"Hallowed be Your Name": Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 47

Question 122. What is the first petition?

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism Question 122. Which Is the First Petition?

The petition, Hallowed be thy name, is placed first in order, because it comprehends the end and design of all the rest, inasmuch as the glory of God should be the end of all our affairs, actions and prayers

Hallowed be your name. That is: Grant us first of all that we may rightly know you, and sanctify, glorify, and praise you in all your works, in which shine forth your almighty power, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth. Grant us also that we may so direct our whole life—our thoughts, words, and actions—that your name is not blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised.

Tanong 122. Ano ang unang pagsamo?

Sambahin nawa ang ngalan Mo. Iyon ay: ipagkaloob Mo sa amin una sa lahat na makilala ka namin nang tama. At sagraduhin, luwalhatiin, at purihin Ka sa lahat ng Iyong mga gawa, kung saan ay nagliliwanag ang Iyong makapangyarihang lakas, karunungan, kabutihan, katuwiran, kaawaan at katotohanan. Ipagkaloob Mo rin sa amin na maituon namin sa ganito ang aming buong buhay—ang aming pag-iisip, salita at mga gawa—ng ang Iyong pangalan ay hindi malapastangan ng dahil sa amin sa halip ay laging maparangalan at purihin.

Ang “pangalan” ng Diyos ay tumutukoy mismo sa kung sino ang Diyos—sa kanyang karakter, sa kanyang reputasyon, at sa lahat ng mga bagay na ipinahayag niyang totoo tungkol sa kanya. Sa tuwing tinutukoy sa Bibliya ang “pangalan” ng Diyos, ito ay tumutukoy hindi lamang sa titulo o katagang ibinigay ng Diyos sa sarili niya, ito ay tumutukoy sa kung sino mismo ang Diyos.

Ang hinihiling nating gawin ng Diyos na “hallow” ay maihiwalay ang kanyang pangalan sa anumang pangalan sa langit at sa lupa, na makilala ang kanyang pagiging Diyos, na mabigyan siya ng karangalan at pagsamba na nauukol sa kanya. Ito ang hinihiling nating gawin ng Diyos.

Ano ngayon ang ipinapanalangin natin kung sasabihin natin sa Diyos Ama, “Hallowed be your name?”

#1: We are praying for the passion of God’s heart.

Isaiah 29:22–23 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale. For when he sees his children, the work of my hands, in his midst, they will sanctify my name; they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:20–23 ESV

But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’ But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

#2: We are praying for God’s revelation of himself.

John 17:3 ESV

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Exodus 33:18–19 ESV

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Exodus 34:5–8 ESV

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.

#3: We are praying for God’s urgent action.

The Commentary of Dr. Zacharias Ursinus on the Heidelberg Catechism II. What Is Holy, and What to Hallow

what we are unable of ourselves to perform, that we properly desire God to grant us the ability to do. But we cannot of ourselves sanctify and hallow the name of God. Therefore, we must needs pray to God to grant unto us the strength by which we may hallow the name of God; yea, that he himself would hallow his holy name in us.

John 12:27–28 ESV

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”

Psalm 145:1–7 ESV

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Psalm 115:1 ESV

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

Matthew 5:16 ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

How shall we pray, “Hallowed be your name”?

Pray back the names and attributes of God.

Pray back God’s work in history.