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THE NAMES AND NATURE OF GOD
` In the beginning God . . '
In every part of human society the use of names has come to mean much more than being just a way of identifying people. When we bring to mind the name of a person we bring into play all our emotional faculties as we recall not only the physical appearance of that person but their known character and personality too. Names, therefore, are very important in the social structure of everyday living. In our Western culture a name has become merely a means of identifying a person, either visually, when we meet, or emotionally, when we think of someone. But in less sophisticated or primitive societies (and here the word `primitive' does not mean backward) the naming of a person and the use of recalling the name of that person to mind is a way of expressing the personality of that person through the name. This is clearly seen in Scripture, for in Genesis 2 we read the account of God creating Adam - whose name comes from the Hebrew word, `Adamah', whic has the meaning of `ground or dust of the earth': (Genesis 2:7)
" And the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. "
We see this again in the story of the wife of Phineas who was dying after childbirth. She named her son Ichabod - which has the meaning of `no glory'. The naming of that particular child was a prophetic revelation to the nation of Israel, who because of their disobedience would see the Glory of God (the Presence of God in their midst) depart from their nation. She named the boy Ichabod saying, `the Glory has departed from Israel'
(1 Samuel 4:21). In the Gospels we read of the angel Gabriel instructing Mary to name her child Jesus - which has the Hebrew meaning of `salvation' - for He was to be the salvation of the people Israel. Indeed, He is the way of salvation for all men who will accept Him as Lord or Messiah: (Luke 1:31)
" You will be with child and give birth to a Son,
and you are to give Him the name Jesus. "
We often find that at a time of significant change in a person's life there comes a change of name also. We see this clearly when God made a Covenant with Abram - which would lead to a change in the fulfillment of his life's work, so God changed his name to Abraham. The name Abram has the meaning of `exalted or honoured father', whereas Abraham has the meaning of `father of many': (Genesis 17:5)
" No longer will you be called Abram. Your name will
be Abraham, for I will make you a father of many nations. "
In Genesis 32 we read the account of Jacob struggling with God, or, more Scripturally, wrestling with God's appointed servant, merely recorded as `a man'. The end result was this: Jacob's name was changed to `Israel' - which means `he struggled with God'. (Although it is straying from the purpose of these notes we would note that Jacob became known as the father of the nation of Israel, which sprang from the twelve sons of Jacob who took their father's name of Israel. This gives a strong prophetic meaning to the name `Israel', for we see throughout the history of the nation of Israel that it has continually struggled with God - and still does today!)
From these four illustrations we can see the significance of names in Scripture. The Jews, when reading those names not only recall the people who had borne those names, the personalities and characters of those people, but they also recall the purposes for those names - why those people were so named and why they underwent a change of name when they changed the direction of their lives within the purposes of God. In practically all cases these names (or change of names) have a prophetic meaning, many of which are still being outworked in the prophetic purposes of God (as with the name of Israel - `he struggled with God'). To our western minds the fulness and richness of the use of a name has been lost, and more often than not children today are named after the latest TV, Football or Pop Music star. But even in our western society this was not always so. Children were usually named in honour of their parents or grand-parents in order to continue the names in the family line, or the parents would give them a name which would describe their own hopes and ambitions for their children. However, even at this level the practice has largely disappeared and names no longer carry the rich and often prophetic meaning of Scriptural names - and in a sense this has also happened with the Names of God.
A basic knowledge will give a deeper understanding of the Nature of Him Whom we so casually call God! Our English Bibles attempt the impossible and render the Names of God as `LORD' (in capital letters) or `Lord (using small letters) or occasionally the two words are shown together as in `Sovereign Lord' - but these words convey little to our minds. You will also find the words `the Lord Almighty' or `God Almighty' in an effort to convey a deeper meaning. To a large extent this emphasis is lost to our average western, Greek-thinking minds, whereas the original Hebraic use of different names would mean so much more to the Jews who were reading or listening to the Scriptures. Each different title or name would instantly bring to their minds a different characteristic of the Nature and Personality of the God they worshipped. It is with this understanding that we are looking at the basic Names of God, as recorded in the Scriptures. This will surely lead us into a deeper understanding of Whom He is as we read the Scriptures for ourselves with minds that are being renewed daily through the work of the Holy Spirit.
