Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 184-188)

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our weekly Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), we studied and discussed questions 184-188. Here is a brief review.

WLC 184  For what things are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, the welfare of the church, our own or others good; but not for any thing that is unlawful.

Those things for which we ought to pray include all things that tend to the glory of God (Matthew 6:9), the welfare of the church (Psalm 51:18; 122:6), our own good (Matthew 7:11), and the good of others (Psalm 126:4). One could make that case that that which tends to the glory of God includes these latter items (the welfare of the church and our own and other’s good). Those things for which we ought not to pray include anything that is unlawful (1 John 5:14).

WLC 185  How are we to pray?
A. We are to pray with an awful apprehension of the majesty of God, and deep sense of our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins; with penitent, thankful, and enlarged hearts; with understanding, faith, sincerity, fervency, love, and perseverance, waiting upon him, with humble submission to his will.

Our attitude or disposition in prayer ought to be characterized by a reverent recognition of God’s majesty & our own unworthiness, necessities, and sins (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Luke 18:9-14), repentant and thankful hearts (Philippians 4:6; 1 Samuel 1:15; 2:1), sincere and devoted affections (Mark 11:22-24; James 1:5-8), and a persevering confidence and patience (Isaiah 62:6-7; Luke 18:1-8).  

WLC 186  What rule hath God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?
A. The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer, but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Saviour Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer.

The WLC here teaches us that God has given us both a general and specific resource to help and direct us in our prayers. Generally, the whole word of God is given to us as a help to direct us how to pray (1 John 5:14). One of the Westminster divines who helped craft the Westminster Standards, Philip Nye, referred to this way of using Scripture to guide our prayers as studied prayer: “I plead for neither [set forms or extemporary prayers], but for studied prayers.” (quoted in the paper “The Westminster Directory of Public Worship (1645)” by Alan Clifford, WRS Journal 7/2, August 2000). Specifically, the Lord’s Prayer is the special rule to guide and direct your prayers (Matthew 6:9-13). The final questions and answers of the WLC (186-196) are an explanation and application of the usefulness of the Lord’s Prayer.

WLC 187  How is the Lord’s prayer to be used?
A. The Lord’s prayer is not only for direction, as a pattern, according to which we are to make other prayers, but may also be used as a prayer, so that it be done with understanding, faith, reverence, and other graces necessary to the right performance of the duty of prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer serves as a pattern for how we ought to pray: Jesus said, “Pray, then, in this way…” (Matthew 6:9). And, the Lord’s Prayer ought also to be used as a prayer which is recited by rote: Jesus said, “When you pray, say…” (Luke 11:2). Because of this, it is necessary that we understand the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer.

WLC 188  Of how many parts doth the Lord’s prayer consist?
A. The Lord’s prayer consists of three parts; a preface, petitions, and a conclusion.

The final questions of the WLC are an explanation of the preface, the six petitions, and the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer. I hope you will join us for our continuing study of the Westminster Larger Catechism on Sunday mornings at 9:15 am as we learn more about how God’s Word directs and helps us to pray!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch