A number of years ago a young boy came up to me after a service in church and declared “Pastor Kneeo, I know God’s name”. Curious I asked, “and what is that name” “Howard” he stated triumphantly having knowledge that I did not possess. I inquired, ‘and how do you know that?”. With a great smile of delight he declared, ” Our Father, who art in heaven, Howard be Thy name!”
Holy is the name of God. Hi, my name is Neil. It identifies me. If you have the misfortune of knowing me you may have images and memories that are conjured up in your mind when you hear the name Neil. First, for some it is a decision, on which Neil. Neil Diamond? Neil Rogers? (whose email is occasionally misdirected to me), or Neil Cudney? Once it is determined that it is me, Neil Cudney that we’re talking about, there are feelings, sentiments, opinions that all come into play – we won’t explore those images too deeply because I’m afraid. However, the name ‘Neil’ itself does not describe me. There are occasion perhaps when someone might be too loud or thick headed you might say “Oh stop being such a Neil”, but beyond a few that might have that same experience of me, it holds no meaning or power in itself. The name of God is something quite different. It is not a result of a mom and dad looking at their kid and saying ‘let’s name it… Neil’, because they liked the name. God’s name is Himself. I could have had the name Larry, Curly or Moe – but God can and only can have the name Holy. The Jewish people believed that God’s name was so Holy that it was not to be written and are able to refer to Him as Adonai (which means simply “my Lord”. They knew God’s name as YHWH, but it was not supposed to be written or spoken in fear of taking God’s name in vain, or creating a graven image. God revealed His name as YHWH to Moses, “I am that I am’ (though Hebrew tenses don’t work the same as ours so it could be “I am what I will be” or “I am what I have been”). God’s name is being, existence itself. Essentially, existence -- is God. Although that does not mean that God is all things and therefore all things are Holy – Existence is without exception in God, but God is not found in existence – He is beyond. That is kind of a mind bender, it makes one’s head hurt. It is what caused one ancient theologian to state: “God is greater than that which can be conceived, once it is conceived, it cannot be God”.
I think we need to follow a Psalmist tradition and have a “Selah” insert at this point. A Selah was put in as a pause and means “stop and think about that”. Every time we begin the Our Father prayer, we require a great pause of silence, reverence and awe as we are impacted by the immensity of that statement and the privilege that has been grant to us to let it pass over our lips. Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be they name, Selah…
Anyway I was just thinking.
Neil
Holy is the name of God. Hi, my name is Neil. It identifies me. If you have the misfortune of knowing me you may have images and memories that are conjured up in your mind when you hear the name Neil. First, for some it is a decision, on which Neil. Neil Diamond? Neil Rogers? (whose email is occasionally misdirected to me), or Neil Cudney? Once it is determined that it is me, Neil Cudney that we’re talking about, there are feelings, sentiments, opinions that all come into play – we won’t explore those images too deeply because I’m afraid. However, the name ‘Neil’ itself does not describe me. There are occasion perhaps when someone might be too loud or thick headed you might say “Oh stop being such a Neil”, but beyond a few that might have that same experience of me, it holds no meaning or power in itself. The name of God is something quite different. It is not a result of a mom and dad looking at their kid and saying ‘let’s name it… Neil’, because they liked the name. God’s name is Himself. I could have had the name Larry, Curly or Moe – but God can and only can have the name Holy. The Jewish people believed that God’s name was so Holy that it was not to be written and are able to refer to Him as Adonai (which means simply “my Lord”. They knew God’s name as YHWH, but it was not supposed to be written or spoken in fear of taking God’s name in vain, or creating a graven image. God revealed His name as YHWH to Moses, “I am that I am’ (though Hebrew tenses don’t work the same as ours so it could be “I am what I will be” or “I am what I have been”). God’s name is being, existence itself. Essentially, existence -- is God. Although that does not mean that God is all things and therefore all things are Holy – Existence is without exception in God, but God is not found in existence – He is beyond. That is kind of a mind bender, it makes one’s head hurt. It is what caused one ancient theologian to state: “God is greater than that which can be conceived, once it is conceived, it cannot be God”.
I think we need to follow a Psalmist tradition and have a “Selah” insert at this point. A Selah was put in as a pause and means “stop and think about that”. Every time we begin the Our Father prayer, we require a great pause of silence, reverence and awe as we are impacted by the immensity of that statement and the privilege that has been grant to us to let it pass over our lips. Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be they name, Selah…
Anyway I was just thinking.
Neil
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