By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion, Samford University
A Prayer of Praise
Matthew 6:9b; Psalm 96:1–9
As we continue our journey through the Lord’s Prayer, we move on to the words, “Hallowed be Thy name.”
Unfortunately, “hallowed” is a term that has largely been retired from modern discourse. It does still survive in a few places though.
We are all familiar with the word “Halloween,” which gets its name from the fact that it is the evening before Nov. 1, which is All Hallows’ Day. We may also encounter the word when we hear someone describe a place of great sacrifice as “hallowed ground.”
What is the common thread that binds usages like these together? Quite simply, “hallowed” is an older way of expressing the word “holy.” All Hallows’ Day is a day in the church calendar set aside to honor the saints, those holy men and women of old. Hallowed ground is another way of saying holy ground. It is the notion of holiness that links these two.
But to say that “hallowed” means “holy” is only to trace the question back one step. What exactly does it mean for something to be holy? While the term might conjure up all kinds of images in our minds, the biblical notion of holiness is quite different.
To be holy in the Bible is simply to be set apart for some special purpose. The temple is holy because it is set aside as God’s symbolic abode. The priests are holy because they are set aside for the purpose of serving in the temple. Israel is holy because the nation has been set aside uniquely to serve God. To be holy is to be set apart.
When applied to God though, the notion of holiness takes on additional features. God’s holiness is not just a matter of being set apart, not just a matter of being higher than and separate from His creation. God’s holiness also involves viewing God with a sense of reverent awe. To regard God as holy is to bow in awe and wonder at a God who is greater and higher than we.
Prayer begins with a desire to honor God. (Matt. 6:9; Ps. 96:1–3)
Psalm 96 is a psalm that challenges believers to consider carefully the awe and wonder that are due our God. It is a psalm that spells out what it means to say to God, “Hallowed be Thy name.”
In the Hebrew Bible, the name of a person is more than his or her title. It is a way of referring to their reputation. Here, the psalmist extols the name and reputation of God by reminding his hearers that the God they serve is a God of salvation, a God of glory, a God who performs marvelous works among all peoples.
God’s splendor and majesty call us to honor Him. (Ps. 96:4–6)
As the psalmist continues to draw attention to God’s name, he emphasizes God’s greatness. He is a God who is worthy of praise, a God who is rightly to be held in reverent awe. While the gods of the nations around Israel are nothing more than worthless idols, the God of Israel is the one who made the very heavens. Indeed, the psalmist seems to suggest that it is these same heavens that form His divine sanctuary.
Everything in our lives is to be an offering that honors God — including our prayers. (Ps. 96:7–9)
The psalmist concludes with the repeated command, “Ascribe to the Lord.” We might rather render this as “Give credit where credit is due.” When we ascribe to the Lord glory and strength and splendor, we are merely recognizing who God truly is. When we treat God’s name and reputation with reverent awe, when we say with Jesus, “Hallowed be Thy name,” we finally come into the right relationship with the God who created us.
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