November 14, 2010

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9

With these words begin perhaps the best known and most loved verses in all of scripture, Jesus’ example of the manner in which we should pray.  He first addresses His Father by name and then declares that name to be holy.  There was great importance placed on names in the Old Testament tradition.  Places were named after miraculous events, person’s names were often prophetic, God’s name was considered so sacred that it was never spoken and written only in abbreviation.

In placing His name above all other names we are expressing praise toward our Heavenly Father.  Nephi declared, “O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel!... Oh how great the holiness of our God!” The psalmist David admonished us to, “…praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”  The Savior ended his prayer as he began, praising the Father, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”  Our prayers should reflect not only our needs, but our praise, respect and devotion to our Father in heaven.

Your servant,
Dan