Structure of 'Amidah

(1) (Devarim 33:2) "And he (Moses) said: Adonai came from Sinai, and He shone forth from Seir to them": Scripture (hereby) relates that Moses did not open with the needs of Israel until he opened with the praise of God. To what may this be compared? To an advocate's standing upon the podium, having been hired by a man to speak in his behalf, and not opening with the needs of that man until opening with the king's praise first — "How exalted is our king! How exalted is our master! The sun has shone upon us! The moon has shone upon us!", all praising with him — after which he opens with the needs of that man, after which he concludes with the praise of the king. Moses, our teacher, likewise, did not open with the needs of Israel until he had opened with praise of God...

[Section 2 is similar to 1, but referring to King David rather than Moses.]

(3) And, likewise, the 'Amidah, instituted by the early sages so that Israel could pray, they did not open with the needs of Israel until they had opened with the praise of God, (Nechemiah 9:32) "the great, mighty, awesome G-d," "releasing the bound," "You are holy and awesome is Your name," followed by "Heal us," and concluded with (I Chronicles 29:13) "We thank You."

(32) “And now, our God, great, mighty, and awesome God, who stays faithful to His covenant, do not treat lightly all the suffering that has overtaken us—our kings, our officers, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all Your people—from the time of the Assyrian kings to this day. (33) Surely You are in the right with respect to all that has come upon us, for You have acted faithfully, and we have been wicked. (34) Our kings, officers, priests, and fathers did not follow Your Teaching, and did not listen to Your commandments or to the warnings that You gave them. (35) When they had their own kings and enjoyed the good that You lavished upon them, and the broad and rich land that You put at their disposal, they would not serve You, and did not turn from their wicked deeds. (36) Today we are slaves, and the land that You gave our fathers to enjoy its fruit and bounty—here we are slaves on it! (37) On account of our sins it yields its abundant crops to kings whom You have set over us. They rule over our bodies and our beasts as they please, and we are in great distress.