Chapter 2 – The First Petition – “Hallowed be Thy name”
“Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). This begins the petitions of Christ’s pattern prayer. They are seven in number, which are significantly divided into three and four: the first three concerning God, the last four (the number of the creature) our own selves. Similarly the Ten Commandments: the first five teach us our duty toward God (in the 5th the parent stands to the child in the place of God), in the last five our duty toward our neighbor. Our primary duty in prayer is to disregard ourselves, and give God the pre-eminence in our thoughts, desires, and supplications. This petition necessarily comes first, for the glorifying of God’s great name is the ultimate end of all things. All other requests must be subordinate to this one and be in pursuance of it. We cannot pray aright unless the glory of God be dominant in our desires. We are to cherish a deep sense of the ineffable holiness of God and an ardent longing for the honoring of it, and therefore we must not ask anything which would be against the Divine holiness to bestow.
“Hallowed be Your name.” How easy it is to utter these words without any thought of their solemn importance! In seeking to ponder them, four questions are naturally raised in our minds. First, what is meant by “hallowed”? Second, what is signified by God’s “name”? third, how are we to understand “Hallowed be Your name”? Fourth, why does this petition come first? The “hallowed” is an old English word, the Greek term is elsewhere translated “sanctified.” It means to set apart for a sacred use. “Hallowed by Your name” signifies reverenced, adored, glorified, be Your matchless name—let it be held in the utmost respect and honor, let its fame spread abroad and be magnified.
“Your name” is put for God Himself, as in “let them that love Your name (that is, Yourself) be joyful in You” (Psa 5:11); “the name of the God of Jacob defend you” (Psalm 20:1), that is, the God of Jacob Himself defend you; “the name of the LORD is a strong tower” (Proverbs 18:10)—Jehovah Himself is such. Again—the Name of God stands for the Divine perfections. It is striking and blessed to observe that when He “proclaimed the name of the LORD” to Moses, God enumerated His blessed attributes (see Exodus 34:5-7); so again, when it is said, “they that know Your name (that is, Your wondrous perfections) will put their trust in You” (Psalm 9:10). But more particularly, His “Name” signifies God as He is revealed, made known to us. It is in such titles as the “Almighty,” “the Lord of Hosts,” “Jehovah,” “the God of peace,” “our Father,” that He has discovered Himself unto us.
What is intended by “Hallowed be Your name”? First, in its widest sense we ask that God “by His overruling providence, would direct and dispose of all things to His own glory” (Larger Catechism). Hereby we pray that God Himself would sanctify His name: that He would cause it—by His providence and grace—to be known and adored, through the preaching of His Law and Gospel. Second, that His name be sanctified and magnified in and by us. Not that we can add anything to God’s essential holiness, yet we should promote His manifestative glory—so we are exhorted, “give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name” (Psalm 96:8). Yet we cannot do this of ourselves, and hence the verb is in the passive form. Nevertheless, it is the desire and must be the determination of every Christian’s heart to advance the revealed glory of God on earth.
By praying “Hallowed be Your name” we beg that God, who is most holy and glorious, would enable us to acknowledge and honor Him as such. As Manton forcefully expressed it, “In this petition the glory of God is both desired and promised on our part; for every prayer is both an expression of a desire and also an implicit vow or solemn obligation that we take upon ourselves to prosecute what we ask. Prayer is a preaching to ourselves in God’s hearing: we speak to God to warm ourselves—not for His information, but for our edification.” Alas that this necessary implication of prayer is not more insisted upon in the pulpit today, and more clearly perceived in the pew. We but mock God if we present to Him pious words and have no intent of striving with our might to live in harmony therewith.
To “hallow” or sanctify His name means that we give God the supreme place, that we set Him above all in our thoughts, affections, and lives. It is the antithesis of the builders of the Tower of Babble, of whom we read, “let us make us a name” (Genesis 11:4), and of Nebuchadnezzar who said of Babylon, “That I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30). “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts” (1 Peter 3:15): that the awe of His majesty and holiness be upon you, so that all within may be reduced unto entire subjection to Him. For this we must pray and strive to obtain right views and a deeper knowledge of Him, that we may worship Him aright and serve Him acceptably.
Third, this petition not only expresses the desire that God would sanctify Himself in and through us, and enable us to glorify Him, but it also voices our longing that others may know, adore, and glorify Him. “In the use of this petition we pray that the glory of God may be more and more displayed and advanced in the world in the course of His providence, that His Word may run and be glorified in the conversion and sanctification of sinners, that there may be an increase of holiness in all His people, and that all profanation of the names of God among men may be prevented and removed” (John Gill). Thus, this petition includes the asking of God to grant all needed effusions of the Holy Spirit to raise up faithful pastors, to move His Churches to maintain a Scriptural discipline, to stir up the saints to an exercise of their graces.
It is obvious, then, why this is the first petition in the Prayer. It must be the basis of all our other requests. The glory of God is to be our chief and great concern. Whatever comes to me, however low I may sink, no matter how deep the waters through which I may be called to pass, Lord, magnify Yourself in and by me. Mark how blessedly this was exemplified by our perfect Savior: “Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Your name” (John 12:27, 28). Though He must be baptized with the baptism of suffering, yet the Father’s glory was what most concerned Christ.
The following beautifully summarizes the meaning of this petition. “O Lord, open our eyes that we may know You aright and may discern Your power, wisdom, justice, and mercy. Enlarge our hearts that we may sanctify You in our affections, by making You our fear, love, joy, and confidence. Open our lips that we may bless You for Your infinite goodness; yes, O Lord, open our eyes that we may see You in all Your works, and incline our wills with reverence for Your name appearing in Your works. Grant that when we use anyone of them, that we may honor You in our sober and sanctified use thereof” (W. Perkins).
In conclusion, let us point out very briefly the uses to be made of this petition. 1. Failures to be bewailed and confessed: we are to humble ourselves for those sins whereby we have hindered God’s manifestative glory and profaned His name; by pride of heart, coldness of zeal, stubbornness of will, impiety of life. 2. Earnest seeking of those graces whereby we may hallow His name: a fuller knowledge of Himself, his fear to be more upon our hearts, increased faith and love, and a spirit of praise, the right use of His gifts. 3. Duties to be practiced: that there be nothing in our conduct which would cause His name to be blasphemed by unbelievers (Romans 2:24), and that “whatever we do, we may do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
