Praying the Lord's Prayer - Holy is Your name

Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this: Holy is your name: (Luke 11:2)

Jesus instructs the disciples to pray “Holy (Hallowed) is your name” The word “Hallowed” means to make holy, to ceremonially purify  or consecrate, to mentally venerate.

The holiness of God and his name was upheld by the Jews in the OT. The name of God was never used. They used other forms like Jehovah and El with all their additions like Jehovah Jireh (The Lord provides) and El Shaddai (God Almighty)

The holiness of God was seen in the shape of the tabernacle where they had a small room called the Holy of Holies. In that room resided the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest was only allowed to go in there on the Day of the Atonement. He had a rope on his ankle to pull him out if he did something wrong and died.

The OT talks about “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (see Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7;9:10;15:33)

Reverence and Respect are two words that are associated with this prayer. People would adopt postures of reverence like kneeling, prostrating and bowing parts of the body to show respect and reverence. People would be careful how they used the Lord’s name.

Today we have lost the concept of reverence and respect. Authority figures like Police and Teachers are spurned. Parents are ignored. Property is to respected. Lawlessness and violence increases in our cities and towns.

This has crept into our relationship with God where we treat God as our “bosom buddy”, our mate and we drag God down to our level.

So praying “Holy is your name” is to recover the reverence and respect that we should have for God.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud and reflect on the fact that Holy is the Lord’s name. Confess any time that you have used the Lord’s name with a lack of respect and reverence. Practice kneeling or prostrating or bowing as part of your prayer practice this week.