"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:2-5 emphasis mineSeptember is a very important month for Jews and Muslims. For Jews, September contains two of their most high, holy days: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. In the original language, Rosh Hashanah means "new year" and Yom Kippur means "day of atonement." What do these days entail for Jews? This is a time for serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent before Yom Kippur. The ten days starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are commonly known as the Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim) or the Days of Repentance.(1)
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:16
These "Days of Awe" are filled with wonder and worship, days of reflection, fasting and prayer, days of solemnity and solace. These are days meant to set the tone for the rest of the year even as they remind Jews to reflect on what has gone before. Among the customs of this time, it is common to seek reconciliation with people you may have wronged during the course of the year...Muslims similarly find September a month set apart, as it marks the month-long fast of Ramadan. Ramadan calls Muslims to concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is meant to be a time of worship and contemplation, reflection and devotion.(2) ...Examining the practices of our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, we are reminded that every day should be a day of awe and devotion for followers of Jesus. Indeed, Jesus gave strong instruction to his listeners during the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew's gospel. Jesus expected that his followers would engage in on-going acts of devotion like fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. ...The issue is not if we will do these devotional acts, but when we do them...While we may have very different reasons, beliefs, and expectations than our Jewish and Muslim neighbors, there is something to learn from their special seasons of devotion to enrich and even challenge our own Christian practice. ... And not just September, but every day and month of the year? Do not miss the opportunity for your own "days of awe" choosing instead to settle for ordinary time.
Comments: I have been told that when Daniel was caught praying and then thrown into the lions den, it is appropriately translated 'the prayer'. It is said that 'the prayer' of Daniel is a set prayer that was instituted around the time of Ezra after the exile to Babylon.
The • Shema: Deut. 6:4-9, 11:13-21, Numbers 15:37-41
• Amidah: (see below)(also called Shemoneh Esrei) This is known as the 18
benedictions or the standing prayers (created by Ezra)
• The Lord's Prayer
You can look up the Lord's Prayer and the versus above easily. Below I have added the Amidah. If you would like more info on ancient practices, see the book Finding our Way again by Brian McLaren
I would love to hear your comments on the Amidah
Bless you in Christ,
Chad
Amidah
(Morning, Afternoon, Evening)
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
Patriarchs
Blessed are You, LORD our God and the God of our fathers, God of Abraham, God of
Isaac and God of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome God, God supreme, Who
bestows loving-kindness and owns everything, Who remembers the gracious deeds of
our forefathers and Who brings a Redeemer with love to their childrenʼs children for
His Nameʼs sake. King, Redeemer, Savior and Shield! Blessed are You O LORD,
Shield of Abraham.
Godʼs Power
Your might is eternal, O Lord, Who revives the dead, powerful in saving, Who sustains
the living with loving-kindness, Who revives the dead with great mercy, Who supports
the falling, heals the sick, frees the captive, and keeps faith with those asleep in the
dust. Who is like You, Almighty, and who resembles You, O King? Who can bring
death and give life and can make salvation blossom forth! And faithful are You to
revive the dead. Blessed are You, LORD, Who revives the dead.
Holiness Of Godʼs Name
You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy ones will praise You every day, Selah.
Blessed are You O LORD, the holy God.
Understanding / Wisdom
You bestow knowledge to man and teach understanding to mortals. Bestow upon us
knowledge, understanding and discernment from You. Blessed are You O LORD, Who
bestows knowledge.
Repentance
Return us O LORD, to Your Torah, and bring us near, our King, to Your service, and
bring us back in complete repentance before You. Blessed are You LORD, who
desires repentance.
Forgiveness
Forgive us our Father, for we have sinned. Pardon us our King, for we have
transgressed, for You pardon and forgive. Blessed are You O LORD, Who is gracious
and abundantly forgives.
Redemption
See our affliction, and fight our battle, and redeem us quickly for Your Nameʼs sake, for
You are a strong Redeemer. Blessed are You O LORD, Redeemer of Israel.
