Whether you're online with us today or in person, let's join our hearts again to seek the Lord's favor as we approach his word tonight. Our heavenly father, we do pray for Jesus' sake that your word may be a blessing to our hearts tonight by your spirit's power and his goodness so that we might respond accordingly. May what is proclaimed, may the person doing that Seek to do what we're all called to do here, and may it be a time to exalt not his name, but the name of Jesus Christ, that we together might see that his name is to be greater and ours is lesser, and that such would be to our prophet and ultimately to your praise. We'd ask that you'd accept our prayers for the sake of Jesus. Amen. So we pick up our Bibles tonight and turn to Psalm 145 to help us as we consider the first petition of the Lord's Prayer that's found in Matthew 6, how will it be thy name? And in light of our series through the catechism, given that we're at this point, we're also gonna be looking at Lord's Day 47 and getting a little bit of a understanding there about what, name actually means. So we take up the word first of all from the Word of God from Psalm 145. And Psalm 145 says this, I will extol you my God and King and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works I will meditate, and shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness, and shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness, and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he's made. All your works should give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his words. The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his words. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him. He also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. And having read from the Lord's word, why don't we together, as we look at page 60 in the blue hymnal, Why don't we recite the answer together of the first request, which I've always found it rather interesting how when you read these answers, those answers in themselves can be prayers, can't they? So we can speak these words in a prayerful way and say them in unison. So why don't we do that? Question 122 asks, what does the first request mean? Hallowed be thy name be. Help us to really know you, to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them, your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means help us to direct all our living, what we think, say, and do, so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us, but always honored and praised. May God's word truly be a blessing to us tonight. Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, it seems to have been a subject that has been bandied about a little bit in some of our Wednesday Bible studies, this idea of priorities and looking at God's world with its fullness And the calling that is there for us to take advantage of that fullness and seek to be a blessing in so many different ways to which God's called us. But that sometimes becomes a quandary for us because there is so much that can be done. And we find ourselves having to ask ourselves this question, what should we do first? You know, we can get up in the morning and ask that question. What's the most important thing for us to get done. What needs to be completed today? What can be put off, as it were, till another time? What needs to be done first? And sometimes that's pretty cut and dried for us. And it's pretty clear to us. And sometimes it's a bit more difficult to choose. But choose we must. lest we find ourselves emptying the day of being productive and fruitful in God's kingdom for the sake of Jesus Christ, because we never picked anything. But when we think about our praying, and this may help also as we think about our lives, Scripture teaches us that what is to be priority in prayer is to be priority in life. And if it is, then what we find is that our prayers start to conform more to that spirit to which the Lord has called us. There are many things, after all, for which we can be praying, just as there are many things in life for us to do. But what's to be the priority in our praying? What's supposed to come first? And when we answer that, we see that this answer for prayer is also to be the answer for life. For all that we can pray, this is the first thing that Jesus teaches us to pray, to petition. Hallowed be thy name, O Heavenly Father. It's that thought that bookends the psalm we just read. I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. And as in prayer, so also in life. There are many things that are important. There are many things that can be, but what's most important What comes first is the hollowing of the name of the Lord. And tonight we hear that the priority in life and in prayer is that the name of the Lord is to be praised for what he's done, and that the name of the Lord is to be praised in what others do. And we start by looking at the idea of that, as we see in our bulletins today, that the priority in prayer and for life is that the name of the Lord would be honored for what he does. We start there. And the grounds for this praise is found in what he has done and who he is. Psalmist points out to us that he is great. And because he's great, he is greatly to be praised. That is suitable, that figures, that follows. And as we reflect on the Lord's praise in this particular point here, we also can see some sub points, especially if you happen to be taking notes, we can focus on what the Lord has particularly done, who it is that should be doing the praising, and how it should be done. It's just in that first point there. Catechism says biblically that for all his works, the Lord should be praised. And for