WLC 190

Q190. What do we pray for in the first petition?

In the first petition (which is, Hallowed be thy name,) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honor God aright, pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him, his titles, attributes, ordinances, word, works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; and to glorify him in thought, word, and deed: that he would prevent and remove atheism, ignorance, idolatry, profaneness, and: whatsoever is dishonorable to him; and, by his overruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory.

Proof texts

• Matt. 6:9 — [9] Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
• 2 Cor. 3:5 — [5] Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
• Ps. 51:15 — [15] O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
• Ps. 67:2-3 — [2] that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. [3] Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!
• Ps. 83:18 — [18] that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
• Ps. 86:10-13,15 — [10] For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. [11] Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. [12] I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. [13] For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. [15] But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
• 2 Thess. 3:1 — [1] Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you,
• Ps. 138:1-3 — [1] I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; [2] I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. [3] On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.
• Ps. 147:19-20 — [19] He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. [20] He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!
• 2 Cor. 2:14-15 — [14] But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. [15] For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,
• Ps. 145 — [1] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. [5] On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. [6] They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. [7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. [8] The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [9] The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. [10] All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! [11] They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, [12] to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.] [14] The LORD upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. [15] The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. [16] You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. [17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. [18] The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. [19] He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. [20] The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. [21] My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
• Ps. 8 — [1] O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. [2] Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. [3] When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, [4] what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? [5] Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. [6] You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, [7] all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, [8] the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. [9] O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
• Ps. 19:14 — [14] Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
• Ps. 103:1 — [1] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
• Phil. 1:9,11 — [9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
• Ps. 67:1-4 — [1] May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, <i>Selah</i> [2] that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. [3] Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! [4] Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. <i>Selah</i>
• Eph. 1:17-18 — [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
• Ps. 97:7 — [7] All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
• Ps. 74:18,22-23 — [18] Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. [22] Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! [23] Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
• 2 Kings 19:15-16 — [15] And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: “O LORD, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. [16] Incline your ear, O LORD, and hear; open your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
• 2 Chr. 20:6,10-12 — [6] and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. [10] And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy — [11] behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. [12] O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
• Ps. 83 — [1] O God, do not keep silence; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! [2] For behold, your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads. [3] They lay crafty plans against your people; they consult together against your treasured ones. [4] They say, “Come, let us wipe them out as a nation; let the name of Israel be remembered no more!” [5] For they conspire with one accord; against you they make a covenant — [6] the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, [7] Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; [8] Asshur also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. <i>Selah</i> [9] Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera and Jabin at the river Kishon, [10] who were destroyed at En-dor, who became dung for the ground. [11] Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna, [12] who said, “Let us take possession for ourselves of the pastures of God.” [13] O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. [14] As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, [15] so may you pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your hurricane! [16] Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, O LORD. [17] Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever; let them perish in disgrace, [18] that they may know that you alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth.
• Ps. 140:4,8 — [4] Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. [8] Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! <i>Selah</i>

For discussion

1. The Assembly cited Matt. 6:9 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 23 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q98 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. HC Q116 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q98 · HC Q116