Articles – Page 8 – The Lord's Prayer: A Mathematician's Creed

Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer

July 27, 2024 Dr Jito Vanualailai

The entirety of Psalm 79 astonishingly points to the Lord’s Prayer. Here’s the table for Psalm 79, including the verse enumeration, verse citations, verse texts, identifiers for each verse, and their accumulated sums:

No.	Verse	Text	Identifier	Accumulated Sum
1	Psalm 79:1	O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.	99	99
2	Psalm 79:2	They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.	100	199
3	Psalm 79:3	They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.	101	300
4	Psalm 79:4	We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.	102	402
5	Psalm 79:5	How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?	103	505
6	Psalm 79:6	Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!	104	609
7	Psalm 79:7	For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.	105	714
8	Psalm 79:8	Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.	106	820
9	Psalm 79:9	Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!	107	927
10	Psalm 79:10	Why should the nations say, ‘Where is their God?’ Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!	108	1035
11	Psalm 79:11	Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!	109	1144
12	Psalm 79:12	Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!	110	1254
13	Psalm 79:13	But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.	111	1365

There are 16 divisors of 1365, namely, {1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 15, 21, 35, 39, 65, 91, 105, 195, 273, 455, 1365}. The sum of the divisors is 2688. Hence, the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 2688/16 = 168. Since 168 is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke, the themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 are encapsulated by the Lord’s Prayer.

Discussion

The themes and moral lessons of Psalm 79 center on the relationship between the community and God during times of extreme adversity. They teach the importance of turning to God in honest lament, seeking justice from a divine perspective, acknowledging communal and ancestral sins, and understanding the broader implications of God’s actions for His global reputation. Additionally, they reinforce the value of praising God for His deliverance and faithfulness, emphasizing a stance of gratitude and recognition of God’s mercy. They connect well with several elements of the Lord’s Prayer, offering a deeper understanding of how these scriptures complement each other in the broader context of faith and reliance on God.

Acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty

Psalm 79. The Psalmist begins by acknowledging the devastation brought upon by foreign nations, yet it is clear that they turn to God as the ultimate authority and deliverer.
Lord’s Prayer. This is echoed in the opening of the Lord’s Prayer with “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” which recognizes God’s ultimate sovereignty over all things.

Seeking Deliverance and God’s Kingdom

Psalm 79. The Psalm appeals to God for deliverance from enemies and for the manifestation of His justice and mercy, showing reliance on God’s power to save.
Lord’s Prayer. Similarly, the prayer includes “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” seeking God’s righteous rule and divine intervention in the world.

Request for Forgiveness

Psalm 79. The Psalmist pleads for forgiveness for past sins, recognizing that their current plight might be a consequence of these actions. They seek reconciliation and mercy.
Lord’s Prayer. This aspect aligns with “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors,” emphasizing the need for divine forgiveness and the importance of forgiving others as a reflection of God’s forgiveness.

Protection from Evil

Psalm 79. The psalm ends with a plea for protection and deliverance from the evils that have befallen the people, hoping that God will not let their foes triumph over them permanently.
Lord’s Prayer. This is paralleled in “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” where there is a petition for guidance away from sin and protection from evil influences.

Call for Justice and Retribution

Psalm 79. The psalm specifically asks for God’s retribution against those who have wronged them, reflecting a desire for divine justice to prevail.
Lord’s Prayer. While the Lord’s Prayer does not explicitly call for retribution, the appeal for God’s kingdom and will implies a restoration of justice according to divine standards.

Conclusion with Praise and Hope

Psalm 79. Despite the lament and pleas for help, the Psalm concludes with a vow to give thanks and praise to God forever, showing trust in God’s faithfulness.
Lord’s Prayer. The prayer also concludes with a doxology in some traditions: “For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This encapsulates the praise and acknowledgment of God’s eternal sovereignty and power.

Integration

Both Psalm 79 and the Lord’s Prayer encapsulate a profound reliance on God in times of distress, a plea for divine intervention, and an acknowledgment of God’s rule. They collectively teach about the relationship between human vulnerability, divine power, and the role of faith in navigating life’s challenges. Through these prayers, believers are reminded of the importance of turning to God, seeking His justice, and trusting in His eternal goodness and mercy.

“I AM WHO I AM” is Jesus Christ: A Mathematical Argument

June 27, 2024June 27, 2024 Dr Jito Vanualailai

In Exodus 3:14, we read:

¹⁴And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

Theorem: “I AM WHO I AM” in Exodus 3:14 is Jesus Christ.

Proof: In Hebrew, the phrase “I AM WHO I AM” is אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה from the שמות 3:14 Hebrew OT: Westminster Leningrad Codex:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃

Using the standard values of the Hebrew letters, we easily get the following values:

{
{“אהיה” I AM, 21},
{“אשר” WHO, 501},
{“אהיה” I AM, 21}
}

The sum is 543, which is the 442nd composite number. The 442nd even number is 884. But there are exactly 153 prime numbers less than or equal to 884. That is, the Prime Pi function evaluated at 884 is 153.