Healing
Heal us, O LORD, and we will be healed. Save us, and we will be saved, for You are
our praise. Cause complete healing to arise for all our ailments. For You are God,
King, Healer, faithful and compassionate. Blessed are You O LORD, Healer of the sick
of His people Israel.
Year of Plenty
Bless for us, O LORD our God, this year and all the kinds of crops for goodness, and
give a blessing upon the face of the earth. Satisfy us from Your goodness, and bless
our year like the good years. Blessed are You O LORD, Who blesses the years.
Ingathering Of The Exiles
Blast the great shofar for our freedom, and raise a banner to gather our exiles, and
gather us together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You O LORD, Who
gathers in the dispersed of His people Israel.
Restoration of Justice
Return our judges as at first and our counselors as in the beginning, and remove
sorrow and groan from us, and rule over us, You O LORD alone, with devotion and
compassion, and justify us in judgment. Blessed are You O LORD, King Who loves
righteousness and judgment.
The Righteous
On the righteous, on the devout, on the elders of Your people, the House of Israel and
on their remaining scholars and on the righteous and on us, may Your compassions
be incited, O LORD our God, and give a good reward to all who sincerely trust in Your
Name. Set our portion with them forever, and we will not be ashamed, for we trust in
You. Blessed are You O LORD, stronghold and security for the righteous.
Rebuilding Of Jerusalem
Return to Jerusalem, Your city, and dwell in her midst as You have spoken. May You
build it soon and in our days as an eternal building, and prepare the throne of David
within it quickly. Blessed are You O LORD, Builder of Jerusalem.
Kingship Of The House Of David
Cause the Branch of David to flourish quickly, and send us Your salvation, for we hope
for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You O LORD, Who makes the seeds of
salvation grow.
Acceptance of Prayer
Hear our voice, O LORD our God, take pity and show compassion to us, and receive
our prayer with compassion and favor, for You are a God Who hears prayers and
supplications. Our King, do not turn us away with nothing, for You compassionately
hear the prayer of Your people Israel. Blessed are You O LORD, Who hears prayer.
Temple Service
Be favorable, O LORD our God, toward Israel Your people, turn to their prayer and
restore the service to the Holy of Holies of Your House. And the fire offerings of Israel
and their prayers may You speedily accept with love and favor, and may the service of
Your people Israel be continually favorable to You. May our eyes behold Your return to
Zion in compassion. Blessed are You, O LORD, Who restores His Dwelling Presence
to Zion.
Thanksgiving
We gratefully thank You, for it is You Who are the LORD, our God and the God of our
forefathers forever. Our Rock, the Rock of our lives, Shield of our Salvation are You
from generation to generation. We shall thank You and relate Your praise: for our lives,
which are committed to Your power and for our souls that are entrusted to You; for
Your miracles that are with us every day; and for Your wonders and favors in every
seasonСevening, morning, and afternoon. O Good One, Your compassions were
never exhausted. O Compassionate One, Your kindnesses never ended. We have
always put our hope in You. For all these, may Your Name be blessed, exalted and
extolled, our King, continually forever and ever. Everything alive will gratefully
acknowledge YouСSelah! And may they praise Your great Name sincerely, O God of
our salvation and helpСSelah! Blessed are You, O LORD; Your Name is “The Good
One,” and to You, it is fitting to give thanks.
Peace
Grant peace, goodness and blessing; grace, devotion and compassion to us and to all
Your people Israel. Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your
countenance. For in the light of Your countenance You give us, O LORD, the Torah of
life and the love of devotion, righteousness and blessing, compassion, life and peace.
And it is good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel at every moment and every
hour with Your peace. Blessed are You, O LORD, Who blesses His people Israel with
peace.
May He Who makes peace in His heights make peace on all of us and upon all Israel;
now let us respond: Amen.
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