Many of us have a vision of GOD that is based on our imagination and/or environment but is far removed from who GOD truly is. If our prayers are to have meaning and power, we must know GOD as He presents Himself to us – His character and what He expects from our relationship with Him.
We have satisfying relationships with people we love and respect because we interact with them based on our knowledge of them – their character and personality, and of course we know them by name. We relate to each based on our knowledge of who they are – their likes and dislikes, what makes them happy and what can cause them pain. We love them so we care about our relationships and they do the same for us.
Similarly, we must know GOD’s personality and character if we are to have meaningful dialog with Him and understand what He wants from us.
In His WORD GOD reveals His character in His NAMES – WHO He wants to be for His children and what He wants us to be for HIM. We will find that GOD’s revealed NAMES tell us that He loves us with all His heart and He is just as present in our lives today as He was to the people of the Bible.
NAMES of GOD – Old Testament uses:
Yahweh – GOD the Self-existent One, WHO always existed and will always exist. Yahweh is used more than any other name of God. It occurs 6,519 times in the Old Testament with first use in Genesis 2:4. Yahweh has been transliterated by scholars and is commonly rendered today as Jehovah. (1 Samuel 1:20, Isaiah 40:3; 10; Exodus 6:1-4, 3:1-22)- …the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Genesis 2:4
- Therefore the Lord declares, the Lord of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel… Isaiah 1:24
- ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. Exodus 31:13
- Please listen, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph’s descendants like a flock. Psalm 80:1
Jehovah-Rapha – GOD is our healer, the Great Physician who heals the physical and
emotional needs of His people. JESUS CHRIST also revealed GOD’s healing heart
for all mankind in the New Testament. (2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 6:2, 41:4, 103:3,
147:3, Isaiah 19:22, 30:36, 57:18-19, Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14, 30:17)
- “I am the Lord, your healer.” Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Tsidkenu – GOD is our righteousness. When we accept His SON, JESUS CHRIST as
our Savior He becomes our righteousness; He forgives our sins and washes us
with His blood and we become children of GOD. (Jeremiah 33:16, Psalm 4:1, 5:8,
24:5, 31:1, 36:10, 71:15, 89:16)
- In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-Jireh – GOD our provider. The Father who cares for us and tells us
never to worry about our provision because He is our source for every aspect of
life. Jehovah-Jireh occurs only once
in Genesis
22:13-14,....So Abraham called
the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On
the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Jehovah-Nissi – The LORD our banner; GOD gives
us victory in spiritual warfare. When we are under spiritual attack, GOD raises
a banner of His love and protection over us and covers us. He wages war on our
behalf and makes us more than conquerors in CHRIST JESUS. Jehovah-Nissi occurs only once in Exodus 17:15, And
Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner.
Jehovah-Shalom – The LORD is peace. When there is
turmoil and chaos in our lives, we can get peace and comfort in the GOD of
peace. His peace is beyond our understanding. Jehovah-Shalom occurs only once in Judges 6:24, “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and
called it, The Lord Is Peace.”
Jehovah-Sabbaoth – The LORD of Hosts. Jehovah and
Elohim occur with Sabbaoth over 285 times. It is most frequently used in
Jeremiah and Isaiah and first used in 1 Samuel 1:3. (Isaiah 6:1-3, 1 Samuel 1:3, 17:45;
2 Samuel 6:2, 7:26-27; Haggai 1:5)
- And David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:9
Elohim – GOD our Creator, powerful and
mighty, LORD of lords – occurs over 2,000
times in the Old Testament. When we face impossible circumstances we
know that GOD is the LORD Most High and is mightier than anyone or any
challenge. (Genesis 17:7, Psalm 19:1, Jeremiah 31:33)
- In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
El-Elyon – The GOD Most High. El Elyon
occurs 28 times, 19 occurrences in the Psalms and its first use is in Genesis
14:18. Do not fear the enemy who tries to intimidate us. We serve the
Most High GOD and there is none above Him. (Genesis
14:17-20, Deuteronomy 26:19, Isaiah 14:13-14)
- I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2
El-Olam – GOD everlasting, GOD eternal. Our
problems are temporary but the GOD of the universe, the Ancient of Days will
never change. His promises are true and His goodness eternal. (Genesis 21:33;
Jeremiah 10:10)
- Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock. Isaiah 26:4
The Ultimate NAME of GOD – I AM:
When Moses first encountered God at the burning bush, he
asked what His name was:
- God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. (Exodus 3:14-15)
The NAME GOD gave Himself, I AM, should leave no doubt in our minds of His eternal presence – that He is now, He always has been, and He always will be there for His chosen people.
This amazing God is here now to help us, comfort us, guide
us, provide for us, fight for us, save us from eternal damnation, and so much
more.
GOD wants us to know Him as our loving Father who cares deeply
and He waits patiently to hear from us.
Prayer and Thanksgiving: LORD
GOD, Holy and Righteous, Great and Mighty, LORD of
hosts. We give praise honor and glory to the great I AM; YOU who
have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your
outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Thank you for showing
steadfast love. YOU give perfect counsel and are mighty in deed, YOUR
eyes are open to all our ways and YOU respond with grace and mercy. Father for any that still lack confidence to come to YOU as Father, YOU have provided a way through YOUR
SON, JESUS CHRIST who YOU sent to earth to die in our place. Draw them now to
receive YOUR gift of forgiveness and eternal life through His death on the
cross of Calvary so they can know YOU as their good, good Father and JESUS
as LORD. To YOU belong all dominion, all power and all glory, for ever and
ever. We pray and ask all things in the precious Name of Jesus Christ our LORD,
the NAME above all names. Amen!
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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