Why? Series - Why do we say Amen ?

Intro

Welcome to week 2 of the Why? series where we take a dive into the question you have. Last we talk about the why

we close our eyes to pray even tho we didn’t have a biblical reasoning we did look at some good theories on Why?.

This week we are looking at the question on why do we say Amen when we pray or sometimes in worship. A word that mention in the bible 77 times and even Jesus used this word so why do we say it ? Let’s dive in with a breakdown of what the word means.

Amen

The word Amen is a Hebrew word translating “ So Be It , May it so be and Truly . The word was used in agreements but it was also used as a Oath . Now we know where the came from let’s look at the different ways it was used in the bible

In Agreement

We are going to look at the word used in Agreement

Before the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Moses instructed the Levites to declare 12 specific curses or laws

Deuteronomy 27:9–26 “And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his father’s wife; because he uncovereth his father’s skirt. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beast. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that lieth with his mother in law. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbour secretly. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.”

At the end of prayer

Now we look at prayer. Last week we looked at Matthew 6 and how Jesus tells us to pray we are going back to that and study a little more in that chapter

Matthew 6:7–13 “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Jesus gave us a example of a prayer and at the end of the prayer he said Amen.

Thru out the bible they ended their prayers with Amen from David all the way to Paul. End the very last book of the bible it even says Amen Revelation 5:13–14 “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

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Conclusion

So the conclusion is we do it in agreement at the end of prayer we do it as agreement during worship but we also do it to give glory to God

2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”