What does the conclusion of the Lord's Prayer teach us?

Answer: The conclusion of the Lord's Prayer, which is, "For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever, Amen," teaches us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say AMEN.

DAY 1: Matt. 6:13

As we conclude our studies through the catechism and the model prayer that the Lord Jesus gave His disciples, let me say that it has been a great privilege to study these things and to have learned along side you these past couple of years. I trust that we will learn much in the days ahead, Lord willing, in the new direction that we will take.

At the outset of looking at the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer let us first note that this doxology in not in the earliest writings. It is not found in the Latin Vulgate, yet it is found in the Textus Receptus. We could easily believe that it was never part of the original manuscripts. However, there is no doctrine that it conflicts with and in fact would be in keeping with how our prayers should conclude and that is in praise and honor to God. This would be the way most Jewish prayers would have concluded.

First let us note several things from Matthew 6:13:

1. Each of the things ascribed to God have definite articles. So when we see the kingdom and the power and the glory, we understand that these things are directly related to Him in that they are His.

2. The kingdom is His. The term used here is basileia (bas-il-i’-ah). It means, “a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king; royal power, kingship, dominion, rule”. In Matthew’s gospel, the kingdom is referenced as the kingdom of heaven. However, God’s kingdom extends past heaven even to earth. He rules and reigns over all His creation. Even the pagan king Nebuchadnezzar at the time of his apparent conversion exalts God as the One who has the everlasting dominion and kingdom that reaches from generation to generation (Dan. 4:34-36).

3. The power is His. The word used here is dunamis (doo’-nam-is). This word we are familiar with. It means, “strength power, ability; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth”. God’s power is not given to Him by another. He is not subservient to anyone or anything. He is what we refer to as omnipotent or all powerful. All throughout Scripture we are told of the power of God, first in creation, then through His protection of His people while He destroys their enemies and then to the power of re-creation in the New Testament.

4. The glory is His. The word used here is doxa (dox’-ah). Again, we have taken time to look at this word. The meaning speaks about, “splendour, brightness; majesty”. God’s glory speaks of not only of what is due Him by His creation, but what is innately His. God’s glory does not come from His creatures, it comes from Himself. We merely glorify, or reflect, the glory of God.

5. The prayer thus concludes with “Amen”. This word is translated in the AV as either verily or amen. It means, “firm or surely”. This word was often used at the close of a prayer by the hearers. When one would offer up a solemn prayer the hearers would respond with “amen”, thus affirming their desires with the prayer. This would also be used in the midst of the congregation when truth was proclaimed. Men would voice an amen to affirm what was just said as sure and trustworthy.

DAY 2: Daniel 9:18, 19

We see in the context of Daniel 9 that Daniel is moved to prayer for his people. We notice in verse two that Daniel has been studying the Scriptures, particularly the book of Jeremiah. God was very specific in the time frame that He had determined for His people to be in captivity under the Babylonians (cf. Jer. 25:11-12; 29:10). All throughout Daniel’s prayer we see a broken man who is humbled because he understands that the sins that he and his people have committed against God have brought about just consequences. In no way does he accuse God of injustice or try to say that Israel was not deserving of this captivity. Rather, He exalts God (vss. 4, 7, 9, 12, 14). He is also just as quick to acknowledge the wrongdoing of Israel (vss. 5, 6, 7b, 8, 9b, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16).

Notice that Daniel’s confession of his sins and the sins of his people are twice as many times referenced as his exaltation of God. Does this sound familiar today? I know even in my own prayers that often I feel so pressed for time that I feel I need to get my petitions out without spending so much time in confession. Though it is a part of my prayers, the confession of sin today is no overarching in the prayers of many. Maybe we can learn a lesson from this and begin to practice it more in our prayers. For when we get to the verses we look at in 18 and 19, we see that Daniel has nothing to boast of before God that he should hear him or that He should do according to his prayer. In fact Daniel’s whole appeal for God to answer him is based solely in God alone.

1. First let us ask a question. If Daniel understood clearly, as we do, that the captivity in Babylon was to last for 70 years and that this was because of the faithful word of God, then why should he pray for it? Is it not because he knows that it is God’s will? I believe it is. A thought that hit me as well is, who might have been listening to Daniel’s prayers. We recall that Daniel had those previously listening to him pray (Dan. 6). Of course, after what happened to them, many might have stayed away from Daniel’s door at prayer time. Would God still have performed what He said in the deliverance of His people had Daniel not prayed? The answer is yes. However, I must continue to remind us that, as one man has said, history is HIS Story. Therefore God had decreed that Daniel be in prayer and thus He was going to reveal what would happen to Israel in the future by the angel Gabriel in the rest of the chapter.

2. Notice the appeal though in verse 18. Daniel is not saying that God does not see what is going on. He is not indicating that God has a hearing problem. Rather his desire is that God will answer because of His own name.