As would be expected we shall begin our study in Genesis, where we read the opening words: `In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth'. The Hebrew word for God here is `Elohim' (a plural word indicating more than one), and we shall look at the meaning of this word later on in these notes. In the next eleven chapters we find various Names for God recorded, such as `God'; `the LORD God' (we need to note the use of capital letters for the word `LORD'); and `the LORD' (again note the use of capitals in this word). The use of the word `LORD' when spoken from the Hebrew Scriptures denotes the sacred Name YHWH (Yahweh) - and again we shall look at the meaning of this word later in these notes. Our untrained eyes may well glance over them, but to Jewish minds (and ears too, when they are listening) each different word will convey a different aspect of the Nature of the God they worship. So with these basic thoughts in mind we can begin to search out some meanings for ourselves, which in turn will enrich our minds and our spirits when we read the Scriptures for ourselves.
There are three basic or primary Names for God in the Hebrew Scriptures - YHWH (sometimes spoken as Yahweh), Elohim, and Adon or Adonai. The most common Name (that is, common in the sense of the more frequent use of the word) is the Name `Yahweh', and we need to remember that until the early Middle Ages classical Hebrew script was written without vowels. In any case they did not use our form of lettering so the form we use is phonetical or `sound translation' (or transliteration). The great difficulty with this Name of God is that no-one really knows how to pronounce it. As we saw very early on, the Jewish people, in reverence of God, were very careful not to disobey the commandment found in Exodus: `You shall not misuse the Name of the LORD your God' (Exodus 20:7), to the extent that whenever they came to this word YHWH they refused to read it out, substituting instead another Name - Adon or Adonai, meaning LORD (in capital letters). Over many years the correct pronunciation of the word YHWH has been lost, and although it is commonly accepted that the pronunciation is `Yahweh' there is no way of proving this. These four letters are transliterated in our English Bible as either `Jehovah'; or `LORD' (all capitals) or `GOD' (all capitals). It is also called the Tetragrammaton - which simply means `the four letters'. (It is worth noting here that there is no justification at all for the use of the word `Jehovah' as a title for God. This word came into use during the 16th century through the Christian scholars' lack of understanding of the development of Hebrew script - and no such word exists in Jewish minds.)
The basic meaning for the Name of God comes from the Hebrew root word `Hayah', which simply means `to be or to exist', and we see this in the Book of Exodus where we find God talking to Moses: (Exodus 3:14)
" I AM THAT I AM. This is what you are to say
to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you. "
This Name has the meaning of `One Who is, Who always has been and Who always will be' - outside of time and thought, His total existence in motion beyond the confines of our limited concept of time and place. It has a sense of eternity and the unchanging nature of His character and His relationship to Israel. We always need to keep in mind that these are Hebrew Scriptures and the Names of God are in relation to His dealings with that nation. The Name YHWH, which we record as LORD or GOD, has a meaning of God's unchanging relationship with the nation of Israel. It is true that He is the God of the whole world . . the Creator of all things . . the Creator of all humans and animals, bird and fish of the sea . . but we also need to keep firmly in mind that the Name of God here in the Book of Exodus is YHWH, which springs from the Hebrew root word meaning `I AM THAT I AM in My eternal, unchanging relationship with the nation of Israel'! It is true that we find recorded in the Book of Romans that man may search for God, and understand Him from what he sees around him in his daily life: (Romans 1:20)
" For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine Nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. "
Ever since the rebellion of Adam in the Garden of Eden God has chosen to reveal Himself only to those He has chosen, first to the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and then also to the nation of Israel, who came from the twelve sons of Jacob whom God gathered into Egypt. But in the fulness of time He led them out of Egypt to build them into a nation through whom He woudl reveal Himself to the nations surrounding them. We read of this in Deuteronomy 26:17-18:
" You have declared this day that the LORD (YHWH) is your God and that you will walk in His ways, that you will keep His decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey Him. And the LORD (YHWH) has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised, and that you are to keep all His commands. He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame and honour high above all the nations He has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD (YHWH) your God (Elohim) as He promised. "
In the fulness of time God would chose to reveal Himself in the Name of Jesus (meaning salvation) to all men who would believe in Him and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. In the Book of Acts we hear Paul talking of this day when God had chosen to reveal Himself through the Name and Person of Jesus: (Acts 17:26-31)
" From one man (Adam) He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him, and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us . . . . In the past God overlooked such ignorance (one version of the Bible translates this as God `winking' at such ignorance), but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed, Jesus. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead. "
However we read another Name of God - that of God Almighty. The Hebrew records this as `El Shaddai', but the English Bible records it as God Almighty. `Elohim' - or as it is written here, `El' - in its singular form means `strong and mighty', and, as seen in Genesis 1:1, is One Who has creative power. By joining it to `Shaddai' - which means `all-powerful, impregnable' - we have in the title `El Shaddai' a word picture of a God Who has the power to create and to protect that which He has created until completion. From reading the Book of Genesis it becomes clear that God made Covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, therefore the title `El Shaddai' tells us that God was known to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as El Shaddai - One Who made or created Covenants and has the power and ablility to ensure they are outworked and completed. God was saying here, through Moses, that He appeared to the Patriarchs as a Covenant maker, but was not known to them as a Covenant keeper - that would come later to the nation formed from the tribes of the sons of Jacob. They would know God as YHWH - One Who is able to keep the Covenants made to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As we have read previously this is shown in Deuteronomy 26:18: `And the LORD (YHWH) has declared this day that you are His people, His treasured possession as He promised (Covenanted to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)'.
