Which Old Testament passages emphasize God's holiness, as seen in Matthew 6:9? Matthew 6:9 – The Call to Hallow God’s Name “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Jesus’ opening petition rests on a rich Old Testament foundation that celebrates the absolute moral purity, otherness, and majesty of God. Below are key passages that prepare us to grasp the weight of “hallowed be Your name.” Key Old Testament Passages That Magnify God’s Holiness • Exodus 3:5 – “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” – God’s presence defines holiness; even desert sand becomes sacred when He is near. • Exodus 15:11 – “Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” – Israel’s first worship song after the Red Sea lifts God above every rival on the basis of His holiness. • Leviticus 11:44–45 – “For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy… I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God.” – Redemption leads to imitation; God’s rescued people must mirror His character. • Leviticus 19:2 – “Speak to the entire congregation of Israel and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.’” – Holiness is not optional for God’s covenant community; it is His stated requirement. • Leviticus 22:32 – “You must not profane My holy name; I must be sanctified among the Israelites. I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” – God both demands and supplies the means for His name to be kept holy. • 1 Samuel 2:2 – “There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no other besides You, and there is no Rock like our God.” – Hannah’s song links God’s uniqueness and stability to His holiness. • Psalm 99:3, 5, 9 – “Let them praise Your great and awesome name—He is holy!” “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!” “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.” – Repeated declaration drives home that worship centers on acknowledging His distinctness. • Psalm 111:9 – “He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.” – Redemption and covenant flow from the holiness of God’s name. • Isaiah 6:3 – “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.” – Triple repetition underscores superlative holiness; heaven’s liturgy declares what earth must learn. • Isaiah 57:15 – “For this is what the high and exalted One says—He who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I dwell in a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly in spirit…’” – God’s lofty holiness coexists with tender condescension toward the humble. • Habakkuk 2:20 – “But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” – Holiness commands global reverence and silence. Connecting the Thread – God’s holiness is intrinsic and unrivaled; every encounter (burning bush, temple vision, or mighty act) highlights His absolute purity and separateness. – His name—representing His nature and reputation—must never be treated as common (Leviticus 22:32). – Old Testament worship orders life around God’s holiness, paving the way for Jesus to teach His followers to hallow the Father’s name in the Lord’s Prayer. Living in Light of His Holiness – Approach God with reverent intimacy: He is Father, yet also the “high and exalted One” (Isaiah 57:15). – Reflect His character: “Be holy because I am holy” (Leviticus 19:2) remains the believer’s calling (1 Peter 1:15-16). – Guard His reputation: words, actions, and corporate worship should display that His name is unlike any other. |
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