An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism Part 30

WE PRAY IN THIS PEt.i.tION THAT G.o.d WOULD SO GUARD AND PRESERVE US, THAT

THE DEVIL, who puts evil thoughts into our hearts, [Gen. 3:4, 5, II Cor.

11:3]

THE WORLD (wicked persons in the world), [Prov. 1:10+, John 15:18] which tempts us by example, allurements, and threats,

AND OUR OWN FLESH (our natural heart), [Rom. 8:7+] which inclines and urges us to sin,

MAY NOT DECEIVE US, by promising us happiness in the paths of sin, while in reality such paths lead only to misery and destruction. [Matt. 7:13, 14+]

NOR LEAD US INTO ERROR AND UNBELIEF, and thus into ruin, since our salvation depends on believing the truth as it is in Jesus; nor into

DESPAIR; because we are lost if we despair of G.o.d's mercy, instead of believing His precious promises in Christ;

AND OTHER GREAT AND SHAMEFUL SINS, in addition to the error, unbelief, and despair mentioned above.

2. _That we may Overcome these Enemies and be saved_,

AND THAT, THOUGH WE MAY BE THUS TEMPTED, WE MAY NEVERTHELESS FINALLY PREVAIL, AND GAIN THE VICTORY. The struggle against these enemies is a warfare (the good fight of faith) [I Tim. 6:12+] which lasts to the end of our days. We dare never think that we are safe without further watchfulness, effort, and prayer. [I Cor. 10:12+] If we sometimes fall, we must not despair nor give up, but repent and determine to do better.

If we earnestly pray for G.o.d's help, arm ourselves with His Word, and beware of false security, we shall be enabled to overcome these foes more and more each day. [I Cor. 10:13] And when, at last, our end approaches and the warfare is over, G.o.d will give us the victory, and bestow upon us for Jesus' sake the crown of life. [Jas. 4:7, II Tim.

4:7, 8]

QUESTIONS.--1. Why do we pray this pet.i.tion? 2. What do we mean by it?

3. If we are in earnest in praying it, what will we not do? 4. In what sense does G.o.d tempt? 5. Who tempts us to sin? 6. What do we pray against these enemies? 7. How does the devil tempt us? the world? our own flesh? 8. How do they try to deceive us? 9. Into what do they try to mislead us? 10. How long must we fight against these enemies? 11. If we fall, what should we do? 12. How may we overcome these foes? 13. When only shall we be completely victorious over them?

SCRIPTURE VERSES.--Prov. 1:10. My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Rom. 8:7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against G.o.d: for it is not subject to the law of G.o.d, neither indeed can be.

Matt. 7:13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I Tim. 6:12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

I Cor. 10:12. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

READING.--Peter denying the Lord, Luke 22:54-62; or, The Temptation of Jesus, Matt. 4:1-11.

CHAPTER x.x.xI.

THE SEVENTH PEt.i.tION.

But deliver us from evil.

_What is meant by this Pet.i.tion?_

We pray in this pet.i.tion, 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 Pet.i.tion we pray to be preserved from sinning, so in this seventh Pet.i.tion we pray to be delivered from all the evil which has come upon our race as a consequence of sin.[10] But this pet.i.tion 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 pet.i.tions, 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 a.s.sail us."--Luekrs.]

WE PRAY IN PEt.i.tION AS IN A SUMMARY. All the pet.i.tions which precede it are included in this last one.

THAT OUR HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD DELIVER US FROM ALL MANNER OF EVIL:--

I. IN THIS WORLD.

WHETHER IT AFFECT THE BODY,--sickness, pain, hunger, thirst, dest.i.tution,

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_. G.o.d 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, G.o.d 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 G.o.d'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.

II. IN THE NEXT WORLD.

In this world we shall have to endure some evils as long as we live.

[John 16:33] But if we are faithful, G.o.d 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]

AND AT LAST, WHEN THE HOUR OF DEATH SHALL ARRIVE, GRANT US A HAPPY END.

An unhappy death is the worst of all evils. But a happy death will more than compensate for all the evils endured in this world. [Rom. 8:18+] A happy death will be ours, if we persevere in the faith and die in Christ. [Rev. 14:13+] For then G.o.d will pardon all our sins for Jesus'

sake,

AND GRACIOUSLY TAKE US FROM THIS WORLD OF SORROW TO HIMSELF IN HEAVEN.

[Rev. 7:14-15] There all evils shall cease for ever. [Rev. 21:4+] For sin, and all that follows upon sin, shall be no more. In this entrance into heaven at last, all our highest hopes and prayers shall find their complete and eternal fulfilment.

QUESTIONS.--1. What do we pray for in this pet.i.tion? 2. What connection exists between the sixth and seventh pet.i.tions? 3. Why is this pet.i.tion 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.