Harriet: Deliver Us From Evil - Black Church (Matthew 6:9-13)

In the heart of the antebellum South, in the shadows of cotton fields stretching endlessly under a blistering sun, there were souls who uttered prayers with a rawness that pierced the veil of heaven. Picture Harriet Tubman, standing in the dim light of a cabin, surrounded by those who had gathered for clandestine meetings. The air smelled of sweat and fear, punctuated by the distant crackling of whips and the chilling cries of separation echoing in the night. Here, the Lord's Prayer took on a weight that few of us can fathom today.

When Tubman recited, “Our Father,” it was not merely a greeting; it was a proclamation that even in chains, they were beloved children of the Most High. Each petition flowed from the depths of desperation. “Thy kingdom come” was a plea for the dawn of freedom, a vision of a new world where dignity and justice reigned, not the tyranny of their captors. “Give us this day our daily bread” transformed from a simple request into a lifeline—nourishment for weary bodies and aching hearts, a reminder that survival was an act of faith.

And when they prayed, “Deliver us from evil,” it was not an abstract concept. It was a fierce cry for liberation from the concrete horrors they faced every day: the shackles of slavery, the violence that threatened to tear families apart, the darkness that clung to their existence like a heavy cloak. Each word was a battle cry, a refusal to be silenced.

In the sanctuaries of the Black Church, this prayer became a freedom song—a melody woven from suffering and hope, resilience and community. As they leaned into the words, they found solidarity and strength. In the embrace of their faith, they turned the Lord’s Prayer into a lifeline that transcended their circumstances, a testament to the enduring spirit of those who dare to believe that God’s kingdom can break through even the deepest darkness.