… for the Name of the Lord
Summary: The story of the first Temple helps us understand what it means to “hallow” God’s Name.
The Old Testament book, 1 Kings, begins when king David is an old man. Before he dies he turns the kingdom over to his son, Solomon. Solomon, in turn, is tasked with building the first Temple.
There is much to be said about the building of the Temple. Why it was built, what was before, and what came after. As a building, it was magnificent. In its time there was nothing like it anywhere. Perhaps the most important thing about the temple is that the God it was designed to honor was nowhere to be seen. (I know, I know … he showed up at the dedication. What I’m talking about is a visual representation of God in the form of a statue.)
From a certain point of view, the Temple was an empty building. But David and Solomon didn’t see it that way. During his dedication of the Temple, Solomon explained:
“My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’” (1 Kings 8: 17-19)
The Temple was not for a statue of a god, but for the Name of God.
Now a name is a very interesting thing. A name can be represented by marks on paper or sounds in the air. But when you get right down to it, a name has no physical substance, and yet it exists.
God the Father has no physical substance either. Yet, like his Name, he exists.
When Jesus has us pray, “Hallowed be your name,” he refers to the same Name that occupied the first Temple. The word “hallowed” is similar to the great Temple Solomon built because it does the same kind of thing. Both word and Temple honor God’s Name.
So next time you pray, “Hallowed be your Name,” imagine that you are standing alongside Solomon building a Temple for God’s name. Picture the massive stone foundation you are laying. A foundation of faith. Build the Temple with blocks of love and line the walls with the hammered gold of hope. Cast pillars of bronze to represent the strength of God. Then bow down and worship.
When you are done, do not worship the temple. Instead, worship the God who gives life and honor his Name.
Application: Find ways to hallow God’s Name.
Food for Thought: If your name were written in a language you did not understand, would it still be your name? Why or why not?
11-19-2022, If your name were written in a language you did not understand, would it still be your name? Why or why not?
Chloe, a cute name in US, German slang for “toilet.”
Randy, popular in English, in Hindi means prostitute
Vaughn fairly common in US, in Russian means stench.
Dom, for Dominique in US, in Netherlands means stupid.
Lou, in England, is slang for toilet.
Mark, is the Norwegian word for worm.
In Genesis 9:1, Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth.
11:1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
11:4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
Genesis 11:9 That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.
Today there are an estimated 6,000 languages around the world. All because mankind chose to disobey God
Ha!
Thanks Ron for not including “Jeff” in your list of misappropriated names! 🙂
I think that yes, it would still be my name. When I did mission trips to Mexico many people would call me “Ricardo.” I knew that referred to me when I heard it. Similarly, they pronounced Jesus’ name differently, but I knew it was Him. The Hebrew would more likely be Jeshua for Jesus, but refers to the same Person. In the middle East many would say Isa for Jesus. Is one more correct than another? (If so, the argument would be for the Hebrew).
There are some that think so and demand that we say Jeshua.
But I think if we say the name of Jesus in worship and with adoration to Our Savior and Creator then we are on good terms. Some people say the name of Jesus as a cuss word. So it is not just the name, but how we use it.
Yeshua not Jeshua.
Rich,
Great point: It is not just the name, but how we use it.
True!
👍