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His Honor

I sat in the courtroom on a wooden pew surrounded by rich wood paneled walls. As I looked toward the judge’s bench at the front of the courtroom, the bailiff commanded all to rise and announced the entrance of the Honorable Judge Slater, as court was called into session.

I felt admiration and respect for the judge as he was referred to as “your honor” when addressed. Did “his honor” have respect because of his title, family name, money, or social/class standing? Probably not. “His honor” had been a classmate of mine and, on occasion, we had even driven livestock into the showering of his grandfather’s sale barn. While being a man of good moral character, “his honor” was shown respect, even by his enemies, because he represented the law of the land.

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he taught them to address God as “Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed by thy name” (Matthew 6:9. Or honored be your name. Those honored among men are not perfect. But Jesus wants us to know and acknowledge that our Father God is perfect and honorable in all that he does and all that he is. As we address God in prayer, it is not as much the formality of His title as it is the quality of His person, character, and reputation. While not all people’s titles or position in society line up with their personal lives, Our Father in heaven is totally reliable and sound. He is holy. Holy is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words “halig” or “hale”. It means to set apart, very special, sound, healthy, or whole. His Honor is holy and worthy of respect and reverence.

The ancient Hebrews so respected the name of God that they would not even pronounce it or attempt to put it into human language. It was represented by the letters YHWH. Later it was expanded to YAWEH which became Jehovah translated into English as “the Lord”. When God was asked who He was, His reply was “I AM THAT I AM.” Jesus, when asked who He was, replied, “Before Abraham was I AM” (John 8:58). God is the eternal, enduring Lord of all the universe and, as “Our Father”, is from everlasting to everlasting the same. He deserves our utmost respect and reverence. “We love him because he first loved us!” (I John 14:19)

In Isaiah 6 we are given an awesome view of the Holy God. He is indeed awesome. (Read Psalm 76:11.) In the presence, power, and purity of the Holy One, Isaiah became aware of his own blemishes and sin. The nearer we draw to God, the more we sense our own need of cleansing and forgiveness.

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, generations have not reverenced God. That is one of the reasons that Jesus taught us to pray, “Hallowed be thy name”. Many people deride, degrade, and disrespect His Holy name. One of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). That means more than not “swearing”.

In Isaiah 6 we see at least three areas where we must honor and worship His Honor.

First – all CREATION must. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3). In all creation we can see the presence, power, and character of God Our Heavenly Father. One day every knee shall bow before the name of His Son, Jesus. (Read Philippians 2:9-11.)

Second – the CHURCH, the sanctuaries and the bodies of believers are set apart to honor and worship His Honor. “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne . . . and His train filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:4). His person, authority, and honor is to be reverenced, worshipped, and proclaimed in the church.

AW Tozer maintained that the life of the modern church is suffering great loss today because of a loss of reverence for God. God, he said would honor any group of believers who honored Him. Whereas, wherever He was neglected or relegated to some mere religiosity, death and decadence were bound to follow. May we see God’s presence fill the temple!

Third – the CHILD OF GOD’S own life must honor His Honor. Our personal relationship with Him either honors or dishonors the Most High. Isaiah sensed his own need for cleansing and forgiveness. When touched by God, he was cleansed and pardoned. He was brought into communion with God and commissioned to serve Him. (Read Isaiah 6:5-9.)

People have been conditioned by secular society that God doesn’t really matter. God is thought to be of so little importance that no time in the classroom is given to consider God’s role in human history, science, and literature.

If you claim to be a child of God, you must live like it. Jesus urged us to honor His Honor by letting “your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). To have power in prayer you must honor the name of our Father in heaven. Honor Him in creation, in the church, and as a child of God. Honor His Son – Jesus Christ.

“For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

by: Cliff Sanders