Amidah 18 – Thanksgiving for God’s Unfailing Mercies
As the Amidah Prayer begins, so it ends. In the beginning of the Prayer we looked at the Greatness of God. The first three Benedictions are: Avot = Ancestors; Gevurot = Powers; Kedushat Ha-shem = The Name. We will compete this prayer with Thanksgiving looking to God.
The eighteenth benediction begins (Avot) “We give thanks to You for You are the Lord our God and God of our fathers forever and ever.” In so praying we recognize we are not the first to pray this prayer, and will not be the last. There is a heritage of men and women who precede us who were prayer warriors. The author of Hebrews writes, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” (11:1-2)
The prayer continues (Gevurot) “You are the Rock of our lives, the Shield of our salvation through every generation.” We pray to God because of His greatness. His name is above every name. He is omnipotent. The Psalmist writes: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)
We praise God because He is our salvation. We thank Him for his benefits, His miracles, and His wonders. His mercies fail not.
God is (Kedushat Ha-shem) the merciful Being whose lovingkindness never ceases. To Him all praise belongs.
Paul concluded His prayer, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.+ (Ephesians 3:20-21)