ON PRAYER (10)
“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” —Matthew 6:13b
This remarkable prayer concludes as it began—with the mind and heart focused upon God. So ought our prayer life to be, from start to finish.
The “kingdom” here is a reference to God’s sovereignty and the supremacy of His kingdom over all the kingdoms (nations) of the earth. “For the kingdom is the Lord’s: and He is governor among the nations [Psalm 22:28].” The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all [Psalm 103:19].” Thus praying we are acknowledging His lordship and reminding ourselves that He will have the last word in the affairs of men. What a comfort to know, in times like these, that our destiny is not determined at the ballot box or in the White House or the halls of congress, but in “the city of the Great King [Ps. 48:2].” “For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth [Ps. 47:2 —see and meditate on this remarkable Psalm!].”
The “power” affirms God’s sufficiency for any and every situation. We speak of “the powers that be,” and live in a world that appears to be dominated by men and mechanisms of sometimes terrifying power and authority, where tyrants and technology seem to threaten our welfare. Tragically, even some believers are tempted to think that our defense lies in men and machines, but such (happily!) is not the case. The power struggles that continue to mar the history of fallen man have a predicted end. The apostle John was given a glimpse of the consummation of the ages and at one point in his vision exults,
“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” —Rev. 11:15-18
When we thus pray this prayer, or in the spirit of it, we are acknowledging His authority and encouraging our own hearts. Whether the problems of the world, or those of our own little province, this is our assurance: “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:” (Jer. 32:17 See also v. 27)
“And the glory” worships His splendor. We are again reminded of the vision of John:
“…I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald… And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” —Rev. 4:2-4, 8-11
Overwhelmed by the glory of God! That is how our prayers ought to climax.
Finally, “for ever.” For want of a better term, may I suggest that it is reflecting upon God’s sustainabiity. He is as a fruitful field that will never lie fallow, a fountain of living water that will never run dry; the Giver of life that will never end!
Let us not “say” the Lord’s Prayer, but pray it, and may all our praying be in the spirit and focus of this remarkable prayer, short, but higher than the heavens and deeper than the sea!
“Let the ‘AMEN’ sound from His people again!”
"Pastor" Frasier
An appendix:
“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.”
O, THE WONDER OF IT ALL
(George Beverly Shea)
There's the wonder of sunset at evening,
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder the God loves me.
Chorus:
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
O, the wonder of it all! The wonder of it all!
Just to think that God loves me.
There's the wonder of springtime and harvest,
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that's only begun.
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