With this basic understanding we can summarize the meaning of the word YHWH - recorded in our Bibles as LORD or GOD (when written in capital letters). A reading of Exodus 33:19 shows that the LORD reveals Himself as `goodness, mercy and compassion'. Exodus 34:5-7 reveals that the LORD is, `the compassionate and gracious GOD, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin'. Chapters 12 and 13 also reveal that in the Name `GOD' (YHWH) or `the LORD' there is Redemption for the verses tell the story of the Passover and the blood on the doorposts - which saved the Israelites from death. In these verses, and the many other verses we could search out, we find the fulness of the character of God expressed. Perhaps we could sum it all up in a word not often in use these days, the word `holiness'! The word recorded as `LORD (YHWH) has built into it the Divine Nature, the holiness of GOD. Through (and because of) that holiness He has become an unbreakable, unchangeable, unconditional Covenant Keeper to the nation of Israel, to whom He has made Covenants through the Patriarchs to whom He is seen as `I am that I am' - One Who has the absolute power and will to undertake and keep these Covenants.
We can now quickly draw in the other two primary names of God to complete this part of our search for the Nature of God in His Names, as seen in the Hebrew Scriptures. Although we have looked briefly at the first Name - that of Elohim - we need to fill in two further thoughts on this Name. We find the name in constant use in the Scriptures in its basic singular form of `El' - which simply means `God'. Whenever `el' is written in the Scriptures it is translated `god' (small letters) - with a meaning of `false god' - but when it is written as `El' and translated as `God' (capital first letters) it refers to the one and only true God. There is also a second form of this word, written in the Hebrew Scriptures as `Eloah' - but as it does not appear very often we shall not elaborate on it. The most frequent use of the word `God' appears as the word `Elohim' - and again it can refer to the one true god or to a false god (depending upon whether the first letter of the word is a capital or small letter). It is also a plural name (that is, there is more than one) and can therefore refer to either false gods or the one true God. It is here that we see the evidence of a Triune God - there is only one true Elohim (God . . plural) but spoken of as singular. However as we are not dealing with the doctrine of the Trinity (the Triune Nature of God) we will not take these thoughts any further. We shall now look at two examples of this.
Firstly: Psalm 86:15 - talking of God:
" But You, O LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God,
(Elohim, a singular Name but written in plural form). "
Secondly: Psalm 82:1 - talking of `gods':
" God presides in the great assembly. He gives judgement
among the `gods'. (elohim, a plural name writtten in plural form). "
As we have mentioned previously, this word springs from two Hebrew words which mean `strong and mighty' and `with creative power and fearsome'. If we put these two meanings together we will have the mighty, powerful One with creative power, Who is to be feared (in the sense of awe and wonder). It forms a picture in our minds of a majestic and awesome Person with creativity and absolute power, and the will to outwork that creativity!
