Day 4: In Heaven
This phrase only appears in some manuscripts and translations of Luke's gospel, but can be found in Matthew's version and was a common jewish address for God. I think the reason for the inconsistency has to do with Luke and Matthew's original audiences, but the scope of that is not really relevant to why we're here. I guess the reason I wanted to include it in this study is because it has had a profound practical impact on my prayer life, and I wonder if it might help you too. But we have to back up a bit first.
The word rendered “heaven” in the bible often conjures up images of cloud riding, harp plucking cherubs, but that was not the picture the writers of the New Testament had. The word here in Matthew 6:9 and the word Jesus used throughout the gospels is the Greek word that means very simply “the sky” or “heavens” plural. More literally, Jesus is saying "Our Father in the sky."
Sound strange to your modern ears? Don't overthink it. Consider this: Is the sky far from you, or near? Where does it begin? Where does it end? I think what the disciples understood is that God is a Father who is always everywhere, surrounding and encompassing. Like the sky, this line reminds us that He is both far and near.
Theologians call this God's transcendence(far-ness) and immanence(nearness). While reigning “on high” as supreme, sovereign, untenable King, He is also at the same time, intimately near to us by His own Spirit.
Let's talk about His transcendence first. God is entirely other or distinct from His creation. The Old Testament writers often reflect this spatial distance between God and creation by describing Him as most High, above the heavens, and reigning over the earth. They saw God as greater than man, but also as having a high viewpoint with which to view all of creation. The perfect perspective to see and rule over all.
But the distance between God and His creation is not just of a spatial nature, it's also a moral separation. It is the reason why Adam's sin results in him having to leave the garden-the dwelling place of God.* We'll get into this more in the next line of Jesus' prayer (see how it's all so connected?!) But for now just remember that in the next line of Jesus' prayer, we'll be declaring God as Holy. I think that's the word that best describes God's moral distance from His creation.
It's a difficult tension to hold, that God is both far and near. If we overvalue His transcendence we are apt to see him as distant, controlling and unapproachable. This view can result in a lack of intimacy in our relationship with God, a distrust or questioning of His goodness and love, and a fatalist or hard heart towards those who are suffering.
However focusing only on His immanence has problems of its own. This kind of view births hashtags like "Jesus is my homeboy," and T-shirts proclaiming Coffee, Tacos and Jesus. We tend to reduce God to a convenient add-on, or a being more like us. And a God like us must always think like us and value what we value. It's comfortable to see God this way because He is less of a threat to our loves, easier to understand and therefore control. But in the words of Evelyn Underhill, "If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshipped."
The beauty of our transcendent Father is that while He is Most High and beyond our understanding, He still reveals Himself to us by His Spirit through His word. And the most amazing part of His transcendence is the way it enables Him to also be immanent. We'll talk about that more tomorrow, but for today let's focus on our great and transcendent Father in (the) Heaven(s).
Find Psalm 145 in your Bible or use this link to pray to Our Father in Heaven today.
Read the words of Psalm 145 as your own declaration of God's greatness. Ask God to speak through His word to reveal to you the ways He is transcendent and other than all of Creation.
Take your time and pray each line or phrase, letting truth form your heart and bring to your awareness all the ways your Father is Most High. If something jumps off the page at you or requires further thought, make a note to go back to it later, or write it down on a slip of paper to put on your fridge or in your pocket for further reflection throughout the day.
When you're ready to go on, continue
Hallowed be your name.
*Credit for this ease of thought goes to J. Ryan Lister and his book The Presence of God.
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