Since 153 refers to the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus Christ taught us, we arrived at the conclusion of the theorem.

DISCUSSIONS

Outside of mathematics, we Christians can, of course, argue that the “I AM WHO I AM” statement in Exodus 3:14 refers to Jesus Christ based on several key theological and scriptural connections between the Old and New Testaments. Here are the main points supporting this argument.

The “I AM” Statement in Exodus 3:14

Divine Self-Identification
- In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses with the name “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh”), which is understood to mean that God is self-existent, eternal, and unchanging. This name is central to God’s identity and His covenant relationship with Israel.

Jesus’ Use of “I AM” in the New Testament

Jesus’ Explicit Claims
- In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the phrase “I AM” (Greek: “Ego Eimi”) multiple times in a way that echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. Notable instances include:
  - John 8:58: Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” This statement caused a strong reaction from the Jewish leaders, who understood it as a claim to divinity, leading them to attempt to stone Him for blasphemy.
  - John 8:24: Jesus states, “For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
  - John 18:5-6: When the soldiers come to arrest Jesus, He responds with “I am He,” and they fall to the ground, indicating a display of divine authority.
“I AM” Statements and Divine Attributes
- Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus uses “I AM” in conjunction with metaphors that describe His divine role and mission:
  - John 6:35: “I am the bread of life.”
  - John 8:12: “I am the light of the world.”
  - John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd.”
  - John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
  - John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
  - John 15:1: “I am the true vine.”

Theological Implications

Identification with Yahweh
- By using the “I AM” formula, Jesus identifies Himself with Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is seen as a direct claim to be the same God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush.
Divine Nature of Jesus
- The early Christian church interpreted these statements as affirmations of Jesus’ divinity. They saw Jesus not just as a prophet or teacher, but as God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity.
Fulfillment of Prophecy
- Christians believe that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of God in the flesh to save His people. The “I AM” statements reinforce this belief by directly linking Jesus to the God of Israel.

Scriptural Support

Colossians 1:15-17
- Paul describes Jesus as “the image of the invisible God,” affirming His divine nature and role in creation.
Philippians 2:6-11
- Paul speaks of Jesus, who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage,” further emphasizing Jesus’ divinity and pre-existence.
Hebrews 1:3
- The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.”

By connecting Jesus’ “I AM” statements in the New Testament with God’s revelation to Moses in the Old Testament, we Christians understand and argue that Jesus is indeed the “I AM,” the eternal, self-existent God who has come in the flesh to reveal Himself fully and provide salvation.

Importance of Our Words and Their Impact on Others

June 16, 2024June 16, 2024 Dr Jito Vanualailai

In Ephesians 4:29, we read:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Since the Book of Ephesians is the 49th book of the Bible, the identifier for the verse is 49+4+29=82. The four divisors of 82 are in the set of divisors {1, 2, 41, 82}. Hence the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 126/4 = 31.5. This means that we can link Ephesians 4:29 with the Lord’s Prayer, particularly the petition “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). Both passages emphasize the importance of our words and their impact on others.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul instructs believers to speak in a way that is beneficial and edifying to others, avoiding unwholesome talk. This aligns with the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation found in the Lord’s Prayer. By asking for forgiveness and expressing our willingness to forgive others, we acknowledge the power of our words to hurt or heal and strive to use them in a way that builds up rather than tears down.

Additionally, the Lord’s Prayer teaches us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). This includes praying for the transformation of our own hearts and the hearts of others, so that our words and actions reflect God’s love and grace.

Conclusion. Both Ephesians 4:29 and the Lord’s Prayer emphasize the importance of our words and the need to use them in a way that reflects God’s character of love, forgiveness, and grace.

The secret of the Lord is with Those who Fear Him (Psalm 25:14)

June 4, 2024June 4, 2024 Dr Jito Vanualailai

There are two verses in the Bible that offer us incredible insights into God’s character and purposes; Psalm 25:14 and Proverbs 8:13.

The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him. And He will show them His covenant. (Psalm 25:14, NKJV)

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13, NKJV)

Psalm 25:14 reveals that God shares His intimate counsel with those who revere Him, making His covenant known to them. This covenant signifies the special bond and promises that God extends to individual believers who honor Him and place their trust in His guidance. It encompasses God’s loving care, divine protection, abundant provision, and the privilege of intimate communion with those who faithfully obey His will. Proverbs 8:13 provides guidance on how to cultivate this reverent relationship with God to fully experience His covenant blessings. It emphasizes the importance of distancing ourselves from evil, rejecting pride, arrogance, and corrupt speech, as part of our commitment to honor and reverence the Lord.

In summary, both verses highlight the significance of fearing the Lord, which involves reverence, obedience, and a turning away from evil. They emphasize that those who fear the Lord are granted special privileges and insights into God’s character and purposes.

Next, we will show that mathematically Psalm 25:14 and Proverbs 8:13 are linked with the Lord’s Prayer. Indeed, the alphanumeric analysis of Psalm 25:14 gives the value 1142.

