THE   AMIDAH

or

"STANDING   PRAYER"

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Exodus 29:38-43 NKJV "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. (39) One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight. (40) With the one lamb shall be one-tenth of an ephah of flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of pressed oil, and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering. (41) And the other lamb you shall offer at twilight; and you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering, as in the morning, for a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the LORD. (42) This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. (43) And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory.

The Amidah (Standing) prayer is recited three times daily by the Hebrew people and has been for over two thousand years. It was written down around the 12th century AD and now can be found in any Jewish Siddur (Prayer Book). It is also known as the Eighteen Blessings of The Name (YHVH). Y'shua more than likely prayed this prayer on a daily basis, anytime he was in Jerusalem as well as when he was not. 

Peter and John we know continued doing this even after the ascension of Yehshua into heaven. (Acts 3). The prayer is to be spoken out-loud at 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. These two times are called the “Times of the Morning and Evening offerings”. They were instituted by God Himself, while the Israelites were in the wilderness. They continued up until the time that the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD by Rome. They also make up the beginning hours that Yehshua was nailed to the cross and the final hour when he "gave up the Ghost" and died.

The prayer is also recited silently at 12:00 noon. This third time I am almost certain was instituted not by God, but by Rabbinical Judaism as a part of what is known as the Oral Law. The first and the last offerings, are associated with corporate Israel. The noon offer is taught to be a time for personal or individual needs to be met. Remember from the gospels that at High noon, it grew very dark at twelve noon on the day that Yehshua died. Which meant that, if the teaching is true about God meeting with his people at the noon hour, the people's personal prayers to God, may have been blocked as evil was in its most strongest manifestation.

King David wrote the following in reference to one of these appointed times, he referenced to God. The time of the Evening Sacrifice.

Psalms 141:1-2 NASB A Psalm of David. O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! (2) May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering (9th hour: around 3:00 PM depending on he season of the year).

Two other examples from the Scriptures, show it clearly. The first one I would submit: found in Acts chapter three it says this:

Acts 3:1 NASB Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, (the time of the evening prayer)  the hour of prayer.

The above exert from the Book of Acts, is proof, that this commandment found in the Torah (Exodus 29:38-39) , was not done away with through "grace." It was still going on after Yehshua had entered into the heavenlies.

The second one is found when Elijah went to the house of Israel, to challenge the false prophets of Queen Jezebel:

I Kings 18:36-38 NKJV And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. (37) Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." (38) Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

Well, one more making more than two witnesses: Note: Here in these verses one can see the reference to the two-house teaching, because Ezra was connected with the return of the house of Judah from seventy years captivity in Babylon. the reference to Israel is in connection with the Northern tribes taken by Assyria, 135 years earlier.

Ezra 9:1-5 NKJV When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, "The people of Israel (the house of Israel) and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. (2) For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass." (3) So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. (4) Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. (5) At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God.

Many Messianics have come to the conclusion, that Yehshua was making reference to this prayer (the Amidah Prayer) when he taught his disciples how to pray. The Amidah Prayer parallels the thoughts of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Yehshua may have also had this prayer in mind when he was teaching on having the faith of God that Mark introduces in chapter 11.. Yehshua had cursed a fig tree as he came from Bethany to go up to Jerusalem and we have recorded as a result of that cursing, the following:

(Mark 11:21-26 NASB)   And being reminded, Peter said to Him, "Rabbi, behold, the fig tree which You cursed has withered." And  Jesus answered^ saying to them, "Have faith in God. "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you." And whenever you stand praying (was Y'shua making a reference to the Standing or Amidah Prayer here? many Messianics think so!), forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses." 

Two more possible references to this special appointed time each and every day for just God's people:

Romans 5:1-6 NKJV Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

In the days of Y'shua, these blessings or prayers were said, three times a day. These were the desires of the people of God and still are today. Because we have been redeemed by the blood of Yehshua, the answers to these requests is now yes and Amen!

The following Amidah prayer has been laid out in accordance with what is called the Lord's prayer. The Lord knows what we have need of before we ask so the shorter version is fully acceptable.

I.  WORSHIP

"Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.

1.  Blessed are You, O Lord our God. God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God and Father of our Lord Yehshua HaMashiach and our Father also. The great, mighty and awesome God, God Supreme who extends forth loving kindness and is Ruler of all, who remembers the gracious deeds of our forefathers, who has brought a Redeemer with love to our children's children for His name's sake. King, Helper, Savoir and Protector. Blessed are You, O Lord, Protector of Abraham.

      Note: This same prayer, said by Rabbinical Jews today speaks of the phrase underlined above with a future not a past
                     tense explanation. In other words, it is still connected with a future faith promise. The Messianics however, pray it
                     as already accomplished. Sha'ul/Paul put it this way to the Galatians.