This turns our thoughts to the third Hebrew primary Name for God - that of Adon, in its singular form, or Adonai, in its plural form. This word has a root meaning of `to judge or to rule' and refers to `a master, or owner, or Lord'. In its basic form it can be translated as lord (small letters) - with all the association which that has for us - but this meaning is now largely lost to our western minds. We cannot think beyond titled people who no longer have real power or authority but are paid for doing `something' in society. And if they are very important lords they might even be asked to open a new motorway or hospital! We need therefore to revert back to the Hebrew meaning of this word, and as we seek to renew our minds concerning God's will and purposes, we will find different uses of the word `Adonai'. When it is used with the second Name of God (YHWH) you will find it spelt as `LORD' (ie. the LORD God). It is what we might term a `sit up and take notice' Name of God, for it brings to mind the absolute, total, majestic power and might of an awesome God Who has the right and the will to outwork whatever He requires. But whenever the Name of God is shown as `Adonai' by itself it is then translated as `Lord'. Again, as with Elohim, the word Adonai can also be used to describe persons other than God (ie man) - in which case it is translated as `lord' (with a small letter). Let us now look at some examples:
Malachi 1:6
" `If I am a master, where is the respect due to Me?'
says the LORD Almighty (Adonai = YHWH). "
This is a `sit up and take notice of who I am' Name - as we will see as we read on in these verses:
Joshua 5:14
" Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence,
and asked Him, `What message does my Lord (Adonai)
have for His servant? "
Here we can catch sight of the total ownership, the absolute Lordship of Adonai over His servant Joshua - giving a different emphasis to the reading from Malachi where He is speaking as a Covenant-keeping God - but if we put all these thoughts together we see in Adonai another Name for God. In the reading from Joshua we see One Who has absolute ownership over His servant. We see One Who is a Ruler, Who expects submission to His authority. He is Adonai, Who has the right to total obedience. This brings out a double meaning, and it is this: If the name Adonai has the meaning of `absolute authority requiring obedience' it also means that the servant would expect total direction and the provision to enable him to carry out that direction. If indeed He is Adonai the LORD, we, as His servants, are totally in the hands of a God Who is able to outwork through His servants all that He has purposed and willed. As we study the Word of God we will of course find variations and combinations of these Names of God, and each of those variations are written to emphasize the context of the message in relation to Whom God is, and in what capacity He is revealing Himself to His people at a particular time. Therefore, understanding these basic primary meanings of the Names of God will enable you to understand more fully the Word of God as you read and meditate on the message it has for us as disciples of Jesus. Put quite simply: When Jews read the Names of God, their minds and emotions register more than the words `God' or `the Lord'. They read of an unchanging, all-powerful, mighty God Who has made Covenants with their nation and Who will keep them in His time. This is their unshakeable certainty, seen in the Names of God.
If we have received Jesus as Lord but have not seen the same all-powerful, almighty Nature of God, we are not believing in the God of the Scriptures, now fully revealed in Jesus . . Yeshua . . God's Salvation. If we have now believed in Him and his finished work of redemption . . if we now belong to Him and follow Him . . we have entered into all the spiritual blessings revealed in the Names of God. But only as we meditate on such things and quietly consider them can we fully enter into the understanding of that Covenant relationship that He now offers in His Son Jesus as we walk in total obedience to the Word of God, enabled by the Holy Spirit. A knowledge of these primary Names of God can therefore open the way to a deeper understanding of what God offers us in the Name above all names . . His Son Jesus!
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THE NAMES AND NATURE OF GOD
` I am that I am '
We begin the second part of this study with a reminder of what we have seen in the three primary Names of God. The most commonly used Name of God in the Hebrew Scriptures is that of Yahweh (YHWH) which is translated into English as `LORD' or `GOD' (with all the letters in capitals). The word springs from the Hebrew root word of `Hayah' - which means `I am that I am'. He is eternal and unchanging in His Covenant relationship with the nation of Israel and is known to them as Yahweh (the LORD), a totally righteous, holy God in all His Nature and dealings with them. The second primary Name is `El' - a singular form meaning `God', but its most common usage is in the plural form of Elohim, meaning `strong and mighty with the power to outwork His creative will'. We saw that this word could also be used as a title for false gods - in which case it is written in the plural form of gods (elohim). We also saw that when it is used for the Name of the one true God it is written as singular, but the Triune Nature of God is still revealed within this word. Finally we looked at the third primary Name of God, Adon or Adonai - with the meaning of `absolute Lord' or `the owner and master of a servant'. It can be used as a Name for God, in which case it is translated as `Lord', and it can also be used as a title for a man, in which case it is translated in small letters as `lord'. The meanings contained in the word `Adonai' give us the understanding of total ownership over a slave who would expect direction from his master. These three primary Names of God are now fully revealed in the Name of His Son Jesus - Whose Name means `salvation' - pointing to the way in which all men can enter into the fulness of what God has revealed through His Nature. Therefore, as believers in Jesus, we can enjoy all the spiritual blessings these Names entail.
