Lord's Day 46
Devotion
The word “hallow” is not used often today, but every year we celebrate Halloween. This holiday was originally known as “All Hallows Eve,” which is nothing more than the night before “All Saints Day.” All Saints was the day set aside each year to honor and commemorate the faithful saints in Christ who have departed. The simple definition of hallow is to make holy or set apart for holy use.
When we pray, “hallowed be thy name,” we are not asking that God would change his name to “Hallow.” Rather, we are praying that God’s name would be made holy or sanctified in our world and in our lives. Jesus is teaching us in prayer that our lives should reflect the holiness of God, that His name should be honored in all that we are.
How do we “Hallow” the name of God? We are taught at an early age not to call people names, to treat each other with respect and honor. To hallow God’s name is essentially the same lesson. When we hallow the name of God we come before him with an attitude of reverence for His perfection, wisdom, power and love.
Unfortunately, the way many people treat the name of God today does not reflect God’s holiness. Exclamations such as “Oh my God,” and curses in the name of God, trivialize and cheapen the name of God. People who call themselves Christians but then live a godless and profane lifestyle fail to sanctify the name of God.
We are to live, talk, and think in such a way that the world may know that God’s name is holy and set apart for a special purpose. God’s holiness is what sets him apart from us and the rest of creation. When we come before God in prayer, when the world waits to see how we act as disciples of Christ, we should never treat God’s name casually or with indifference to His holiness.
The first petition in the Lord’s prayer ought to be our greatest desire and passion; that the name of God should be honored and revered in our lives and in the world around us; that all may know Him and worship Him in holiness and truth.
Prayer
Almighty God, may your name be praised and honored this day and forever more. Forgive us for the times in which we failed to honor and praise your name, for the things we have done that have not reflected your holiness and grace. Teach us what it means to hallow your name, and may your name be hallowed in all that we are and all that we do. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Question 101
Q. 101. What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name,” we pray, that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.
Scripture Proofs
Matt. 6:9;
Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Ps. 67:2-3;
that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
Ps. 83.
O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God!
For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads.
They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones.
They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!”
For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant— the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah
Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground.
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.”
O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind.
As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane!
Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD.
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.