Matt. 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
A simple enough phrase, correct? So simple that nothing more needs to be said of it? Wrong. This is an important point that the author wishes all of the people in the world today understood; God the Father sits on His throne in the heavens, He sees all, and He knows all. Think of all the chaos in the world today that could be remedied if people understood this simple truth; God exists, He knows what you’ve done, and He will judge mankind for their doings.
- God existed before all else.
- No reference to a dwelling place at the creation.
- God comes and goes as He pleases.
- God dwells on high.
- Understanding of ‘heaven’ changes during the time of the Greeks.
- Possessor of Heaven and earth.
- Possessor?
- God of Heaven and God of earth.
- A ladder to heaven, the Lord stood above it.
- God’s footstool.
At the creation, as it is now, God is everywhere, and God is anywhere He wants or needs to be. God comes and goes as He pleases, none stands in His way.
Genesis 1:1-9 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
At this time God is not pictured dwelling in heaven, God’s existence precedes the existence of the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
This is the first time that God is pictured as above. But it does not give any other indication of a dwelling place. God just exists. … and He is above all the creation, and above all that exists, He came down (Verse 5).
Could above be a metaphorical term? It is wonderful to consider our Father who is everywhere while being exalted far above mankind.
Gen. 3:6-10 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
God is not pictured as descending upon the earth, God was just there making a sound (voice), Adam and Eve heard the sound. God had been present the whole time as Eve and the serpent talked, and when Eve spoke with Adam. Reminds the author of the words of Jesus regarding the wind, or spirit, John 3:8 “The wind blows where ever it wants too ...”. God came and went as He desired, and since the wind is air moving, air is always present, not that God is air, or wind, just a metaphor to aid our understanding.
Psalm 113:1-9 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. 3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. 4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, 6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! 7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; 8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. 9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.
This passage shows a different aspect of God, making a powerful statement. The Lord is high above all nations, as His glory above the heavens. God has to look down (humble Himself) to see what is in the heavens and earth. So how much greater, or higher, is God than mankind and the creation?
The metaphorical meaning is again illustrated, it is not just that God lives on the top floor of the highest building that ever existed. The real image is of God being so great that the heavens cannot contain Him and the nations of peoples in their masses, do not compare to God. This adds significant meaning to God’s dealings with mankind. God is so great above the heavens and the earth, that He has to look down to see them. The heavens and the earth are as nothing when compared to God.
Why would our great God bother with us, why would He send His Son to die on the cross? It shows the Love of God.
Jn. 3:31-36 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. 33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
These verses use the expression, ‘above’ three times and heaven one time because it is referring to a place that is beyond what mankind sees. Above all, all that is seen and all that is known, which is still applicable in the modern age.
There was a different understanding of what constituted heaven, or heavens, during the time of the Greeks; the time that Jesus was born into. They believed in multiple heavens, tiered one on top of the other.
There is a space beyond the vast expanse that mankind can see during the day or night, also called heaven; it is from above this place that Jesus is pictured as coming from. While existing all around us.
Eph. 4:7-10 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
... ascended up far above all heavens ...
It seems that at the time of Jesus, the heavens consisted of three parts, first heavens is where birds fly. The second heavens is the starry expanse of the sky that goes on beyond sight. Then there is a third heavens that is an expanse beyond the second heaven.
Jesus is pictured dwelling above all heavens, that He might fill all things. How great is our Savior Jesus Christ, oh how His splendor fills all things far beyond what mankind sees or comprehends.
2 Corinthians 12:1-5 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.
The third heaven. We have a man that has been caught up to a place that is higher than the sight, or understanding, of mankind. The whole concept of the third heavens is fascinating to consider, because it allows for the things that mankind does not know or understand. As such the third heavens is another name for the spiritual, or heavenly realm. Which, by the by, possibly coexists with the earthly realm, instead of being above it.
Jn. 3:10-13 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
The ‘heavenly things’ in these verses are the things of that heaven that is not known to mankind. These verses also state that Jesus knows these heavenly things, and has seen them. Therefore, Jesus is speaking of the place that mankind cannot see and does not understand.
A few words about this section: Our Father, which art in heaven … The Father of all His people, is greater than all things, dwelling in a place which mankind cannot see and does not understand.
Gen. 14:18-24 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
First reference to the heavens being associated with God. Remember in the eleventh chapter God came down to see what mankind was up to, … also remember that God is so great that He has to look down (humble Himself) to see the heavens and the earth.
Wonderful, wonderful. Look at this description of God. The most high God, is the creator (from Septuagint) of the heavens and the earth. The Hebrew word also supports this reading.
Possessor = 07069 qanah {kaw-naw'} Meaning: 1) to get, acquire, create, buy, possess 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to get, acquire, obtain 1a1a) of God originating, creating, redeeming His people 1a1a1) possessor 1a1b) of Eve acquiring 1a1c) of acquiring knowledge, wisdom 1a2) to buy 1b) (Niphal) to be bought 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to possess Origin: a primitive root; TWOT - 2039; v Usage: AV - Buy 46, get 15, purchased 5, buyer 3, possessor 3, possessed 2, owner 1, recover 1, redeemed 1, misc 7; 84 08802 Stem - Qal (See 08851) Mood - Participle Active (See 08814) Count - 5386
Interesting that the word is never translated as create or creator. Instead, it is primarily rendered as buy. But the Septuagint (Greek translation of Old Testament) states, creator.
God as creator in this context of the Old Testament is obviously obvious ... if you know the God that we are talking about.
Genesis 24:1-7 And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: 3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: 4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 5 And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest? 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again. 7 The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
The Lord God of heaven, and God of earth. All things belong to God.
This is about what is right, i.e. Righteous. God the creator owns the heaven and the earth, they belong to Him and He has the lawful right to do as He pleases. But God did give administrative rights to mankind over every living thing upon the earth, the fish in the sea, the fowls in heaven, and most plants; but God still retains the final say over all (Genesis 3:27-29).
Gen. 28:10-19 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of. 16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
This passage is fun because it gives an interesting reading. The passage is understood as saying that God is in heaven. On the other hand, the plain reading says that the Lord stood above the ladder; does this mean that the Lord stands at the top of the ladder where the angels stepped on and off of the ladder, or that the Lord is above that point?
This is just one of those interesting things when reading the scriptures, and considering mankind’s efforts to express the things that they have witnessed. The Lord stood above the ladder, and the author would dare to say that His glory filled the heavens.
1 Chronicles 28:1-3 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem. 2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: 3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
This is a fascinating comparison that illustrates just how great God is, and how small mankind is. This thought is addressed in greater detail farther along.