There are, however, many other usages of these Names to be found in the Scriptures which will help us to better understand what it means to enter into the spiritual blessings that are now available to all believers in the Lord Jesus. These usages are occasionally to be found when the promises of God for His people are linked or compounded with the Covenanted Name of God (YHWH). The word `compounded' describes something that is combined or mixed with something else. In fact the words `combined' or `mixed' do not give full meaning, for the different elements are so combined or mixed that they are hammered into each other in order to become one - and they become inseparable. We use the word `compound' to describe the Scriptures where the Divine Name of a Covenant-keeping GOD (YHWH) is compounded with His promises to the people with whom He has made an unconditional, unchanging Covenant - the two elements in this case being the Name of God and His promises, now so hammered together that they are totally inseparable, His total will being Covenanted to outwork His promises to His people. It is in this sense that we now look at the Names of GOD compounded with His promises, for these Names are found linked with the Covenant Name of GOD (YHWH).
You will recall that the Name Yahweh (translated as LORD or GOD in capital letters) reveals the Nature of God as One Who is able to keep the Covenants He made as El Shaddai (God Almighty) with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A study of these linked or compounded Names of God will show the spiritual blessings that are ours in the Name of Jesus. Keep firmly in your mind that by the sacred Name for GOD (YHWH) He is seen to be a Covenant-keeping GOD to the Jewish nation who one day will enjoy all the spiritualand physical blessings which these compounded Names imply. That too is our certain hope, for whilst we enjoy the spiritual blessings now, the day is coming when we shall enjoy the spiritual and the physical blessings which are fully revealed and made possible in the Name of Jesus. There is indeed `power in the Name of Jesus' - a Covenant-keeping GOD Who has the power and the will to outwork all that He has promised in His Name.
The first Name is Yahweh Tzvaot (Tuz-vaot) which has a meaning of `the LORD of Hosts'. We see an example of this in Isaiah 10:24:
" Therefore, this is what the LORD, the LORD of Hosts (some modern translations
have `Almighty' instead of Hosts) says: `Oh, My people, who live in Zion,
do not be afraid of the Assyrians'. "
The word `Hosts' has the meaning of `an army . . of powerful forces', at the disposal of One Who has the power and the will to protect His people. Let us look at another compounded Name of God - Yahweh Yir-eh (Jir-eh), which means `the LORD will provide': (Genesis 22:14)
" So Abraham called that place `the LORD will provide - and to this day
it is said, `On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided. "
As this passage refers to the sacrifice that God provided in place of Abraham's son Isaac it points to the Covenant which God had made, that He would provide a final substitutionary blood sacrifice, now revealed in His Son Jesus! And regardless of popular choruses, this passage does not mean that God will provide all our needs - He has indeed promised to do that, but we should not misappropriate this Scripture for it points forward to the substitutionary blood sacrifice of Jesus that GOD would provide in His time!
We move on to the third redemptive Name of God - that of Yahweh Rophecha (Rof-hecha) which means `the LORD your Healer' - and we find this Name in Exodus 15:26:
" If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commandments and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD Who heals you. "
We find another Name - that of Yahweh Nisi (Nis-see) which means `the LORD my Banner' - as recorded in Exodus 17:15:
" Moses built an altar and called it, `The LORD my Banner. "
The context of this Scripture will show that Yahweh Nisi will provide total protection for His people in times of trouble and war, and that serving under His Banner will allow no defeat to come upon us!
The next compounded title shows the holy requirements that He has Covenanted to outwork. It is Yahweh Mekadishchem (Mecca-dishem) which means `the LORD your Sanctifier'. We can see this in Leviticus 20:7-8:
" Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.
Keep My decrees and follow them. I am the LORD Who makes you holy. "
We need to remember these titles or names of God with the understanding that He is a Covenant-keeping God Who has the power and authority to outwork His Covenants - and we who call Jesus `Lord' also confess His Covenant-keeping work in our lives. It is all found in the Name of One Who can and Who will consecrate those who obey Him through an inward work of the Holy Spirit, for He will enable us to enter fully into the spiritual blessings of Yahweh Mekadishchem.
