Nougat 30

Ever since discovering that surnames tell stories, I’ve been fascinated with names and their meaning. I’ve since discovered that there is a difference between first name and Christian names, and that in some early cultures, names reflect one’s dreams for the child’s future and may even be considered sacred/(private).

If we think about some names popular in our time, we can immediately see the aforementioned: some names carry profound meanings, not only surnames; some first names reveal one’s faith ie religious practice; some names – assumed or otherwise – reflect parental (or even individual) dreams and aspirations; and there are names considered sacred.

While reading this; did you find yourself thinking about the significance of your name? Or maybe you thought about how the names given to/appropriated by faith groups tell stories? And, are there names that you hold sacred? (Please share them with me and say why, please, please). As we consider today’s Holy Nougat, how might the names of our God fit in the aforementioned categories?

“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It is very likely that those events within the Exodus 3 narrative were encased in the words of Jesus. The Matthean version of The Lord’s Prayer was located within the most famous teachings of Jesus: the Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, Jesus taught plainly, without too many parallels or parables. After sharing about what makes for a truly blessed life (or, in my words, the path to Holiness), Jesus taught them about prayer essentials.

The Lucan version is not situated within a formal teaching moment; but places the lesson within a private moment: the disciples see Jesus praying and requested a lesson in prayer (see Luke 11). Despite the altered context of the lesson, we note that Jesus began with the identity and nature of God.

Our Father: in a world where fatherhood was a mark of honor, it was logical for God to be male. By referencing God as Father, there is a shift in the previous dynamic: God is more approachable, caring and even accessible. This is not the vengeful, forbidding, punitive God of the Exile. There is no direct need for an intermediary; for God is a loving parent.

But Jesus didn’t intend that God’s divine status was diminished. Immediately on the heels of recognizing God’s accessibility comes the reminder of God’s holiness.I grew up with the KJV wording of this prayer, and though it had me thinking of the holiness of God’s name/s; I hear the prayer differently when phrased in this regard.

Not only do the Ten Commandments come to mind (Exodus 20:2-7); but more so Moses’ first profound experience with God. (see Exodus 3)

We may be familiar with Moses’ burning bush experience that really brings the idea of God’s holiness to life:

The bush burns but didn’t destroy the tree represents the move of God’s Spirit in our lives – burns away our mess without destroying our lives

Moses being told to remove his shoes in the presence of God invites us to enter God’s presence with an awareness of Who God is. God is Wholly Other, thus Holy Other.

God’s revelation to Moses reminding us that God also can reveal to us plans for the present and future; and of our role in those plans

God’s reverencing of God’s names, including the name that is not publicly mentioned by many Jews (YHWH) reflects God’s identity, nature, sovereignty and grace to us through the ages.

When those two Exodus references are combined with the Lord’s Prayer, I hear an invitation for us to ensure that God’s name, and by extension God’s identity and nature, ought to remain sacred.

As each name of God reveals an attribute of God’s nature, we neither take the Name (ie God’s title), nor the Persona behind the title for granted. God’s names reflects spiritual meaning, defines our hopes, and reveals our faith. Each time we reference God’s name, we invite ourselves in the presence of the Most Holy One Who also desires to maintain a relationship with us.

Abba (Chief Familial Provider), may we ensure that Your Name is kept holy.

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May all we seek be found in Christ