We Call Upon "Our Father" (A Sample Prayer for the Lord's Followers, 2)

We call upon our Father in heaven. Addressing God this way was a new thing in the ears of Jesus' Jewish hearers. Though there are several Old Testament texts where "father" is mentioned in relation to God, they were only analogies NOT direct addresses.  A typical Jewish prayer that time would be filled with much acknowledgment of God's great character and attributes like his omnipotence, lordship, glory, etc., but calling upon God as Father was uncharacteristic to a Jewish faithful. It might have even sounded familiar and presumptuous to Jesus' opponents. But it surely sounded personal and gracious to his followers  (see D.A. Carson, EBC 1st edition)

Believers are children of God by adoption (John 1:12). We should never think of God as someone inaccessible. He delights in hearing us because we have this special relationship with him. Being a good Father, he knows how to give good gifts to his children (Matthew 7:11). For these reasons, we too should find delight in having an intimate relationship with our Father in heaven.

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