10.08.08
A Doxology
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
We are now on the third and final installment of our consideration of the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer is so simple that a child can use
it. It is so profound that an experienced saint cannot exhaust it. It embraces all that I dare ask of my loving heavenly Father.
Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We have looked at this first triad of requests. They concern what it is that God demands of me regarding His name, His kingdom and
His will.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil.
This second trio is concerned with my requests to God. Only after I have sought God’s presence and glory can I be concerned about my own
needs. If one is a child of God, he can ask the Lord for daily provision, daily pardon and daily power. He has promised to answer your prayers and
supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:19)
We come now to the conclusion of the prayer: For thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. (Matt 6:13b) While
this is found in the King James Version, many modern English versions leave it out. I am convinced that it is part of what Jesus originally said. It is
found in far more manuscripts than not and it certainly reflects biblical truth.
We will call this the doxology of the prayer. It is always good to end our prayer with a word of praise to our Creator who alone can answer prayer.
Jesus may have borrowed this closing from the words of David (note 1 Chronicles 29:11-13). Let us look now at each phrase.
Thine is the kingdom. I have already been directed to realize that God is my Father. Now I consider Him as my God and my King. He rules over
all things: creation, mankind and angels. He will never abdicate his kingdom to anyone. One day this kingdom will be literally on the earth in the person
of King Jesus.
Thine is the power. The word for power is the one from which we get our word dynamite. It is a power that is inherent. God is His own source of
power and it is infinite! He can do anything, and nothing is too hard for God.
Thine is the glory. We get our word doxology from the word for glory. God is all glorious. To Him belongs all the glory and splendor for
answered prayer and for all that He does in His great wisdom.
Believer, let me remind you that your emergencies are never perplexing to God. No prayer ever takes Him by surprise. The care of the whole
universe is no burden to Him. Though we are unworthy of God’s answered prayers, we can come to Him who alone does great wonders (Ps 136:4).