Continuing on the theme of the Lord’s Prayer …
Hallow. To treat as holy, and therefore, to reverence, to honor, to respect, to glorify. This line of the Lord’s Prayer underscores the priority of God. God is the central focus—not only of our prayer, but of everything in the universe. Everything revolves round His throne. Everything exists for His hallowing, not ours.
Everything exists for His glory, not ours.
So when we pray “Hallowed be your name,” we are, in essence, praying …
Everything in the universe is moving towards God’s glory. This is the end, the goal, the terminus, the Omega of all creation—the glorification of God. The priority of God. He is to be pre-eminent in all things. That is what it means to glorify Him.
It should be the basis of everything we do. I.e., the priority of God should be our priority.
This is what believers were called for.
Our part in the grand scheme of God is to manifest His glory. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1648) declares:
“The chief end of man
is to glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.”
And one way we do that, the essential way we work towards the hallowing of His name, is by being holy ourselves.
God’s demand for glory is met when His creation becomes like Him in His holiness. That is how we contribute to the hallowing of His name. “Hallowed be your name.”
God desires to receive glory through our life of holiness. One of my colleagues at Dallas Seminary puts it this way:
“Glory relates to how good
God looks through me,
holiness relates to how much
I look like God.”
We hallow His name by looking like God, being holy ourselves. “Hallowed be your name: we agree, O God, with your priority and demand for glory. Hallowed be your name: may we honor your holy character and not embarrass you.” So we pray with purity.
The priority of God—His glory. And we should seek to be like Him.
“Hallowed be your name.” Pray with purity!
May prayers of purity arise from the temple of God.
Hallowed be your name.
Matthew 6:9
Matthew 6:9
Hallow. To treat as holy, and therefore, to reverence, to honor, to respect, to glorify. This line of the Lord’s Prayer underscores the priority of God. God is the central focus—not only of our prayer, but of everything in the universe. Everything revolves round His throne. Everything exists for His hallowing, not ours.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
but to Your name give glory
because of Your lovingkindness,
because of Your truth.
Psalm 115:1
but to Your name give glory
because of Your lovingkindness,
because of Your truth.
Psalm 115:1
Everything exists for His glory, not ours.
Oh, the depth of the riches
both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable
are His judgments
and unfathomable His ways!
For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.
Romans 11:33, 36
both of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable
are His judgments
and unfathomable His ways!
For from Him and through Him
and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever.
Amen.
Romans 11:33, 36
So when we pray “Hallowed be your name,” we are, in essence, praying …
“To Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb,
be blessing and honor
and glory and dominion
forever and ever.”
Revelation 5:13
and to the Lamb,
be blessing and honor
and glory and dominion
forever and ever.”
Revelation 5:13
Everything in the universe is moving towards God’s glory. This is the end, the goal, the terminus, the Omega of all creation—the glorification of God. The priority of God. He is to be pre-eminent in all things. That is what it means to glorify Him.
It should be the basis of everything we do. I.e., the priority of God should be our priority.
So whether you eat or drink
or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
or whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
This is what believers were called for.
But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God’s own possession,
so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him
who has called you
out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God’s own possession,
so that you may proclaim
the excellencies of Him
who has called you
out of darkness
into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
Our part in the grand scheme of God is to manifest His glory. The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1648) declares:
“The chief end of man
is to glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.”
And one way we do that, the essential way we work towards the hallowing of His name, is by being holy ourselves.
You shall be holy, for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:16
1 Peter 1:16
God’s demand for glory is met when His creation becomes like Him in His holiness. That is how we contribute to the hallowing of His name. “Hallowed be your name.”
… He chose us in Him before
the foundation of the world,
that we would be holy
and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4
the foundation of the world,
that we would be holy
and blameless before Him.
Ephesians 1:4
God desires to receive glory through our life of holiness. One of my colleagues at Dallas Seminary puts it this way:
“Glory relates to how good
God looks through me,
holiness relates to how much
I look like God.”
We hallow His name by looking like God, being holy ourselves. “Hallowed be your name: we agree, O God, with your priority and demand for glory. Hallowed be your name: may we honor your holy character and not embarrass you.” So we pray with purity.
The priority of God—His glory. And we should seek to be like Him.
Be exalted
above the heavens, O God;
let Your glory
be above all the earth.
Psalm 57:5
above the heavens, O God;
let Your glory
be above all the earth.
Psalm 57:5
“Hallowed be your name.” Pray with purity!
… the temple of God is holy,
and that is what you are.
1 Corinthians 3:17
and that is what you are.
1 Corinthians 3:17
May prayers of purity arise from the temple of God.
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1 comment:
Hi Abe--
To comment on a previous blogger---yes, indeed there are some who look forward to your amazing portrayals of the Word. I do thank God for sending you into my life, so that I can be a recipient of this blog---I send it to others, print, read and re-read it over and over. I also thank God that I live in such an age where this is all possible. Thanks, good and faithful servant.
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