how his attributes shine forth from those works. We come to truly know Him that way. And then such praise follows. Help us to really know you, to bless worship and praise you for all your works and for all that shines from them. Your might, your wisdom, your kindness, justice, mercy, and truth in the life. The psalmist speaks about that as well. And he does this in a way that's typical of oftentimes what you see in the scriptures. There is this calling to praise him because he's the creator, and he's also called to be praised because he's the savior. It's both in how God has made and how he's preserved everything, and also how he saves his people ultimately in Jesus Christ, because all of it's remarkable. It's really, as I often say, and maybe it gets to be a drumbeat, I hope it doesn't, but it's really a creational and recreational matter. It's both of those things that is to move us to make this praise the priority of prayer and life. God's works are wondrous. They're great, they're gracious, and they are widespread. His kingdom isn't like anybody else's kingdom. It's an everlasting kingdom, which we see in Jesus Christ most clearly as the one who has all authority in heaven and on earth. He is the everlasting king of God's creation, and he is the everlasting head of the church that he saves. He not only Does God create, then, all things? He upholds them. He supplies for them. All of this we find in the psalm. And then, particularly, He shows forth His nearness, we hear. He's close to those who call upon Him, call upon Him in truth. His dependability by grace to those He has chosen, those who rest in Him, those who trust in Him, those who call on Him in the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who call on Him and who see in Him They see him for who he is, as he's revealed himself, and how he's so worthy and deserving of having his name revered and honored. When we think of the name of God, which is what the psalmist wants us to do, when we think of what is tied to that name, what's associated with that name, nothing about that name gives a person reason to consider him in any other way than with the highest reverence or dignity or majesty or honor. You know, you think about that sometimes. I think about the couples that are having children or have had children. If you think about when you named your children, you know, sometimes when you are thinking about what to name someone, you could look at it negatively or you could look at it positively. Right? You think, well, you know what, we're going to name him whatever name that is, because, well, that brings honor to a family member, or that brings honor to somebody that I respect. But it could go the other way, too. You go, oh, no, we're not naming him that name, because when I think of that name, I don't have pleasant memories. That's just how it is, right? And you think, I don't want that name placed upon my child, because we see that connection between the name and the person to whom it's connected. But when you think about the name of the Lord, there isn't any reason to look at that name in any other way than reverence. And with dignity and majesty and honor, it's a name that's above every name. So when we consider then, if that is the truth, that it's the highest name there is, and all that's associated with it is at its highest peak, and all of these attributes shine forth from that, because of everything that he's done, then it shouldn't surprise us that this, when we're thinking about praying, this becomes priority, this name. This name above everything else, this name above all else is to be hallowed, it's to be declared sacred and holy as we pray. The question then becomes who should be doing this? Well, who should be hallowing this name? Our passage reminds us of that too. If this is the name that's above every name, then this means that everybody needs to be making this name the priority of their life. We sang about that earlier in Psalm 148. The easy thing to do, and the thing that we battle against, and that can happen, and we had this discussion too in our Bible studies, right, is that when you're thinking about some of this stuff, you're thinking sometimes without, and then you're thinking sometimes within. You know, you look out in society and you say, you know, that idea that this is the name that should be priority is something that needs to be more of a reality. But we also think about that in our own lives, in the lives which He's called us to live. Because the easy thing is to make our name most important. That's the easy thing to do. It's the temptation. The temptation that comes to us is not to try to exalt the name of the Lord. The temptation is to believe that life's about making my name something. That's the ultimate motivation for many people. And we have to battle against that ourselves. And in our sin, that's what becomes the ultimate motive for us too. When we did what we did in sin, it was because our name was shoved to the forefront inappropriately. And that's how it can be for people. They're motivated. They go to work to make a name for themselves. That's what motivates them. They play an instrument so that they can make a name for themselves. They play a sport so people might exalt their name and remember their name forever. Some people can even get married and have kids so that their name might carry on. And they'll make a name for themselves that way. And other people don't get married because they want to make a name for themselves. And they think marriage gets in the way of that. You know, you can serve in the government. That's an easy thing to do. so that you can make a name for yourself and build a legacy for