"Who is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:9)
The fact that God is in Heaven is often used to indicate His power and majesty. The expression occurring in the model prayer indicates that whoever prays should recognize the greatness of the Being whom He addresses. "He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
We quote a few texts to show the comprehensiveness of the expression, "who is in Heaven." "The Lord has prepared His throne in the Heavens; and His kingdom rules over all." (Psalm 103:19) "But our God is in the Heavens; He has done whatsoever He has pleased." (Psalm 115:3)
These texts show the power of God. The same thing is found in: "O Lord God of our fathers, are you not God in Heaven? and do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in your hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand you?" (2 Chronicles 20:6)
Whenever it is designed to indicate the power and majesty of God, His dwelling-place in Heaven is mentioned. "The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in Heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men." (Psalm 11:4)
Here God's dwelling-place in Heaven is mentioned to show His omniscience. "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? says the Lord. Do not I fill Heaven and earth? says the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:24)
Here the omnipresence of God is indicated, as also in: "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the Heaven and Heaven of heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built." )1 Kings 8:27)
And also: "Thus says the Lord, The Heaven is my throne, and the ear this my footstool; where is the house that you build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?" (Isaiah 66:1) "Be not rash with your mouth and let not your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in Heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few." (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Here the fact that God is in Heaven is given as a reason for sobriety and carefulness of speech. Thus we find that the expression in the Lord's Prayer, "Who is in Heaven," stands for a recognition of the power, the majesty, the omnipotence, and the omniscience of God. All these things should be borne in mind when we approach the throne of grace. This thought will tend to produce reverence and awe.
Multiplication of words and "vain repetitions," for which Christ condemned the heathen, arise from the fact that the petitioner thinks more of himself than he does of the one whom he is addressing. The heathen gods were so contemptible that the heathen worshiper could not help thinking more of himself than of his god; for heathen worship, in its inception, was self-worship. (See Romans 1:21-23)
But the God whom we worship sits upon the circle of the heavens, and he who has a just sense of His greatness will come with reverence into His presence, and will confine his words to just the things which he needs.
Hallowed Be Your Name
"Hallowed be your name." (Matthew 6:9)
This follows as a natural consequence of that which precedes. The one who remembers the words, "There is none like unto the God of Jerusalem, who rides upon the heavens in your help, and in His excellency on the sky," (Deuteronomy 33:26) will of necessity "fear that glorious and fearful name, The Lord Your God.--Signs of the Times, March 3, 1887.