Lord’s Day 46
Q121. Why the words in heaven?
These words teach us not to think of God's heavenly majesty as something earthly, and to expect everything for body and soul from his almighty power.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Jeremiah 23:23–24
“I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.”
Acts 17:24–25
“God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;”
Matthew 6:25–34
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Romans 8:31–32
“What shall we then say to these things? If God for us, who against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Commentary — Zacharias Ursinus (1616)
The second part of the preface of the Lord's prayer is contained in the words, "Who art in heaven"; that is, heavenly. The term "heaven", as here used, signifies the abode or habitation of God, of the holy angels, and blessed men, concerning which God says in the prophecy of Isaiah, "Heaven is my throne"; and of which Christ says, "In my father's house are many mansions." (Is. 66:1. John 14:2.) God is indeed everywhere by his immensity; but he is said to exist and to dwell in heaven, because he is there more glorious than in the world, and there manifests himself immediately. Christ now commands us to address God as "our Father who art in heaven":
1. That he might show what a contrast and difference there is between earthly parents and his Father; or that he might separate him from earthly parents, and that we might regard him as such a Father: (1.) Who is not earthly, but heavenly, dwelling gloriously in heaven. (2.) Who rules everywhere with heavenly glory and majesty, presides over all things, and who governs by his providence the whole world which he himself created. (3.) Who is free from all manner of corruption and change. (4.) Who even there, that is in heaven, manifests himself gloriously to angels, and declares what a Father he is, how good, how great and rich.
2. That he might excite in us a confidence that God hears us; because if he is our Father, and is possessed of infinite goodness, which he especially displays in heaven, then he will also give us all things necessary for our salvation; and if this our Father be also Lord in heaven, and possessed of infinite power, so that he can help us in our need, then he can also easily grant unto us what we ask at his hands.