Premier Prayer Guide (2) Adoration Prayer

Premier Prayer Guide (2) - Adoration Prayer

In this series of blogs I am thinking about how the Lord's Prayer, as Jesus' response to His disciples request to be taught how to pray (Luke 11:1f), is so much more than just a prayer to say and is an outline of what prayer involves.   In the last blog I looked at Abba prayer and now I would like to consider Adoration prayer, which is what we are entering into in the words, 'Hallowed be your Name', the second line of the Lord's Prayer (See Matthew 6:9).

The Lord's Prayer teaches us of this important adoration aspect of prayer. Before we seek the advancement of God's kingdom on earth and before we start asking God for His help, we need to take some time to adore the Holy One in the contemplation of His Name  and in worship, praise and thanksgiving.

God's Name is more than just an 'identification tag', like our names might be today. In biblical thought God's Name is the revelation of who He is and what He does (cf. 1 Sam. 25:25 for this understanding of what a name signifies). Some have said that the Old Testament contains about 16 names for God, all revealing various truths about Him. (See the list below).

Every revelation of God's Name is holy and is to be hallowed, treated as high, lifted up and holy, worthy to be revered and adored. Isaiah 6:3 tells of how the seraphim in heaven worship and adore God's Holy Name crying:

"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory".

Revelation 4:8 reveals that the same repeated heavenly adoration continues:

'And the four living creatures, ..... day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" ' (ESV)

In prayer we join in with this heavenly chorus of perpetual adoration of God.

This threefold repetition of holy emphasizes that holiness is the main characteristic of God's being. This word 'holy' (qadosh in Hebrew, hagios in Greek) refers to the idea of separation, or that God is set apart and high above all that He has made. Though God draws near and is imminent, He is also 'high and lifted up' in transcendence. Isaiah 'saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up' (Isaiah 6:1) and the seraphim are adoring this lofty set apartness of God.

Isaiah 57:15 says:

'For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:"I dwell in the high and holy place .....'(ESV)

One possible way to enter the heavenly chorus of adoration might be to use the names of God revealed in Scripture.

Here are some of God's revealed names in the Old Testament for us to use as we take some time in adoration prayer. *

* El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty, All Sufficient One, speaks of God's power and provision, Genesis 17:1)
* El Elyon (The Most High God, speaks of the exaltation of God, Genesis 14:18)
* Adonai (Lord, Master, speaks of the Lordship of God, Genesis 15:2)
* Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah, YHWH, God's special Name of promise, covenant and salvation, Genesis 2:4; Exodus 3:14; 6:3)
* Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner, speaks of God as the flag of encouragement, hope and focus in the battles of life, Exodus 17:15)
* Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd, speaks of the intimacy, care and friendship of God, Psalm 23:1)
* Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals, speaks of God our healer and restorer, Exodus 15:26)
* Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There, speaks of God not abandoning Jerusalem but abiding and restoring, Ezekiel 48:35)
* Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness, speaks of God straightening out our relationship with Himself, Jeremiah 23:6)
* Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You, speaks of God setting us apart for Himself, Exodus 31:13)
* El Olam (The Everlasting God, speaks of the eternity of God, Genesis 21:33)
* Elohim (God, speaks of the plurality of God as majestic Creator and hints of the Trinity, Genesis 1:1)
* Qanna (Jealous, speaks of God's zeal for His people as His exclusive bride, Exodus 20:5)
* Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide, speaks of God as the provider of the substitute sacrifice, Genesis 22:14)
* Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace, speaks of God as giver of completeness, Judges 6:24)
* Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of Armies, speaks of God as mighty and victorious over all attacks, 1 Samuel 1:3)

We could also use God's names revealed in the New Testament as we adore and revere Him.

* Father (The source of all fatherhood, good and generous to all, Ephesians 3:14-15; Matthew 7:11)
* Jesus (Our Saviour, Matthew 1:21)
* Holy Spirit (Our Helper, Ephesians 1:13; John 14:16)

(*I adapted this list of God's names from the article on God's Names at https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm)