A Paraphrase on the Lord’s Prayer, in Scripture Expressions
The Lord’s prayer being intended not only for a form of prayer itself, but a rule of direction, a plan or model in little, by which we may frame our prayers; and the expressions being remarkably concise and yet vastly comprehensive, it will be of good use sometimes to lay it before us, and observing the method and order of it, to dilate upon the several passages and petitions of it, that we may use it the more intelligently; of which we shall only here give a specimen in the assistance we may have from some other Scriptures.
1. Our Father in heaven.
O Lord our God, doubtless you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name, (Isaiah 63:16) and we will from this time call to you, “Our Father, you are the friend of our youth.” (Jeremiah 3:4)
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? (Malachi 2:10) You are the Father of our spirits, to whom we ought to be subject to and live. (Hebrews 12:9)
You are the Father of lights, (James 1:17) the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort: (2 Corinthians 1:3) the Everlasting Father, (Isaiah 9:6) from whom and through whom and to whom are all things. (Romans 11:36)
You are the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 1:3) whose glory was that of the only Son from the Father, (John 1:14) who is at your side: (John 1:18) beside you, like a master workman, daily your delight and rejoicing before you always. (Proverbs 8:30)
[…to be continued over the next weeks. DV]
- from Matthew Henry’s Method of Prayer