In
collecting prayers for the Book of Bible Prayers,
I focused on actual prayers prayed by real people who lived in Bible times –
people who pleaded, whined, praised, asked, expressed thanks, cried real tears, complained
to God, and interceded for others – just as we do today!
According
to early chapters of Genesis, people began to call on the Lord a couple of
generations after Adam and Eve, but (maybe because they couldn’t write yet!) we
don’t know what the actual words were. (Probably, “God, help!") Those references
to prayer have generally been omitted, and so have most of the many, many blessings
that laud God but don’t talk directly with or to the Lord.
A
few blessed exceptions have been paraphrased as blessings that speak to God rather
than about Him (for example, the high priestly prayer of Aaron.) However, in
the case of Melchizedek, the king-priest’s words to Abraham remain as the first
recorded blessing, appropriately beginning the Book of Bible Prayers.
Genesis 14:19-20 – the blessing of Melchizedek
May you be blessed by God most High,
maker of heaven and earth.
May you be blessed by God most High,
Who has delivered you from the hands
of those who wish you harm.
Prayerfully
paraphrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019, for the Book of Bible Prayers – a single volume for you to pray with “prayer partners”
among God’s people, regardless of the hour, day, or year! If the book blesses you, please say so in an Amazon review. If not, please write me personally and tell me! Either way, thank you. God bless.
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