Hallowed be Your name
(Newman Hall, "Meditations on the Lord's Prayer")
"Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name."
Matthew 6:9
This petition condemns much more than profane
language. Whenever we introduce the Divine name
in our speech uselessly and triflingly--when we
employ it to turn a sentence, or give emphasis to
a statement, or point to an anecdote--when we make
the Divine Word the subject-matter of jokes, punning
on solemn truths of Revelation, and quoting Scripture
with ludicrous adaptations to provoke mirth. And even
when we take this great name on our lips in worship
without any endeavor to feel the homage it demands,
we violate the spirit of this prayer.
"You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God
in vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless who
takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7