Azaria´s prayer
They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord. In the fire Azaria stood up and prayed aloud:
"Blesed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. you have executed proper judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. By a proper judgment you have done all this because of our sins; for we have sinned and transgressed by departing from you, and we have done every kind of evil. Your commandments we have not heeded or obvserved, nor have we done as you ordered us for our good. Therefore all you have brought upon us, all you have done to us, you have done by proper judgment. You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels; to an unjust king, the worst in all the world. Now we cannot open our mouths; we, your servants, who revere you, have become a shame and a reproach. For your name´s sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy form us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. we have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation,or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; as though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord: let all those be routed who inflict evils on your servants; let them be shamed and powerless, and their strenght broken; let them know that you alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world."
Daniel 3: 24-47
Azaria was Daniel´s friend. He had a very similar background. They both grew up in one of the darkest ages of the church. Church leaders and government leaders were sinning. Inside God´s temple they would worship false God´s. They would have sexual relationship with the women who were there to serve. They killed prophets who told them to repent. And still had the nerve to say "we are the people of God"
Azaria grew up in a time of danger. There was war and hunger all around.
I can see this boy looking around. Such a mess of a world he got! Seeking for truth, he would read the scriptures and his heart would burn. Then he would look at the church leaders and deception filled his heart. Then he heard a prophet, he spoke unlike many others...there was something in his voice, something in his eyes...and out of God´s mercy, Azaria became one of the ones that would be considered "the remanent"
It was there, with hunger pains, that Azaria learned to fast and to eat properly...The city was under siege.
As he walked down the streets and saw dead bodies, or women crying over their dead children...Azarias learned that God is just.
Since routine was constantly interrupted, and they had to go into hiding...Azarias had time to pray.
The prayer you have just read, was not a prayer inspired in a moment of passion, and thus answered by God with favor.
The prayer you have just read, was made by a man that knew God well.
A man that knew God well and was not offended by Him. Not only Azaria was not offended by God, he loved and honored God for who He is.
"YOU ARE JUST...YOU HAVE EXECUTED PROPER JUDGMENTS IN ALL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON US...LET OUR SACRIFICE BE IN YOUR PRESENCE TODAY AS WE FOLLOW YOU UNRESERVEDLY.."
Azaria, the man who made this prayer, found God in the midst of a broken world and a broken church.
There is hope!
There is hope.
"Blesed are you, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is your name. For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgments proper. you have executed proper judgments in all that you have brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers. By a proper judgment you have done all this because of our sins; for we have sinned and transgressed by departing from you, and we have done every kind of evil. Your commandments we have not heeded or obvserved, nor have we done as you ordered us for our good. Therefore all you have brought upon us, all you have done to us, you have done by proper judgment. You have handed us over to our enemies, lawless and hateful rebels; to an unjust king, the worst in all the world. Now we cannot open our mouths; we, your servants, who revere you, have become a shame and a reproach. For your name´s sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. Do not take away your mercy form us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. For we are reduced, O lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. we have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation,or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; as though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame. And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in kindness and great mercy. Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord: let all those be routed who inflict evils on your servants; let them be shamed and powerless, and their strenght broken; let them know that you alone are the Lord God, glorious over the whole world."
Daniel 3: 24-47
Azaria was Daniel´s friend. He had a very similar background. They both grew up in one of the darkest ages of the church. Church leaders and government leaders were sinning. Inside God´s temple they would worship false God´s. They would have sexual relationship with the women who were there to serve. They killed prophets who told them to repent. And still had the nerve to say "we are the people of God"
Azaria grew up in a time of danger. There was war and hunger all around.
I can see this boy looking around. Such a mess of a world he got! Seeking for truth, he would read the scriptures and his heart would burn. Then he would look at the church leaders and deception filled his heart. Then he heard a prophet, he spoke unlike many others...there was something in his voice, something in his eyes...and out of God´s mercy, Azaria became one of the ones that would be considered "the remanent"
It was there, with hunger pains, that Azaria learned to fast and to eat properly...The city was under siege.
As he walked down the streets and saw dead bodies, or women crying over their dead children...Azarias learned that God is just.
Since routine was constantly interrupted, and they had to go into hiding...Azarias had time to pray.
The prayer you have just read, was not a prayer inspired in a moment of passion, and thus answered by God with favor.
The prayer you have just read, was made by a man that knew God well.
A man that knew God well and was not offended by Him. Not only Azaria was not offended by God, he loved and honored God for who He is.
"YOU ARE JUST...YOU HAVE EXECUTED PROPER JUDGMENTS IN ALL THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UPON US...LET OUR SACRIFICE BE IN YOUR PRESENCE TODAY AS WE FOLLOW YOU UNRESERVEDLY.."
Azaria, the man who made this prayer, found God in the midst of a broken world and a broken church.
There is hope!
There is hope.
posted by thisfool @ 5:08 AM
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