We now move on to the more familiar Name of Yahweh Shalom (Shar-lom) which means `the LORD is Peace'. We find a Scripture reference for this Name in Judges 6:24:
" So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it, `The LORD is Peace'. "
In the midst of the battle with the Midianites, Gideon, called by the LORD, led the army of Israel against the Midianites and defeated them. But even in the middle of the clamour of war he knew Yahweh Shalom as the God Who delivered them. The word has become almost a parody now . . a quiet peace . . a place of rest . . but the Hebrew meaning is `to be in a place of peace in the midst of adversity'.
Next we take a very familiar compounded Name of God, found in Psalm 23, Yahweh Roi (Ro-he) meaning `the LORD my Shepherd'. This Name speaks of a Covenant-keeping GOD Who is fully able and determined to keep and protect all who are within that Covenant. No matter what the circumstances are He is the LORD Roi, the Shepherd watching over and keeping and protecting His people. Jeremiah 33:16 gives us the next Name of God - Yahweh Tzidkeinu (Zid-kay-noo) meaning `the LORD our righteousness:
" In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the Name by which it will be called: `the LORD our righteousness'. "
It points forward to the great hope of redemption for the nation of Israel in the Messianic Kingdom of Righteousness that is coming: `In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety'. This prophecy is spoken in the Name of a GOD Who is able to keep perfectly the Covenant He has made. It also reveals that a time is coming when He will rule in Righteousness in the city of Jerusalem!
As we move into the ninth compounded Name of Yahweh we shall turn to Ezekiel 7:9. Here we find a more sombre note coming into the Names of the LORD. Now it is One Who strikes a blow (against sin and idolatry in his people). In His Righteousness He has to deal with sin, and in this passage He is revealed as the LORD Makeh (Mar-kay), which means `One who smites (to use an old-fashioned word) the sin revealed in His people'.
Ezekiel chapter 7 verses 1, 2 and 9 records:
" The Word of the LORD came to me, `Son of man, this is what the Sovereign LORD says to the land of Israel: The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land . . . . I will not look on you with pity or spare you . . . . Then you will know that it is I the LORD Who strikes the blow. "
We need to keep very firmly in mind this thought: As disciples of the Lord Jesus we now enter into all the spiritual blessings of a Covenant-keeping God, but we also enter into a relationship with the One Who is Covenanted to bring us to holiness, and therefore He will deal with sin in our lives - and we receive His Grace to enable us to do so.
This brings us to the last of the compounded Names of God, Yahweh Shamah (Shaw-maw), which means `the LORD is there'. If we turn to Ezekiel 48:35 we shall find the words which reveal the sure and certain hope for the nation of Israel - and for all who believe in the Name of Salvation, Jesus! It speaks of the Millennium Kingdom of God and records the territorial boundaries for the nation of Israel, who have passed through the terrible time of the Great Tribulation, for the Jewish people have now entered into that glorious Messianic Kingdom of God which will last for one thousand years! Verse 35 records this Name of GOD, and also tells us that the name of the city from that time onwards will be Yahweh Shamah - the LORD is there!
In this study we have shown ten Names of God (a Covenant-keeping GOD) which are compounded with His promises. All of these Covenants or promises are now found only in Jesus, and they are indeed fully compounded into His Name - which is Salvation. With this understanding we can begin to see just what is meant by the Name of Jesus. It is not the mere repetition of His Name . . not merely adding `in the Name of Jesus' to every prayer. It is this: `If you ask Me for anything in My Name I will do it'. In the Name of Jesus there is found GOD's total Covenanted redemptive work! There is no other name that is higher than the Name of Jesus, for all of these Names of God are compounded (combined, mixed, hammered into) and fully outworked in His Name! Paul, writing to the Ephesians records this: (Ephesians 2:12-14)
" Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the Covenants of the Promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far away have been brought near through the Blood of Christ. For He Himself is our Peace. "
We who are now living in the Name of GOD's salvation (known to us as Jesus) have all the spiritual blessings of the unconditional Covenants of God, which He made to His people the Jewish nation, available to us.
* In the Name of Jesus He has become our LORD of Hosts . . the angels surround us and watch over us.
* He has become the LORD our Provider . . through His Blood we are redeemed and all that is required for providing our salvation has been met in His Name.
* He is the LORD our Healer . . spiritually, emotionally and physically.
* He is the LORD our Banner . . beneath which we find total protection.
* He is the LORD our Sanctifier . . in His Name the Holy Spirit within us carrys on His quiet work of sanctification.
* He is the LORD our Peace . . we find rest in Him at all times.
* He is the LORD our Shepherd . . keeping and protecting us.
