ON PRAYER (5)
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” — Matthew 6:9
Prayer is addressing God. The Savior’s directive would have us approach Him as “our Father,” a term of benevolence, encouraging a cordial encounter. “Which art in heaven” affords a reminder that notwithstanding the gracious ground upon which we approach Him, He is “high and lifted up;” His ways higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. The proper reaction to this on the part of God’s children is “hallowed be Thy Name.”
There should be nothing frivolous or superficial, nothing simply ritualistic when (if) we really come before Him. Awe and reverence are the proper reaction to such an encounter. God’s name is not merely a title or designation. It is interwoven with His person and His character. In John 17 Jesus concludes His great prayer to the Father by saying, “I have declared unto them Thy name…” J.B. Phillips paraphrased this, “I made Your name known to them and revealed Your character and your very Self…” W. E. Vine offers in definition, “for all that a name implies, of authority; character, rank, majesty, power, excellence…of everything that the name covers.” His name does not merely embody His person, it defines Him.
This helps us understand something of the significance of the commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain [Ex. 20:7].” And, it adds great weight to this seemingly simple, easily overlooked clause, “hallowed be Thy Name.” “Hallowed,” according to the New Oxford American Dictionary, means “greatly revered or respected.” The psalmist caught the significance of it when, for example, he cried, “Oh Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth! Who has set Thy glory above the heavens [Psalm 8:1].” When he prayed, God was not merely on his tongue, but on his heart. So, if I understand this verse correctly, should it be with us.
The God we address when we (really) pray is “the everlasting God’ (Gen. 21:33); “the Lord most high”(Ps. 7:17); “the Lord Who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 124:8), just to sample the significance of His Name.
There is more in the “name.” The Savior here refers to the name of the Father, but it is of no little importance to remember that He said in one place, “I and my Father are one.” In fact, when His complex name is revealed by the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah, He is called “Father.” “…His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, “The Prince of Peace [Isa. 9:6].” (Too often relegated to Christmas!) That cryptic distinction was assigned before the incarnation. After the incarnation, passion and resurrection of Christ, you will recall, it is written, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Phil. 2:9-11].”
Thus when we approach the “throne of grace” we ought in the spirit to honor (“hallow”) the name of the Father and the Son. Jesus said, “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him [John 5:22-23].” Added to that let us also recall His word of indictment, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men [Matt. 15:7-8].” Though the reference is to doctrine (teaching) rather than to prayer, the principle is the same. How much of our praying actually takes the name of the Lord in vain? His title is on our lips, but we are oblivious to His character and glory.
“The Lord’s Prayer” is a reminder that when we pray mind and heart should be first occupied with God. Through Christ our relationship with Him can be cordial, even familiar; but it should not be superficial!
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. - Ps. 99:3
LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY!
"Pastor" Frasier
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