Matt.6:9 – Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Hallow is not a word we use very much in our modern over secularized world. Hallow comes from the Greek word hagiazo and means to make holy or to consecrate. Jesus was describing our prayers as just that, setting the Lord and His Name as holy in our lives and in this world. This world and even many in the Christian world have a casual attitude toward the Lord as just being my buddy who overlooks all of my shortcomings. Jesus had it different, yes His mercy endures forever yet at the same time He is holy and when we approach Him even with boldness we must honor Him as a holy God. The Apostle John was in prayer while in exile for preaching the gospel on an island off of the coast near Ephesus. While he was praying he was caught before the throne and observed the worship and incredible holiness found in the presence of the Lord. Here is how John described this scene.
Rev.5:8-12 – “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
John was struck deeply by the awesome and holy atmosphere he found in the presence of the Lord. The Seraphim, the angels, and the twenty four elders were all worshipping the Lord in that holy atmosphere. True prayer touches the edge of this atmosphere found before the throne of God. Rather than a casual attitude we must join the others on our faces giving honor to this thrice holy God. ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name.’
