Magnificent Prayer #11
Magnificent Prayer #11
In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
Matthew 6:9 NKJV
[Regarding prayers, when I hear] “Dear Lord,” and “Blessed Lord,” and “Sweet Lord,” used over and over again as vain repetitions, [I cringe].
I must confess I would feel no revulsion to the words, “Dear Jesus,” if they came from the lips of a true man or woman of God, but when I hear these expressions hackneyed by persons not at all remarkable for their spirituality, I’m inclined to wish that they could come to a better understanding of the true relations existing between man and God.
The word “dear” has come from daily use to be so common, and so small, and in some cases so silly and pretentious, that punctuating one’s prayers with it isn’t edifying.
My strongest objection exists to the constant repetition of the word, “Lord,” which occurs in the early prayers of young converts…the words, “O Lord! O Lord!” grieve us when we hear them so perpetually repeated.
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain,” is a great commandment, and although this law may be broken in all innocence, its breach is still a sin and a very solemn one.
God’s name is not to be a stop-gap to make up for our want of words. Take care to use most reverently the name of the infinite Jehovah. The Jews in their sacred writings either leave a space for the word “Jehovah,” or else write the word, “Adonai,” because they conceive that holy name to be too sacred for common use. We need not to be so superstitious, but it behooves us to be more reverent in our choice of words.
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON
Pray About It: Is Spurgeon being too harsh? I don’t think so. God’s name was, is now, and always will be holy. And yet how often we invoke His name carelessly. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, His prayer opened with a “hallowing” of God’s name. And yet today the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ has turned into a bumper-sticker slogan—and by those who love Him. This ought not to be.
In our prayers to our heavenly Father, let’s be careful of His name. Treat Him with respect and awe. And never let a reference to God become an interjection in casual conversation.
As you pray today, spend time hallowing God’s name.
We are directed to make the name of God our chief end. Let all our petitions center in this and be regulated by it.
MATTHEW HENRY
From the book
