Why We Pray
Avinu Malkeinu, Ein Lanu Melech Ela Atah. Rabbi Akiva (50 – 135 AD)
Avinu Malkeinu – Rabbi Akiva lived just after the time of Yeshua, during the time of the Messianic expansion to the Gentiles. He was a bit younger than Paul. He had and continues to have enormous influence over Judaism. In fact, the prayer that is now a part of the Yom Kippur liturgy, is attributed to him. It begins, “Our Father, Our King, we have no King but You.” You can hear a beautiful musical rendition here.
Akiva’s words direct us toward the question, “Why do we pray?” The answer Akiva provides is two-fold. We pray because God is our Father and we have no one else to turn to. Everything that sustains us comes from Him. As King, He is sovereign over our lives. Unless He grants us His blessing, we will not survive. As Father, He is intimately involved in our lives. His compassionate care is essential. Secondly, we pray because God’s honor depends on our survival. We are attached to His name. He has called us His children. Therefore, His reputation among the nations is directly tied to the demonstration of His care over us. God’s fate is in our hands, so to speak, since the witness of His majesty and power is visible in His people. If we do not survive, God’s name is not glorified.[1]
Of course, this prayer reminds us of another Avinu prayer, the one uttered by Yeshua. That prayer does not prompt us to ask why we pray. Instead, it prompts us to ask to whom do we pray. Yeshua’s Avinu prayer lifts our eyes toward heaven in a glorious exhortation of God’s majesty and purpose and then concentrates that vision in the practical execution of His provision, forgiveness and grace. But the two reasons for Akiva’s prayer are also applicable in Yeshua’s prayer. Because God is our Father in heaven, because His name will be hallowed, we have no one else to pray to. He is the only One deserving of worship. We come to Him to honor Him. But just as Akiva noted, God is also intimately involved with us. We bear His name and, as Moses argued, His reputation. God is for us!
As we approach Yom Kippur, the day when our Messiah replaced the temporary offerings of atonement, we might consider both of these prayers and hear once more the words that express God in our midst. Besides, what’s the loss of a ham sandwich among friends?
Topical Index: Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Akiva, Matthew 6:9-13
[1] These insight were formulated by Gordon Tucker in his commentary on Abraham Heschel’s work, Heavenly Torah. See the footnote on page 203.
-A strange ending to such a beautiful devotional.. Yes, G-d is our King and our Father. He is our Sovereign Savior-Shepherd.
In what has become to be known as “the LORD’s prayer”- right out of the gate Yeshua reminded the talmudim (us) “when you pray”. Pray is as necessary to our survival as our breathing. I have heard prayer being called “spiritual breathing.”
Let us then “breath.” What is the difference then between us (we are who His) and what Rabbi Sha’ul calls “the natural man.” A man who is outside of G-d. One who has not yet entered into the covenant promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
“All the (covenant promises of G-d in Him (who?) are Yes and Amein.” All of these promises (all of them) are found “in Christ.”
Maybe then, this might be considered to be the dividing line. Yeshua did say “think not that I am come to send peace upon the earth, but a (divisional) sword. A sword pierces to the dividing asunder and a sword slices and dices. – (Been “chopped” lately?) “The sword of the LORD and of Gideon.” What is this sword, this spiritual weapon that is now available to us today? – The weapons (yes, we have weapons) of our warfare (we are at war?) are mighty through G-d to the pulling down of strongholds (have you seen- do you know what these ‘strongholds’ might be?)- bringing into captivity every thought (every thought?)- every thought to the obedience of Christ.” What can we say to these things (with our mouths full of a ham sandwich?)
Looking unto Yeshua- the Author and Finisher/Completer of our Faith. He who has begun a good work (salvation is a good work to say the least!) in you (and me) will complete/perform/perfect it (molding and making the clay-us) into the image of (the) Christ. We must endure (as good soldiers of Yeshua HaMashiach) this process.
But what did Yeshua say? (yes, once again..) through His word(s) of course!- For you see, (hopefully) His words are not as my words, for my words pass away are are quickly forgotten. His words are eternal and enduring. The words He speaks are not as my words. His words are healing, my words may be harmful. His words are delightful, my words are doubtful. When my words are His words- I am rightly-related to Him!- We, (who are His) may now “both” say and know..- “thus saith the LORD” or to bring these words more “up to date”- (even though they never go out of style!) “G-d said.”
Think on this with me for one moment..- If Adam had hesitated for a golden moment and said to Eve- “but G-d said..” Had he only remembered the (instructional life-giving life-saving) word(s) of His Creator and King- and reminded Eve- “but G-d said.”
