The next line of our series on the Lord’s Prayer is the first one with a negative direction. “Lead us not into temptation.” There is a second part, which is really a parallel or repetition in the positive for emphasis and focus. “But deliver us from evil.” As we progress through the prayer we have focused on God, heaven, Earth and God’s provision for our bodies and spirits. Now we come to the consideration of the reality of evil in our world.
Evil is a huge mystery that we have to deal with and it is a perilous journey. We know that God is good and desires good for our lives, it is sometimes difficult to discern the good from within our circumstances. James reminds that God does not tempt us toward evil, that arises from within. What is clear is that God does test our faith and it is our responses that can put us in a difficult place. Both the 23rd and the Fifth Psalm reference God’s leading in our lives; this is our cry for help in this perilous journey, “Lord lead me/us.”
Jesus was led into the desert and was tested there, modelling for us how to avoid temptation in our times of testing and trial. But in the evil of this world things are not always clear, we cry out for help, guidance, mercy and deliverance. Our most difficult temptation come through our strengths, where we are encouraged to rely on our own selves, rather than our weaknesses, which seem easier to bring before God. Whether the correct translation is from ‘evil’ or ‘the evil one’ does not really matter, “Lord deliver us!” Keep in mind this last line of the prayer is in context of the whole, God’s person, position and provision.
While the Kingdom and the power and the glory are likely not original, it is a good summary. Everything ends up at God! The closer you are to God, the brighter the light around you to discern evil from good. May you know God’s leading and deliverance in these days. Amen.
