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Sunday, February 06, 2005
"Hallowed" according to the dictionary, means, "To make holy or to set apart for holy use."
On NFL films (you know, those slow-motion highlight reels of football games that have a guy with a very deep, serious voice?) they've referred to some of the older football stadiums that have storied history as "hallowed" grounds.
The same word has been used to describe locations where heroic events in our nation's history. Maybe it's a cemetary like in Noramandy. Maybe it's a civil war battlefield. Maybe it's a place like "Ground Zero" in New York City.
I've even heard the word used to describe the seminary I attended. That the "hallowed halls" of our school were worthy of reverence of some type.
I guess it's like the word "love." I mean, you can love your spouse and love spaghetti...but it's two entirely different things.
And I think that's the case with "hallowed." Sure, sports fans can look fondly on a stadium that holds a lot of special memories for them. Sure, people who've lost loved ones can experience a connection between their past and the right now by being at a place that has mutual meaning. Sure, seminary students can have an appreciation for the long history of their school.
But I think "hallowed" is a very strong word.
And I think we've messed up the idea of "Hallowed by Thy Name" in our culture, too. Don't believe me? How is the God of the Universe addressed in movies and on television and in books?
Jesus.
Christ.
God.
Can you think of any expletives that involve those words? Can you list five shows you've heard them used in an unflattering manner? I bet you could do it before you finished reading this sentence.
And I think we could learn a lot from our Hebrew heritage on this. They had a lot of different names for God...and here's a survey of some of them:
Elohim (God) means ``might or strong one"; it denotes the power and pre-eminence of God and is especially used in relationship to creation and strength. (Genesis 1: 1; Psalm 68: 1)
Adonai (Lord) means ``master, sovereign ruler or Lord" and generally denotes the authority and position of God. (Psalm 68: 32; Isaiah 6: 8-11)
Yahweh or Jehovah (Lord) means most likely the self-existent one (I am who I am or Iam the One who is) and denotes God's personal name and His eternality. It is often used in relationship to God as redeemer and covenant keeper. Yahweh is the most common name for God in the Old Testament. God's personal name was so sacred to most Jews that they feared to write or say it lest they misused it and usually substituted Adonai for Yahweh. Jehovah is an English word created from the other two to stand for God's personal name. (Genesis 2:4; Exodus 3:14; Psalm 68:14)
El Shaddai means ``God Almighty" and pictures God as the all powerful source of blessing and comfort. (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3; Psalm 68:14)
El Elyon means ``God most High" and pictures God's strength and sovereignty. (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 9:2)
El Roi means ``God who sees" and denotes God's personal care and presence (Genesis 16:13)
El Olam means ``Everlasting and Eternal God" and pictures God's eternality and infinite strength. (Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28)
The following are the main Old Testament Yahweh/Jehovah compound names:
Yahweh Jireh means the ``Lord provides" and was used by Abraham when God provided a sacrificial lamb instead of Isaac. (Genesis 22:14)
Yahweh Sabbaoth means the ``Lord of hosts" (hosts is sometimes translated almighty or army) and pictures God as the commander of the heavenly armies. (Joshua 5:14; I Samuel 1:3; Psalm 24:10)
Yahweh Rophe (or Rapha) means the ``Lord who heals" and denotes the physical and spiritual healing power of God. (Exodus 15:26)
Yahweh Shalom means the ``Lord is peace" and denotes the lack of tension, conflict and strife in God. (Judges 6:24)
Yehweh Nissi means the ``Lord is my banner" and signifies that the battle is the Lord's. (Exodus 17:15)
Yahweh Tsidkenu means the ``Lord our righteousness" and signifies God as the only source of true righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6)
Yahweh Maccaddeschcem means the ``Lord our sanctifier" (or the Lord who makes you holy) and signifies that God is the one who sets people apart and makes them holy. (Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8)
Yahweh Raah (rohi) means the ``Lord our Shepherd" and denotes God's loving care, protection and provision for His people. (Psalm 23:1)
I read these and am drawn to the Hebrew nation and their understanding of God.
And I wonder if somehow, in our culture we've lost a bit of touch of reverence for the name of God. Almost as if we're entirely too familiar with it and use it too flippantly...because names don't mean as much in our culture as it did in theirs.
That's what this section of the Lord's Prayer is getting at...that when we use the name of the Lord, we do so with reverence, understanding who we are in our relationship with Him. That we worship him and acknowledge Who He Is. He is everything from the Lord God Almighty to our shepherd and everything in between.
And we can know Him...
...and He is worthy of our reverence.
So, today, think through a little bit of how we can "hallow" God's name a bit more, and what that reveals about how well we know Him...
Brent 4:49 AM
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