“But what do the scriptures say?” Let us think on the temptation of the Christ by hasatan. What was the “weapon” Christ used to defeat not once, not twice, but three times this deceiving, conniving, worm and imposter? The very same “weapon” that is available (amazingly) to you and to me today. – It is the word(of) G-d. The sword of the Spirit. Friends, “it is written” should be our first (and only) line of defense. The shield of faith and the sword of the LORD- we have weapons!
So today- “may the high praises of ADONAI-Avinu Malkeinu be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hands..” (Psalm 149.6) Amein.
Carl,
Psalm 149:6
New International Version (NIV)
6 May the praise of God be in their mouths
and a double-edged sword in their hands,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flygirljc/2565861713/in/set-72157605566401621
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flygirljc/2565861663/in/set-72157605566401621/
ALSO – reading my one year bible today for 10.7.11 – i find this (astounding): COLOSSIANS 2
Colossians 2
New International Version (NIV)
Colossians 2
1 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
Spiritual Fullness in Christ
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[e]
Freedom From Human Rules
*16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.*
18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19 They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.
*20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.*
THIS LAST VERSE THROWS ME FOR A LOOP – YOU SAY ALL THAT & THEN YOU SAY THIS: but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. – I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO THINK – KINDA LIKE WHERE DID THAT COME FROM??? IN OTHER WORDS (the only conclusion i can come to) is that all they/you/us are doing above does not help us to restrain sensual indulgence so what good are they – seems even the early church had the same problems as we do today – indulging in the sensual (sex – it is everywhere except where it is supposed to be – in a covenant of marriage) & this indulgence creates so much death in this world from advertising sex to sell to selling of people for sex in human trafficking…
🙁 jan
Footnotes:
Colossians 2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20
Colossians 2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13.
Colossians 2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of
Colossians 2:13 Some manuscripts us
Colossians 2:15 Or them in him
Thanks Skip. This is another beautiful version of Avinu Makleinu sung by Barbara Streisand. It’s a very moving prayer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YONAP39jVE&feature=related
Thanks Judi, Wow is all I can say. I grew up on Streisand. I knew she was a Jewess, but I didn’t put 2 and 2 together to think that she would have sung this song- from early childhood, no doubt. No wonder she sings it so beautifully. Thanks. The video Skip cited was beautiful and the dancers were amazing, but few can match Streisand’s vocal artistry.
Jan- just the “mere?” reading of this portion of scripture was a blessing to me for I know all of it to be true and trustworthy. I was especially draw to these words: “These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.*”
This reminded me of a wonderful book in my library which I will heartily recommend to any and to all. It is “From Shadow to Substance” by Roy Hession. It is available on amazon.com for less than $10. Reading this book left me with the sweet assurance- the Ruach HaKodesh is still working in this world today- inspiring the hearts of godly men.
Joseph was a type or shadow of the Savior. Rejected by his brothers, he “ends up” being the Savior and Provider to many. Isaac was “both” an actual obedient son and another foreshadowing of the Messiah, willing to be bound by his Father. ( Abraham gets all the press- we seldom consider Isaac the willing and obedient son!) David was a shadow of our Savior and Good Shepherd/King.
May we also remember the talmudim on the Emmaus Road: “He opened up to them everything in the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24, 27b) Once again..- the Bible proves itself to be our “Him-book.” And may this be our testimony to one another at the end of our journey also: “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24.32)
The Book of Jonah is read every Yom Kippur,
This book shows gentiles facing a raging storm on their vessel. ( our vessel is the earth )
They talk to their gods, but no one listens. ( the situation in the times we are living in )
As they try to solve their problems in their own way, with no good results, they see a sleeping Israel, (sleep is a form of escaping reality).
They wake Israel and find that Israel must obey the God of Israel in the task given, then the storm will stop, and they will all be saved.
*Note the prayer that the gentiles pray in Jon 1:14
I’m not sure how the rest fits but it is all part of the redemptive picture, maybe you can see more in the progression of the story of Israel, -hidden for 3 days, finally obeys God, and all are saved. This was taken from the NASB.
Jan- what are the things which “restrain us?” Why do we not “partake” of the common practices of sensual and or sexual indulgence? (not that this sin is the only sin we are not to be partakers of!..) Why do I not ‘run with the crowd and bounce from one partner to another? What restrains me? The love of Christ.
Here is an excellent article looking deeper into this-
http://truthmagazine.com/archives/volume36/GOT036062.html