10-30-2021, 08:56 AM
Did you know that the Model Prayer is pretty much the same as a ritual of binding oneself under the Covenant? Think about the wording, compared to what happened at the foot of Mount Sinai. The latter was more elaborate, with several parts to the larger ritual, but the Model Prayer covers the essentials. Consider:
When you recite that, you are hitting all the high points of claiming the adoption covenant offered by God. What happened at Sinai was a standard suzerain-vassal treaty common across the Ancient Near East of that time. It included the idea of being adopted into His household as family. You can change the words, as I did in one of the recent Bible lessons, but the content is distinctly a renewal of the Covenant, a ritual statement of commitment to God as family and vassals.
Quote:Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (NKJV)
When you recite that, you are hitting all the high points of claiming the adoption covenant offered by God. What happened at Sinai was a standard suzerain-vassal treaty common across the Ancient Near East of that time. It included the idea of being adopted into His household as family. You can change the words, as I did in one of the recent Bible lessons, but the content is distinctly a renewal of the Covenant, a ritual statement of commitment to God as family and vassals.