耶稣以“愿你的名为圣”作为主祷文的第一个祈求,或说请求。(太 6:9)这个祷告的前半部份主要专注于祈求神的荣耀和尊荣,后半部份则主要为神百姓的需要祈求。在前半部份当中,“愿你的名为圣”是所有祈求中最重要的。
如今我们不太常使用“被尊为圣”(hallowed)这个字。这是在祈求什么呢?更现代一些的说法可以是“愿你的名被尊为神圣”,或者“愿你的名被尊崇和赞美。”
在这个请求中,我们求神向世界显明祂是谁——显明祂的全能,智慧,良善,公义怜悯和真理。我们祈求神的名现在就被人认识并尊崇,尽管我们仍然在期待着“一切在天上的、地下的,和地底下的,因耶稣的名无不屈膝,无不口称’耶稣基督为主‘,使荣耀归于父神”的那一天到来。(腓 2:10-11)。
换句话说,以“愿你的名为圣”做为我们的祷告,就是为我们的个体生命,以及作为基督身体的教会——我们的团体生命打好基础。
所以,当我们这样祷告时,是在祈求神帮助我们活出祂仆人的身份,彰显祂的荣耀和权柄,从今时直到永远。
今天,你能怎样尊崇神的名呢?
父啊,愿你在我们身上,也藉着我们,以及世界各地的教会彰显你的荣耀。阿们。
诗篇 145:1-7, 17-21
1我的神我的王啊,我要尊崇你,我要永永远远称颂你的名!
2我要天天称颂你,也要永永远远赞美你的名!
3耶和华本为大,该受大赞美,其大无法测度。
4这代要对那代颂赞你的作为,也要传扬你的大能。
5我要默念你威严的尊荣,和你奇妙的作为。
6人要传说你可畏之事的能力,我也要传扬你的大德。
7他们记念你的大恩就要传出来,并要歌唱你的公义。
17耶和华在他一切所行的无不公义,在他一切所做的都有慈爱。
18凡求告耶和华的,就是诚心求告他的,耶和华便与他们相近。
19敬畏他的,他必成就他们的心愿;也必听他们的呼求,拯救他们。
20耶和华保护一切爱他的人,却要灭绝一切的恶人。
21我的口要说出赞美耶和华的话,唯愿凡有血气的都永永远远称颂他的圣名!
"My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever." — Psalm 145:21
With the words "hallowed be your name," Jesus introduces the first petition, or request, of the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9). The first half of this prayer makes requests that focus on glory and honor to God, and the second half focuses on our needs as God's people. Being the first request, "hallowed be your name" is the most weighty of all the petitions in this prayer.
We don't use the word hallowed very often today. So what is this petition asking for? A more current wording could be "May your name be holy" or "May your name be honored and praised."
In this appeal, we ask God to show the world who he is—to reveal his almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. We pray that God's name may be recognized and honored now, even as we look forward to the day when "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
In other words, "hallowed be your name" provides the foundation for our prayers, for our individual lives, and for our lives together as the church, Christ's body on earth.
So when we pray these words, we are asking God to help us live today as his servants who reflect his glory and lordship everywhere, now and forever.
In what ways can you honor God's name today?
Father, may you be glorified in and through our lives and the church everywhere on earth. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