Galatians 3:22-24 NASB But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (23) But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. (24) Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

2.  Your might is eternal O Lord, who revives the dead, is powerful in saving, who makes the wind to blow and the rain to fall, 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 the dead; who is like You, Almighty, and who resembles You, O King who can bring death and give life.  

3.  You are holy, and Your name is holy, and those who are holy shall praise you every day. Blessed are You, O Lord, the holy God.

4.  You grant knowledge to man, and teach under-standing to humans; from Your own self, favor us with knowledge, understanding, and sense. Blessed are You, Lord, giver of knowledge.
 

II.  RESTORATION

 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.

11. Restore our judges as at first, and our counselors as in the beginning, removing  from us sorrow and sighing; rule over us, You alone, O Lord, with kindness and mercy, and vindicate us in the judgment. Blessed are You, O Lord, King, who loves righteousness and judgment.

13. To Jerusalem Your city, return with compassion, and dwell within it as You promised; rebuild it soon in our day, an everlasting structure; and speedily establish in its midst the throne of David. Blessed are You, O Lord, builder of Jerusalem.

14. The offspring of Your servant David, quickly cause to flourish, and lift up his power by Your deliverance; for Your deliverance do we constantly hope. Blessed are You, O Lord, who makes the glory of deliverance to flourish.

15. Hear our voice, O Lord our God, show compassion and mercy to us, accept our prayers with mercy and favor, for You are a God who hears prayers and supplications.

16. Favorably receive, O Lord our God, Your people Israel and their prayer, restore the worship to Your temple in Zion, receive with love and favor the offerings of Israel and their prayer, and may the worship of Your people Israel always be favorably received by You, may our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy. Blessed are You, Lord, who restores His Divine Presence to Zion.
 

III.  REQUESTS 

 'Give us this day our daily bread.  

7.   Look upon us in our suffering, and fight our struggles, redeem us speedily, for Your name's sake, for You are a mighty Redeemer. Blessed are You, O Lord, Redeemer of Israel.

8.   Heal us, O Lord, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our glory. Send complete healing for our every illness, for You, Divine King, are the faithful, merciful Physician. Blessed are You, Lord, who heals the sick of His people Israel.

9.   Bless this year for us, O Lord our God, and all its varied produce that it be for good; provide (dew and rain as a) blessing on the face of the earth, satisfy us with Your goodness, and bless this year like the good years. Blessed are You, Lord, who blessed the years.

10. Sound the great shofar (to proclaim) our freedom, lift up a banner for the ingathering of our exiles, and bring us together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed are You, O Lord, who gathers together the dispersed of His people Israel.

IV.   REPENTANCE

 'And forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven those
that have trespassed against us.

5.   Return us, our Father, to Your Torah, and draw us closer, our King, to Your worship, and bring us back before You in complete repentance. Blessed are You O Lord, who desires repentance.

6.   Forgive us, our Father, for we have sinned, pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed, for You are a pardoner and a forgiver. Blessed are You, O Lord, gracious One who forgives abundantly.

V.  PROTECTION FOR THE RIGHTEOUS 

And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. 

12.  On the righteous and the saintly, on the elders of Your people, the house of  Israel, and on their surviving scholars, on the true proselyte and on ourselves,  let Your compassion flow, O Lord our God. Grant a good reward to all who sincerely trust in Your name; place our lot with them forever and let us not  be ashamed, for in You do we trust. Blessed are You, Lord, the support and  security of the righteous.

VI.  THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

 For Thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever.  Amen'

17. We give thanks unto You who are the Lord our God and God of our fathers for all eternity. You are the strength of our lives, the shield of our deliverance. In every generation, we shall thank You and declare Your praise for our lives that are entrusted in Your hand, and for our souls that are in Your care, and for Your miracles that are daily with us, and for Your wondrous deeds and goodness that occur at all times, evening, morning, and noon. You are the Benevolent One, for Your mercies endure for ever. The Compassionate One, for Your deeds of kindness do not stop, always have we placed our hope in You. For all this, O our King, may Your name be always blessed and exalted forever and ever. All the living will forever thank You and praise Your name in truth, O God, our eternal salvation and help. Blessed are You, O Lord, whose name is goodness; it is pleasing to give thanks to You.

18. Establish peace, well-being, blessing, grace, loving kindness, and mercy upon us and upon all Israel, Your people. For by the light of Your presence have you given us, O Lord our God, a Torah of life, love of kindness, justice, blessing, compassion, life, and peace, and it is good in Your sight to bless Your people Israel at all times and in every hour with Your peace. Blessed are You, L-rd, who blessed His people Israel with peace.

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