'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — August 24

In this petition we pray that God's name may shine forth and be honoured in the whole course and tenor of our lives. Honouring his name is preferred before all things, before life. This is the first and great petition. When other petitions are useless and out of date, the hallowing of God's name will be of great use. In heaven, there will be no need to pray 'give us our daily bread', or 'forgive us our trespasses', because there will be no hunger or sin in heaven. But God's praise will be abundantly alive there. To admire God's name is not enough. We may admire a conqueror, but when we say 'Hallowed be your name', we are setting God's name above every name, and we not only admire him, but we adore him. To hallow his name is to set it apart from the common use. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we never make mention of it but with the highest reverence. His name is sacred, and it must not be spoken of but with veneration. When the Scripture speaks of God, it gives him titles of honour: 'Blessed be God Most High' (Gen. 14:20), and 'Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise' (Neh. 9:5). To speak vainly or slightly of God is profaning his name, and is taking his name in vain. By giving God his venerable titles, we hang jewels on his crown. We hallow and sanctify God's name when we lift up his name in our praises. 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!' (Rev. 5:13). Praising God is hallowing his name. Praise hallows God's name especially in an afflicted state. 'The LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD' (Job 1:21). Many will bless God when he gives, but to bless him when he takes away is a way to honour his name in a high degree. We should become trumpets for his praise.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer, pp. 38-43
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