15 April 2024
Bailey's penchant for elaborate lyrical analysis is on good display again here. The chapter opens with mention of the subject: the part of the Model Prayer that asks for holiness for His name.
Then he immediately launches into a list of the items in the Model Prayer (BTW, he calls it by its traditional name, "The Lord's Prayer"). There are six items; three "Thou petitions" and three "we petitions".
- making holy the name of God
- the coming of the kingdom of God
- the fulfilling of the will of God...
- daily bread
- forgiveness in community
- freedom from evil
Then, he recounts how each one has an obvious obligation attached to it for us to fulfill: live a holy life, work toward the Kingdom, learn and obey His will, work for that daily bread, forgive others, and life a righteous life. He goes on in detail how this list resembles both the Islamic and Jewish common prayers. What is most significant is that Jesus modifies the latter to make this whole exercise no longer one for a single nation, but something befitting a spiritual kingdom drawn from all nations.
God's name is inherently holy. What's the point of praying about it? God through Ezekiel reminded Judah that they had defiled their own land with idolatry. Bailey refers to Ezekiel 36:21-23 and lays out the lyrical pattern: ABCBA. The only reason He was bringing them back home was for His own name's sake, His reputation among the nations. Thus, the Model Prayer is asking God to act mightily in ways that glorify His name, particularly through His people.
Bailey fumbles the explanation of why God's name needs to be known. Actually, it refers to His feudal title. If He reveals His title, then He intends for those who hear to approach Him as their God. Otherwise, He remains a remote deity that does not claim you, and does not want you to approach Him.
Bailey cites the tradition that, to avoid taking His name in vain, people reading the text of Scripture out loud would verbally substitute Adonai or Elohim in place of Yahweh, but this is actually a rather late tradition. Still, his point is that one could also be careful by using the "divine passive" voice of verbs relating to God, but he explains it poorly. It refers to things "being done (by God)", but not mentioning Him directly.
In Isaiah 6:1-10 we get an outline of how God's holiness works. A vision of God's awesome holy power leaves us deeply aware of our unworthiness, and we cry out for His cleansing, followed by readily volunteering for any difficult mission for His glory. This is inherent in the Model Prayer.
Bailey raises the issue of how fatherly compassion and holiness can be reconciled. Of course, this is exemplified in the story of Hosea and Gomer. She betrays him at every turn, sells herself into sin, in multiple ways justifying she be executed by stoning. But Hosea buys her back because he loves her. Therefore, he prepares to restore her to a righteous life by his unilateral action. He does this because he is holy.
This, of course, prefigures what Christ does for us on the Cross.
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