3. Daniel declares that the holy city of Jerusalem is desolate and this city is the which is called by His name. Even the heathen understand that Jerusalem is the city of the great God. So Daniel’s mind is set on the glory of God and of his name, not on his own comfort or deliverance.

4. For if we look to the end of verse 18 we discover that Daniel has no basis for coming before God upon any merit of his own. In fact he clearly states that the presentation of his supplications is not on the basis of his righteous deeds, but because of God’s great mercies. Daniel was one who understood that man cannot boast of any good thing in himself. He can only boast in the merciful God.

5. So his cry in verse 19 is in behalf of his people and Jerusalem, but for the glory of God. He says, “O Lord, hear!” This is the first of four things that he requests. The word hear simply means to listen. His desire is that the Lord would give ear to what he has said.

6. Second, he says, “O Lord, forgive!” He seeks pardon for his sins as well as his people’s sins. He does not try to get around it and say it was someone else’s fault, but attributes blame to the guilty parties. He knows God to be merciful and thus asks that God show mercy where his people’s sins are concerned.

7. Third, he says, “O Lord, listen!” The word listen means, “to pay attention”. These words, though they are imperatives are in no way commanding God that he should obey. These are merely the things that Daniel is petitioning God to do. He is desirous of having God’s full attention in this matter and in doing so he wants to request the fourth thing.

8. The final thing Daniel asks is “Act!” This term means, “to accomplish or produce”. Since Daniel knows what God has said He will do from reading Jeremiah and since Daniel has appealed to God’s character and glory in the matter, do we think that Daniel has the petition spoken of in 1 John 5:14? I believe he does. Thus he calls upon God to accomplish what He said He would do according to His word and for His own name’s sake. For he again brings to God’s attention that Jerusalem is His city and Israel are His people and they are both called by His name. Therefore, the issue here concerning the captivity and the release from captivity is tied up in the name of God and His glory.

How concerned are we with confessing our sins in prayer? How concerned are we that god be glorified in the “bad things” as well as in the “good things”? Are our requests based on something about us or are they based on the character, will, purpose and glory of God? Do we pray, bringing to God’s attention, those things that we know to be His will and ask that He do them for His name’s sake? Or do we often pray that God will accomplish those things in order that we might simply be partakers of the benefits of His work?

DAY 3: 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Remember that David had desired to build a house for the Lord. He wanted a place of worship, but God had told him that He would not allow him to build it. Rather, it would be David’s son Solomon who would actually oversee the construction of the Temple. David submitted to God’s will concerning this and God gave him the plans for its construction (SEE 1 Chronicles 28). We see in the context of chapter 29 that there is now being offered the many things that will be use in the construction of the Temple by the David. The numerous things he has set aside are listed in verse 2. However, David loves God so much that he has also taken and offered above what he has purposed for the Temple from his special keep of gold and silver.

He then challenges the men of Israel to consecrate themselves to the Lord. In verses 6-8 we see that the men offered willingly to the work of the Temple. They gave from willing hearts that rejoiced unto the Lord (vs. 9). David also rejoiced at their cheerful giving.

1. Notice that David exalts God before all the assembly (vs. 11). He does not wait until he is alone in his prayer closet but in essence gives a brief excerpt on the glory and majesty of God. It is though he paints a picture of God and then stands back so all can marvel at the Sovereign King.

2. He ascribes the things we have mentioned in Matthew: power, glory, majesty, greatness. However, he also includes victory. The Hebrew word here speaks of God’s perpetuity, or His continuing to exist and endure. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is self existing as we have seen before. Eternality is God’s.

3. David says that all that is in heaven and all that is in earth is God’s. This is summed up as His kingdom in the next line of verse 11. He calls Him the head over all. God is truly Sovereign over all things in heaven and on earth in David’s eyes. David though king, saw his place of authority given to him by the head of all things, God.

4. Notice that the very things that were offered by the people are spoken of not in terms of theirs, but coming from God. Riches and honor are provided by God. Not only that but since He reigns over all (vs. 12) and power and might and the ability to make great and to give strength to all is in His hands, then the reason men differ is because of God. For He is able both to give and to withhold. And so those who have an abundance should bless God and thank him, according to verse 13 and those who have little should bless God and thank him, according to verse 13.

5. In verses 14 through 18 we see that David is very clear in speaking of the fact that even the willingness to give was a work of God in the hearts of His people. He even prays that God would continue to produce this willing attitude within the hearts of his people (vss.17-18).

Let us be quick to give praise and thanks unto God for His wisdom, power, majesty, eternality, and generosity. May we always recognize that whatever is provided to us in this life is not merely attributable to the work of our hands or of other men, but comes from the hand of God. Let us be thankful for his goodness to us, if He has caused us to have willing, generous hearts that not only give, but exalt Him for who He is.

Scripture: Matthew 6:13; Daniel 9:18,19; 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; 1 Corinthians 14:16; Philippians 4:6; Revelation 22:20.