Hebrew	English	Value of Hebrew Word
ס֣וֹד sō-wḏ	The secret	70
יְ֭הוָה Yah-weh	of Yahweh	26
לִירֵאָ֑יו lî-rê-’āw;	[is] with those who fear Him	257
וּ֝בְרִית֗וֹ ū-ḇə-rî-ṯōw,	and His covenant	624
לְהוֹדִיעָֽם׃ lə-hō-w-ḏî-‘ām.	He will show them	165

The sum of all the values of the words in Psalm 25:14 is 1142.

The number 1142 is the 952nd composite number. There are 16 divisors of 952, given in the set {1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 17, 28, 34, 56, 68, 119, 136, 238, 476, 952}. The sum of the divisors is 2160; hence the arithmetic mean of the divisors is 2160/16 = 135.

Conclusion. Here we borrow an except from Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional My Utmost for His Highest:

The Secret of the Lord
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him… PSALM 25:14
What is the sign of a friend? Is it that he tells you his secret sorrows? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secret sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets, leaving Him no time to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God. But then we find that God wants to get us into an intimate relationship with Himself— to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so intimately united to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer— “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10 )— that we catch the secrets of God? What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us— He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.

The Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’ Light and Truth

April 13, 2024 Dr Jito Vanualailai

In Psalm 43:3, we read (NKJV)

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your tabernacle.

Bible Hub gives us the following text analysis:

Strong’s	Hebrew	English	Morphology
7971 [e]	שְׁלַח־ šə-laḥ-	Oh send out	V-Qal-Imp-ms
216 [e]	אוֹרְךָ֣ ’ō-wr-ḵā	Your light	N-csc \| 2ms
571 [e]	וַ֭אֲמִתְּךָ wa-’ă-mit-tə-ḵā	and Your truth	Conj-w \| N-fsc \| 2ms
1992 [e]	הֵ֣מָּה hêm-māh	them	Pro-3mp
5148 [e]	יַנְח֑וּנִי yan-ḥū-nî;	let lead me	V-Hifil-Imperf-3mp \| 1cs
935 [e]	יְבִיא֥וּנִי yə-ḇî-’ū-nî	let them bring me	V-Hifil-Imperf-3mp \| 1cs
413 [e]	אֶל־ ’el-	to	Prep
2022 [e]	הַֽר־ har-	hill	N-msc
6944 [e]	קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ qāḏ-šə-ḵā	Your holy	N-msc \| 2ms
413 [e]	וְאֶל־ wə-’el-	and to	Conj-w \| Prep
4908 [e]	מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ miš-kə-nō-w-ṯe-ḵā.	Your tabernacle	N-mpc \| 2ms

The alphanumeric analysis of of “Your Light” (שְׁלַח־) and “and Your Truth” (וַ֭אֲמִתְּךָ) gives the values 227 and 467, respectively. The sum is therefore 694, which is the 568th composite number. The divisors of 568 are in the set {1, 2, 4, 8, 71, 142, 284, 568}. Therefore, the sum of the divisors is 1080=135×8, and the arithmentic mean is 135.

Conclusion: The Lord’s Prayer is Jesus’s Light and Truth. In other words, when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus Christ shows us His Light and Truth to lead us to Him.

Discussions

The Lord’s Prayer and the concept of God’s light and truth in Psalm 43:3 share a deep connection in several ways:

Guidance and Illumination: In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10, NIV). This prayer expresses a desire for God’s kingdom to be established and His will to be followed, which aligns with the idea of seeking God’s guidance and illumination, represented by His light and truth in Psalm 43:3. Both the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 43:3 emphasize the importance of seeking God’s direction and wisdom in life’s journey.
Dependency on God’s Word: In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray for their daily bread (Matthew 6:11), symbolizing their dependency on God for their physical sustenance. Similarly, Psalm 43:3 portrays the psalmist’s dependency on God’s truth, indicating reliance on His Word for spiritual sustenance and guidance. Both passages highlight the importance of trusting in God’s provision and seeking nourishment from His Word.
Faithfulness and Trustworthiness of God: The Lord’s Prayer includes a petition for forgiveness, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12), emphasizing the faithfulness and trustworthiness of God to forgive those who repent and seek His mercy. This aligns with the concept of God’s truth in Psalm 43:3, which represents His reliability and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Both passages underscore the assurance of God’s steadfast love and forgiveness for those who turn to Him in repentance and faith.
Seeking God’s Presence: The closing of the Lord’s Prayer includes the petition, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13), expressing a desire for God’s presence and protection in the face of temptation and evil. Similarly, Psalm 43:3 speaks of seeking God’s light and truth as sources of guidance and assurance, signifying a desire for His presence to illuminate the path ahead and provide spiritual clarity and direction.

In summary, the Lord’s Prayer and the concept of God’s light and truth in Psalm 43:3 are interconnected in their emphasis on seeking God’s guidance, dependency on His Word, trust in His faithfulness, and desire for His presence in the believer’s life. They both reflect the foundational aspects of the believer’s relationship with God and underscore the importance of prayer, faith, and reliance on God’s promises.