Green Pastures and Still Waters
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I don't know which Science Fiction movie first used that line. I only know that these "martian beings" land their space craft, walk down the little ramp and say, "Take me to your leader." I don't even know what happened after that but I guess even martians are aware that if you want to get something done you better "go to the top." We are studying the paragraph in Matthew 6 commonly known as the Lord's Prayer. It is an amazing and brilliant piece of instruction about how to recalculate our thinking that has gone astray. We need to do this often and this prayer serves as a model for repentance and clear thinking. It seems so odd that we should have to be reminded (and remind ourselves) that God is the Leader of the Universe and we are not. Seriously, what could be more basic than the idea that God is in charge? Yet, this simple truth often gets lost in our desire to run our world and get people to do our bidding. It is really frustrating to try to run a world...even our own little ones. How absolutely liberating to rest in the good care of our good Father. As dearly loved children we want Him to be known for who He is. We'll recognize that His rule is best, His will is good and that we will flourish as human beings when we live in this reality. But as sheep who regularly struggle to find our way in life, we need the constant reminder of the way things really are. This is why Jesus taught us to pray "in this manner." It is for our good life that we have been given this instruction. Let's start measuring our prayers against this pattern. How are we doing? Where else do we see these themes in the Scripture? What could we do to grow in our confidence in God's goodness?
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Even people who don't know their Bible very well seem to know the story of David and Goliath. That story has become a metaphor of the underdog beating the champion. We love that story every time it happens...unless you're the champion of course. When we talk about David's weaponry we always seem to focus on his sling and the stones. Funny thing is, he didn't. He said to Goliath, "You come to me with a sword , with a spear and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts..." He didn't say anything about his sling and stones. We know that is what he used but according to his own words, it wasn't what he trusted. He came in the "name of the Lord of hosts." That means he came in the power of God, resting in the promises of God to maintain the reputation of God. Goliath had defied the God of Israel. David was more concerned about God's reputation than he was about his own life. This is surely what Jesus had in mind when He taught us how to pray. "Hallowed be Thy Name" means we ought to want the Name, the Reputation and the Glory of God to be recognized and affirmed. We certainly shouldn't go around throwing stones at people who don't but we should make it our mission in life to see that God is known for who He really is. The patriarchs, priests and prophets that loved God wanted to see His Name hallowed. Once we really "get it" that we are dearly loved children of the Most High, we will want the same. What do you want?