* He has become the LORD our Righteousness . . for us who have no righteousness.
* He is the LORD Who smites . . in love, dealing with sin in our lives by His Grace released.
* But now and for ever He is our Yahweh Shamah . . the LORD Who is there.
Paul writes: `There is no other Name by which you may be saved than in the Name of Jesus'. God's total redemptive purpose of Love, Protection, Provision, Healing, Sanctification, Peace and Righteousness are all found in the Name of Jesus. The historical evidence of these truths is seen in God's dealing with the Nation of Israel and the way in which He is drawing them into the complete fulness of His Covenants, made to them several thousand years ago, and in the lives of countless millions of people who have been born anew into the Kingdom of God over the past two thousand years through believing in the Name of the Lord Jesus . . our Salvation. These are not mere words used to excite our minds and emotions. These words are indeed spiritual life to those who know Him, believe in Him and enter into the spiritual blessings of these truths. Changed lives testify to the truth of the compounded Names of GOD and His promises, to be found only in the Name of Jesus. The Covenanted Name of God, together with His promises compounded (hammered together) will continue to be outworked in people's lives until that glorious Day when together we shall see:
Yahweh Shamah - the LORD Who is there!
This is the true meaning of praying, speaking and living in the Name of Jesus - the living reality in the lives of believers - for He is a Covenant-keeping GOD with the will and the power to outwork His promises in His people's lives.
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THE NAMES AND NATURE OF GOD
` You are the God Who sees me . . .'
In the first study on the Names of God we set out the Scriptural basis for three primary Names of God - not to make us into minor Hebrew scholars but to widen our understanding of the words used in our English Bibles, some of which are inadequate in describing this subject. Our untrained eyes, coupled with unrenewed minds, would probably not give a second thought to the words `GOD' or `LORD' (written in capital letters) even though the reasons are given in the preface of most Bibles. However, as we explained in the previous studies, Hebrew scholars would understand and would instinctively read into those titles all the meaning their knowledge of the language and study of the Scriptures could give.
In the second study we looked at several compounded Names of God, that is, the sacred Name Yahweh (GOD or LORD), seen from which title to be a Covenanting God Who has the will and the power to outwork the Covenants He made to His Jewish people. This Name is compounded (hammered) into His promise so that the two are inseparable - His promises will be outworked because of Who He is, seen in His Name of GOD. We then looked at how these Names of God are fulfilled in the Name of His Son, the LORD Jesus. Therefore all the spiritual promises of GOD are available now to all who have been born from above by the Spirit of GOD into the Body of Christ Jesus - Who has become our Salvation. Our certain hope is this: In Him the time will come for the full outworking of the total unconditional Covenants of GOD, physically and spiritually, not only for the Jews and Gentiles who have come to saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord, but also for the believing nation of Israel who will receive Him as Messiah in the Great Tribulation and enter into the Millennium Kingdom of God.
We shall now take these studies a step further and look at the promises of God compounded into another of the primary Names we looked at in the first study - that of the Name `El' (a singular Name of God). It can be used for either the One true God or for a false god, depending on whether the first letter is a capital letter or not, but its most common usage is in the plural word of `Elohim'. When the true God is referred to in the Scriptures the word is written in singular form as `God', but when the Scriptures refer to false gods they are referred to in the plural form as `gods'. This has therefore a built-in implication of the Triune Nature of God - God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. However, the doctrine of the Trinity (as it is commonly known) is outside the purpose of these notes.
If we draw on our previous study notes we shall recall that the title `Elohim' springs from two Hebrew words, one of which means `strong and mighty', the other meaning `awesome, awe-inspiring or fearful'. The word `fearful' has a different meaning to what we understand by that word today, for it has a sense of an awesome majesty that we could not bear to be in the presence of! These two words merged together give the meaning of Elohim as One Who is `strong and mighty, with awesome power'. We also need to remember what we learned of the compounded Names. We saw that it was a `hammering together' of two distinct parts, to the point where the two became one. (Of course a compound can consist of as many elements as you may wish, but for the purpose of these studies we are compounding the Names of God with His promises, that is to say, two elements.) It was the compounding, the hammering together, of the Covenant-keeping Names of God with His promises to His people that helped us to understand praying or standing in the Name of Jesus. With these thoughts in mind we would compound the Name of Elohim with other `elements' in order to deepen our knowledge of the Nature of God.
