But deliver us from evil.
What is meant by this Petition?
We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our heavenly Father would deliver us from ail manner of evil, whether it affect the body or the soul, property or character, and at last, when the hour of death shall arrive, grant us a happy end, and graciously take us from this world of sorrow to Himself in heaven.
As in the sixth Petition we pray to be preserved from sinning, so in this seventh Petition we pray to be delivered from all the evil which has come upon our race as a consequence of sin.[10] But this petition comes last, because we should be more anxious to be delivered from the sin itself, than from the evil results which follow upon it.
[Footnote 10: There is a very close connection between the last two petitions, marked by the word "But." "Temptation will not cease until deliverance from evil [and from the evil one] has come; and again, when deliverance from evil has come, temptation will cease to assail us."—Luekrs.]
WE PRAY IN PETITION AS IN A SUMMARY. All the petitions which precede it are included in this last one.
THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD DELIVER US FROM ALL MANNER OF EVIL:—
WHETHER IT AFFECT THE BODY,—sickness, pain, hunger, thirst, destitution,
OR THE SOUL,—sin, impenitence, unbelief, sorrow, anxiety, care, despondency, insanity, and the like,
PROPERTY,—poverty, want, famine, fire, flood, wars, riots, etc.,
OR CHARACTER,—disgrace, slander, and the like.
How we pray for this Deliverance. God wills that we should sometimes suffer affliction, in order that our repentance and faith may be increased. [Isa. 48:10+, Rev. 3:19+, II Cor. 4:17, 18] Consequently, our prayer for deliverance from evil in this world is a prayer: 1. That, whenever it is possible according to His will, God would ward off affliction from us. 2. That He would give us grace to bear patiently those afflictions which He sends, [II Cor. 12:9+, Rom 8:28] and would make them a blessing in disguise for us. 3. That in His own time He would remove from us whatever distresses us. [I Sam. 2:6, 7]
We should not grow discouraged or despondent under affliction, but trust in God's mercy and bear our cross cheerfully. [Matt. 10:38] And we should see to it that we do not, by our own sin and folly, bring upon ourselves evils which might have been avoided.
In this world we shall have to endure some evils as long as we live. [John 16:33] But if we are faithful, God will not only overrule them all for our good, [Gen. 50:20] but will finally, at death, deliver us from all evil. [II Tim. 4:18]
QUESTIONS.—1. What do we pray for in this petition? 2. What connection exists between the sixth and seventh petitions? 3. Why is this petition called a summary? 4. From what kind of evils do we suffer in this world? 5. How do we pray for deliverance from evil in this world? 6. When shall we be completely delivered from all evil? 7. What is to be said about a happy end? 8. Why shall we suffer from no evil in heaven?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.—Isa. 48:10. Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver: I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Rev. 3:19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
II Cor. 12:9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Rom. 8:18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be repealed in us.
Rev. 14:13. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Rev. 21:4. These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them, white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
READING.—The Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:19-31.
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