This, then, is how you should pray: 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 (NIV)

In Heaven – Teach Us How To Pray – Part 3

Go to PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5  |  PART 6  |  PART 7

For Jesus, and his people, the political, social and economic climate of their day was violent, oppressive and uncertain. We’ve said this many times, but it's important to dig into the history and the context of the life of Jesus and his followers.

The Hebrews were looking for a way out from underneath the oppression of Rome. They were praying and hoping for a savior, who would physically and politically rescue them from the violent control of a foreign government and the rule of Caesar.

The Romans were on track to conquer the known world through their military strength and willingly crush and control those in their path. They were ruthless and more than cruel, and they believed they had every right to do be. The Roman Emperor, (Caeser), was called “Lord,” and “Son of God,” to indicate his divinity and supreme rule. He was worshiped and revered, like a God. He was obeyed like a God. He may have even believed himself to be one.

In the Hebraic tradition, to say something in the name of someone else, was to say something that that person would say: It’s to exhibit the standard/reputation/spirit of the person. Like a promise.

The phrase “Kiddush HaShem” means “to hallow or sanctify the name.” It's the phrase that would have originally used here. And it wasn’t just living in a way that brought glory to God (more on “Glory to God” in a future series…). It wasn’t checking that actions and rituals and behavior were all “up to scratch.” It was about embodying the message, spirit, gift, and name of God. Which goes beyond actions and behaviors and speaks to our very personhood and interior life.

So, we have a crippled culture being squeezed to death by an iron-fisted, God-complex-obsessed Rome; a wounded group of beautiful souls desperately wanting to usurp the political authority over them, conquering them out of their land and lives.

(That’s why the words of Jesus, and of his disciples and followers, ARE such a subversion of the dominant paradigm; a political and social statement about sovereignty.)

Into THAT atmosphere Jesus said:

Pray like this: “Our Father in heaven hallowed be your name.” Matt 6:9 (ESV).

Caesar can think he’s God, but we will ascribe that name to another.
He may act like he’s divine and in control, but we will worship another.
People may shake with fear and fall to their knees at the mention of Caesar's name, but we will find our strength in the name of another.

Remember who we pray to.
Remember whose name we embody.
Pray like you are a part of a different Kingdom that doesn’t play along with the rules of violence and dominance and control…
Pray with more than just your words, let your living and your life be a prayer of this other Kingdom.

The Hebrews were not going to win their freedom by exacting the same violence upon their oppressors that was used on them. “Self-made” people, countries, nations and kingdoms never last.

But perhaps through prayer, through connection with one another; through love and compassion and mercy, there was another way to defeat the underlying evil that held them all – foe and friend alike – in its powerful grip.

A different kind of kingdom birthed right into the middle of the one they were trying to get out of.

Walter Brueggeman said: “Prayer is the great antidote to the illusion that we are self-made.”

Your turn… Leave us your comments below.

Go to Part 4 – The Kingdom Here »

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