The Lord’s Prayer by Candlelight

“How is it that each of us hears them speaking in our own language?” — from Acts 2

When Samuel was born, almost nobody had ever written Yoruba down. People knew wonderful proverbs, stories and songs, but they kept them all in their memories.

Samuel wanted his people to be able to read God’s word in their own language. So he wrote down Yoruba words and made a book to teach the language. He worked out how to spell it, together with other missionaries. And he began to translate the Bible into Yoruba.

It took a whole team more than forty years. Samuel did the biggest part. In 1884 the whole Bible came out in Yoruba at last! People could read about Jesus in the language they spoke at home.

In 1851 Samuel visited England. One evening he went to Windsor Castle to talk with Prince Albert about Africa. While they were looking at maps, a lady came quietly into the room, dressed very simply. At first Samuel did not know who she was. It was Queen Victoria!

When the lamp went out, the Queen lit the candles herself. Then someone asked Samuel to say something in Yoruba. He said a Yoruba proverb, and then he prayed the Lord’s Prayer in Yoruba. The Queen said it sounded “soft and melodious.”

On the day of Pentecost, people from many countries heard about God in their own languages. God loves every language. He wants every people to hear about Jesus in the words they understand best.

Our Father in heaven, thank you that you understand every language in the world. Thank you for the people who help others read the Bible in their own words. Amen.