What’s In A Name?

I was reading more articles about “The Lord’s Prayer” when I was struck by this very interesting point – the prayer says “Hallowed be YOUR NAME.”

 

I believe that we can easily understand why God should be hallowed but why should His name be hallowed?

 

Let’s Consider 2 Different Reasons

.1. In Jewish culture, a person’s chosen name was more than just a way to identify them physically; their name also reflected their nature (character). Jews named their children in a way that expressed the child’s mission in life. Because of this custom, the Jewish people had about 16 different names for God in the Hebrew Old Testament. Each name reflected a different aspect of God’s character, so God’s names were considered by the Jews to be just as holy as God Himself. In fact, God’s names were and are so holy to the Jews, that they never write His full name out of reverence and fear of the Lord.

 

This custom shows why we say “Hallowed be Your name.”. Because not only is God holy, but His name is holy too. As a result, we should never treat God’s name with disrespect.

 

.2. God commanded His people to not take His name in vain.

Deuteronomy 5:11 “‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

 

We have used God’s name in wrong ways or have misrepresented who God is by our example.

 

What does hallowed mean? I am glad you asked!

 

According to the American Heritage dictionary “hallowed” means “to make or set apart as holy. To respect or honor greatly; revere.” In simpler terms, we often use hallowed to refer to someone whom we should treat with awe and respect because they deserve it.

 

Simply put, we are to reverence God’s name as holy.

 

Hope

 

However, God knew this would happen, that we would misrepresent Him and use His name casually or as a profanity – so because of His great love for us — He made a way for us to be forgiven through Jesus.

 

God let His people know through Ezekiel that His name would be vindicated …

 

Ezekiel 36:23-27 – And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

 

When Do We See this Happen?

 

In the New Covenant, as the blood of Christ is applied to sinners, and the Holy Spirit is placed within God’s people, His great name begins to be vindicated.  When, through Jesus, we are given the right to pray “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” As we pray for God’s name to be hallowed the Holy Spirit works in us to transform us into the Character of Christ so we can better represent Him

 

Conclusion

 

When we pray “hallowed be Your name” we are letting God know that He and His name are to be glorified as holy. We are letting God know that we appreciate all that He is and all that He does for us. And we are taking seriously the privilege to bring Him glory. We even make our requests known from a heart attitude that goes like this – “Father glorify Yourself in giving me my daily bread, in forgiving me as You teach me to forgive others, and in pardoning my sins and protecting me from the Evil One.”

 

 

 

How do you express your adoration of who God is and what He does?

Please share in the reply box below so we can learn from one another. Thank you!