Verse By Verse Devotional On 2 Corinthians By Pastor Jack #3

Addressing God

1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."

Because he just experienced an incredibly intense episode of suffering (see 1:8-9), Paul begins his letter by praising God for His mercy and comfort in the face of suffering. But notice the way he addresses God in doing so. He calls Him " the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."

Here is a clear pattern in the Bible. The Spirit-inspired prayers of the Bible are not thrown together carelessly. God has given them to us as a guide to teach us how to pray. And one of the characteristics of Bible prayers is that they address God in a way that is fitting for the content of the prayer.

When King Sennacherib and the Assyrians had Jerusalem by the throat King Hezekiah addressed God in the temple with these words:

"O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth." (Isaiah 37:14)

When God delivered David from the hand of Saul who was hunting him, he praised Him with these words:

"I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Ps.18:1-2)

We should be thoughtful about the way we address God. He is many things to us; in a sense He wears many hats. We should appeal to Him according to the prayer that we bring. If we come to ask for forgiveness, for instance, we should address Him as the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who sent His Son to die in order that our sins might be washed away. If we come to thank Him for His provision we should address Him as the One who gives life and health to all and who feeds all His creatures according to His mercy. If we come to seek His blessing we should address Him as the One who holds all things in His hands, who makes one rise up and another crash down, whose favor is blessing and whose wrath is a curse. If we come to ask for deliverance we should address Him as our ever present Help in times of trouble, who sets the prisoner free and breaks the chains of bondage. If we come to ask for protection we should address Him as the mighty fortress who shields His people from danger and harm. Part of the key to the prayer of faith is remembering who it is that we are addressing. When you want to praise Him for His help in a time of suffering, call Him " the Father of mercies and God of all comfort."

Prayer is a great honor, one that we don’t deserve. Let us not take it lightly. Let us come before our God thoughtfully and intently. Great is the Lord, and therefore GREATLY TO BE PRAISED!

(Note: A good book to study on learning how to pray from the prayers of Scripture is "Pray With Your Eyes Open" by Richard L. Pratt [Presbyterian & Reformed Publ.].)

You are everything to me, O Lord, Fount of every blessing. You pardon all my iniquities, You heal all my diseases; You redeem my life from the pit. You crown me with lovingkindness and compassion. You satisfy my years with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle. You perform righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed. You are well worthy of the highest praise. You are praised in heaven with tongues of angels; t rain this feeble tongue of mine, O Lord, with true adoration to lisp to Your praise.