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The Lord's Prayer

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1875

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 2, No. 1.

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The Lord's Prayer.

By Jos. Clarke

OUR Lord has given us a model prayer; brief, comprehensive, and devotional. Every word and clause is full of meaning.
“Our Father.” This reminds us that God loves us as a parent loves his children, and that we should regard him in the light of a kind parent, who will (if we obey him) guide our footsteps aright.
“Who art.” This clause asserts the existence of God. It sets infidelity at naught and erects in the mind a monument of faith in the existence of Jehovah. It takes away the shadowy mist of unbelief and places in its stead the clear bright rays of heavenly faith and light.
“In Heaven.” This locates the dwelling-place of God. It is not in the dim everywhere, with no particular locality; no, but it is in the heaven above; as though God had a home to which we should direct our attention and our prayers.
“Hallowed be thy name.” This teaches reverence, adoration, worship, and love. It is a caution against the sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and suggests the importance of separating the holy from the common things of life.
“Thy kingdom come.” Here is a prayer for the setting up of the kingdom of God in the earth, the fifth universal kingdom.
“Thy will be done.” This is the prayer of the angels and of glorified beings above. Why should not we join in this sublime petition! God's will, so perfect, so pure, so good, and full of mercy. Oh, that it had always been done, everywhere; then had Satan never fallen, nor Adam ever sinned.
“On Earth.” This points to the time when earth will be renewed and restored to its Eden beauty, and the lost race of Adam will regain their favor with God, as at the first estate.
“As it is done in Heaven.” This is the perfection of beauty, the highest standard of excellence and glory. Could we ask for more? and here, too, upon the very earth we now inhabit.
“Give us this day our daily bread.” All our treasures of this life are gifts from God, this we should not forget. The petition is not give me but give us this day. Here is no selfish, cramped, narrow-souled petition, but a petition for all our fellow-men, and only for this day.
“And forgive us our debts.” Yes; if we owe to God debts we cannot pay, we wish him to cancel them; and who would not be bankrupt, if God were as hard a collector as our Girards and Astors and Rothschilds.
“As we forgive our debtors.” Think of this, ye men of the world. If you would have God do the noble thing you ask, go ye and cancel the poor man's claim, and throw off a part or the whole of the weary, sick, crippled one's debt, and let him go as free as you do, when God says to you, “thy debts to Heaven are paid.”
“And lead us not into temptation:” lest we may fall.
“But deliver us from evil:” From all evil, temporal and spiritual; from sin and sorrow, and misfortune.
“For Thine is the kingdom:” Jehovah is the rightful Lord of all. Even Jesus Christ looks up to God, and he would have us as devoutly pray as did he,
“For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Jos. CLARKE*