yourself. The reason that people give sometimes is so that they can promote their name or promote their product. And that's what life's about in the sinful mind. And that's a temptation that you and I face every single day. Even in our prayers, we're tempted to do that, aren't we? To make that the priority. God help us so that we can be okay. Not God may your name be magnified in my life. No, God make it so that I get what I want because my name's the priority. Psalms says that the priority of the believers is to hallow the name of the Lord. It's his desire to see that our children do the same thing. One generation will proclaim your name to the next. So that we come to see, in that way, something that's very important. Because, you know, people love talking about what's contemporary, what's new, what's the latest, what's the greatest in that way, right? Because everything that's new is fresh, it's present, it's right now. All right, the old is past, the new has come, in that perverted sense, right, a lot of times. But one generation shall commend your works to another and shall declare your mighty acts. And so while a lot of times people's mentality is that what's meant to be modern is meant to dishonor the Lord and shove him aside to the museum, you see, the primitive people revered the Lord, primitive people were superstitious, and they didn't know any better, and they were foolish, and they were in the dark. This is the oddity of it, isn't it? Because when we recognize scripture, the scriptures say that Jesus came to bring light where there was darkness. Well, modern man oftentimes comes and says, well, we're here to bring darkness to cover the light. You know, primitive people revered the Lord, but modern people, modern people, up-to-date people, people who want to keep up with the times, then they set aside God's name, except to profanely say, all right, OMG, every time they're surprised about something. No, young and old alike can be united in this one matter. This is one of the blessings too, right? Now, what can fill the generation gap? Well, it's this. It's the magnifying and the praise of the Lord. Because it doesn't just cover different colors and races and tongues and tribes, but ages. Young and old alike can be united in it. That's what we want to teach our kids. often say there's nothing that unites a family over generations, not their name, but the name of the Lord, the covenant God. Because young and old are called to see that the name of God in Jesus Christ is the name that's above every name and needs to be prayed. So when we're asking that God's name be held for what he's done, we're asking that we would do that, our children would do that, and that the world around us would do that. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. We're asking for God's grace that way to abound in our lives and those around us in Jesus Christ. There would be no reason to ask for that after all. in the world in which we live, if all the world is doing that, and if we were doing that perfectly, there'd be no need for this petition, because it's already happened. But we don't do it perfectly. And the world needs to know the name of the Lord instead of forgetting it. We are praying for saving faith in people's lives in Jesus Christ, so people, will begin to hallow God's name in profession and praise. We're praying for grace that by Christ's spirit, those of us who know this faith already will appreciate all the more. You know, the priority of praising God's name for what he's done for us in Jesus Christ, the name that's above every name. So how does that hallowing happen? Well, how should it be done? Well, we see that the psalmist says to us how that should be. He says the worship of God becomes a priority. And that's quite obvious from the passage that's before us. It's the first thing out of his mouth, and it's the last thing out of his mouth. And that's not to be seen as unusual. Worship becomes a priority. And that's, catechism reflects that. That's where it gets it, from scripture. When we're praying, hell be thy name, we're praying in part, Father, may my worship of you, along with the Son and the Spirit, the one and only God, be priority. Help me, Lord, to make it not an afterthought, but my first thought. Not something in my spiritual background, but placed in the spiritual forefront of my life. Because when worship is a priority, we miss it when we don't do it. And I think we've seen a lot of that, haven't we, over the course of time when we We had that experience of not being able to be together, and God's people miss that. And they miss it because it's inbred in God's people. It's inbred in humanity. That's why we were created in the first place, is to praise the name of the Lord. That's why he made us. Not to magnify ourselves, but the name of the Lord. The worship of the Lord, the praise of the Lord is so important. It takes up the first petition that Jesus teaches. You know, and there's people who may ask you, you know, why do you worship so much? It must be because you're strict. And I hear that word strict. You know, I just don't like that. I don't like, I mean, I know you gotta be careful that you're not strict. I'm not saying that, but. Don't worship because I'm strict. I hope you don't. Because that wouldn't be good. Well, it's just we come and clock in, right? Why do you worship so much? Because worship means much to God's people. And it means so much because the name of the Lord means so much, because that's what Jesus taught us to consider as we pray. The psalmist says we are to do so greatly and loudly. He says that all the saints will bless the name of the Lord. And so that's what believers