The Lord’s Prayer: The First Petition

 

What does this mean? God’s name is certainly holy in itself, but we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.

How is God’s name kept holy? God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!

Martin Luther’s Small Catechism

 

Arguably, the most popular hymn addressing the Holy Trinity is Holy, Holy, Holy. The second stanza proclaims,

 Holy, Holy, Holy, all the saints adore thee

Casting down their golden crowns upon the glassy sea

Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee.

which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

The hymn captures the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer very well. The First Petition is all about God and his holiness.  He is holy not because we, by our actions, make him Holy but because he is holy.  It is, as Luther wrote, holy in itself. Holiness is an attribute of God. 

 Holiness means set apart for God’s purposes.   So, how does God set himself apart for his purposes?  He humbled himself and became obedient on the cross.  God set himself apart for the salvation of the entire world.  John 3:17 reads, For God did not send his son (Jesus) into the to condemn the world, but that the world would be saved through him.

 God, in other words, is in the saving business.  What ought to be our response? To read the Word of God, learn more about God’s holy plan, and live lives that honor his holy name.