2007 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67



7 January
Passage: Matthew 6:1-18
Focus: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-10.

Those are familiar lines. Most folk with any kind of church background have memorized “The Lord’s Prayer.” Expounding on this simple prayer outline could consume a book—and then some. But, for now, I want to give attention to the simple phrase, “hallowed be your name,” and relate it again to the list of highly significant and descriptive Hebrew name combinations for Jehovah-God as gathered from the Old Testament record. To be sure, “From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3). You and I are wise to be regular participants.

Recently I briefly expounded on our need for HOPELESSNESS. That’s growing on me. I think it’s a vital concept. We need to recognize that, left to ourselves, we perpetually make problems and messes that we are wholly inadequate to fix or clean up. That’s where our need for HOPELESSNESS fits in as a required quality within the Kingdom of God. The moment we entertain the notion that we, on our own, can fix and clean things up just fine is the moment we put ourselves on a path of failure away from God’s promises and provisions. In that regard, consider the prayer of David when He pleads, “Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:4-5).

Here—try this on for size. Without going back to confirm their Bible references, or correct spelling for the Hebrew equivalents, I’ll just list out the Hebrew name combinations for Jehovah as I remember them, and apply to each my personal spin of HOPELESSNESS:

When I truly hallow His Name(s), my own HOPELESS hope fades in surrender to a superior HOPE that is in Him alone.


“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope.”
~ Paul—Romans 15:13 ~