do. And that's what those who are saved by Jesus do, they worship. And we don't want to do it half-heartedly, or shyly, or crudely, or apathetically, or without joy. We don't want to do it without reverence. Now, when we pray, Hallowed be your name, my Father, in Jesus Christ, we're saying, there isn't anything more important to me than this. That's why, that's why I do it. I don't do it because I'm strict, It's just important. It's the most important thing to me. You saved me, Jesus. You've been gracious to me. You have done all these things that I could never do for myself. You have done these things that I never could have done. Only you could have done it. You created, you created me, you remade me, and you have done these things that I needed you to do for me. And I couldn't do them. You did them in Christ. God, my Father, there is none like you. And so I make the name of the Lord and that of the Father and the Spirit, the one and only God, a priority in the way I carry myself. And we're praying that everybody else that we can think of makes it a priority. That's it. But not only is God's name to be praised for what he has done, but it's also, his name's also be praised in what we do. We're praying that then not only is the praise that we give the name of God to be what is done on a special day, but every day. Every day we read in our psalm, every day I'll praise your name. And so in that sense, Every activity of every day is meant to be sacred peeling the potatoes going off to school boys and girls learning from your mothers and fathers Changing the oil in your car washing the dishes serving in government carrying out every Responsibility that we have our thinking are saying whatever we do. That's how the catechism puts it. It covers everything God is to be praised He is to be praised in God's people as he is to be praised more and more by other people who are called to Christ. And in this prayer, we're asking that God then may bless the motivations of our hearts so that it may be a place where I seek to honor God's name in everything because he deserves everything about me. May why I'm doing what I'm doing be because I want to honor you with what I'm doing. May what comes out of my mouth honor your name. May what I'm thinking honor your name. Am I doing what I'm doing with my money because I want to honor your name? Am I going far enough in what I'm thinking and doing and saying that the ultimate reason that I'm doing what I'm doing and saying and thinking what I'm thinking is because I want God's name to be honored? Or is the ultimate reason because I want to be honored? Now, of course, that dishonoring can even happen in the very prayers that we're praying. Am I praying in the spirit that what I have, am I praying in such a way that what I have really done is put my God's name first? Or have I put my name before God? Have I put my daily bread as the first petition? You know, you can get plenty of that gospel today if you want it. You can get it. God wants you to pray for what you can get, for what you want, and what there is to grab in the world. And it's not hard for our prayers in our lives to stop at the rung of our name and not reach to the rung of God's name. Because our heads are level and they're earthly and they're horizontal and they're not vertical. You know, we hear that God answers prayer. And yet it's easy to view what we call answered prayer solely as what worked out for me. Now, when you see that, you praise God for it. Of course you do. But it's not as easy to view answered prayer as what resulted in God's name being honored regardless if it worked out for me or not. What we want to pray for, after all, is not just so that I'll feel better, or that I'll be protected, or that I'll get what I need, or that I'll be kept safe. Now, don't get me wrong. Those are fine things for which to be praying, right? And we all, as Christians, no doubt pray for those things. We ought to do that. But I need, I need to pray first, God, may your name be praised in my life. And that takes some courage to pray that. May your name be praised in my life, just as you want it to be praised, and may that happen in more and more people's lives as well. So that in all that we say and do and think, You'll never be dishonored by us because that's my priority. Because when it comes down to it, it isn't my name that's most important. What really matters in my life and what really matters in my prayers is God's name. May His name be hallowed in my life. You know, when we remember what God has done for us, my friends, we can once again see why the hallowing of God's name is to be a priority for us all. And why the psalmist would say, my mouth, my mouth will speak in praise of the Lord as I pray. And in all things, and may all flesh then Bless his holy name forever and ever. Dear Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Amen. Let's finish our, respond to this with a moment of prayer. Again, Heavenly Father, having received your word, and as we consider the focus of our prayers and the focus of our lives, May it always be that, and all the more in our lives, the name of the Lord that would be praised. Thank you that we can be praying for other things as well, and that we need to, and that we want to do so, Lord, in the communion of the saints and for the blessing of your people. But may we find ourselves always putting you first, and realize that when we do that, not only does that become our priority, it's a suitable thing. what you do, what you've done, what you promise to do, who you are. We ponder your greatness, goodness, and grace. We pray that you'd hear us as we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.