The first compounded Name to look at is El Shaddai. We briefly looked at this Name in the first study, but to remind ourselves of the second part of the compounded Name we shall look at the word `Shaddai'. This word springs from two Hebrew words, the first one with the meaning `all-powerful' . . in the sense of all power in heaven and on earth and the creative will to exercise that power, which reveals His Grace to His creation. The second word reveals further the fulness of the word `grace' for it has a meaning of `a breast', giving an understanding of One who gives comfort and food, nourishment and loving care. If we draw these two meanings together we can begin to understand a little of the Nature of God and of that Nature outworked in His creation. This should not be limited to mankind alone for the compounded Name of El Shaddai relates to all of His creation. All things are created by Him for His purposes, and all creation is subject to Him as He outworks His purposes. We see His Grace extended in the unconditional Covenants made to the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The name El Shaddai, translated in our English Bibles as `God Almighty', reveals to us His awesome majesty and His power and sovereignty over all His creation. We see this recorded in Genesis 17:1-2:
" When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, `I am God Almighty (El Shaddai); walk before Me and be blameless. I will confirm My Covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers'. "
A naturally impossible Covenant was made by God to Abraham. Abraham, however, was unable to fulfill it for it was an unconditional Covenant made by God Almighty, Who even now is exercising His mighty power over and through His creation, bringing it to fulfillment, and we who believe in Jesus are living proof of the existence of El Shaddai . . God Almighty. Job, in his distress, caught a glimpse of El Shaddai: (Job 42:2)
" I know that You can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted. "
David also caught a glimpse of the power and might of God: (Psalm 66:7)
" He rules for ever by His power, His eyes watch over
the nations - let not the rebellious rise up against Him. "
Jeremiah reveals his understanding of his God: (Jeremiah 10:6)
" No-one is like You, O LORD, You are great,
and Your Name is mighty in power. "
Again in Psalm 139 David speaks of the `nourishing breast' of El Shaddai: (v 7-10)
" Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Where can I flee from Your Presence?
If I go up to the heavens, You are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast. "
These men had caught hold of El Shaddai . . God Almighty . . All-powerful, Awesome and Majestic . . controlling the affairs of nations yet able to nourish, comfort and hold each person who acknowledges Him `fast in His right hand'.
We now look at another Name and Nature of God - His Name and Nature hammered into His promises, inseparable from each other and outworked in His creation. The Name is `El Elyon', which is translated as `God Most High'. The word `Elyon' springs from a Hebrew word with a meaning of `One Who is set up high . . elevated high above all things'. This helps us to see a God Who is holy in all His awesome Holiness . . elevated . . high above all things . . seated in majestic Glory . . yet from this position watching over the destinies of His people and His creation. Psalm 91:9-11 reveals this:
" If you make the Most High your dwelling -
even the LORD, Who is my refuge -
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For He will command His angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways. "
This goes beyond merely watching over His people with whom He has made a Covenant. Deuteronomy 32:8-9 reveals that El Elyon is concerned about and watches over all His creation:
" When the Most High (El Elyon) gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided all mankind, He set the boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel. For the LORD's portion is His people; Jacob His allotted inheritance. "
1 Samuel 2:2 gives us an understanding of His awesome Holiness:
" There is no-one like the LORD, there is no-one
like You; there is no Rock like our God. "
When Habakkuk saw the approaching hordes of Babylonians - who in his sight were unrighteous men compared to the Israelites, whom, he knew, had been chosen (set apart) for God's purposes - he could only cry out: (Habakkuk 1:12)
" O LORD, are You not from everlasting? My God, My Holy One, we will not die! O LORD, You have appointed them to execute judgement; O Rock, You have ordained them to punish . . . "
These writers of the Hebrew Scriptures had caught sight of El Elyon, the Most High God, for He alone is sovereign over all His creation. Our position is to seek shelter under His covering and know His total care, and even in the midst of seeming calamity to know that He is El Elyon . . the Most High.
We now move on to another compounded Name - His mighty power `hammered' into His Nature, inseparable. This Name is `El Olom' (O-lawm) which translated in our English Bibles becomes `the Everlasting God'. We see this recorded in Isaiah 40:28:
" . . . the LORD is the Everlasting God (El Olom),
the Creator of the ends of the earth. "
If you read the whole chapter you will quickly see the root meaning of the word `Olom'. It speaks of a God outside of time, not limited as are we by the confines of life and death; not subject to powers and principalities; He is the uncreated God Who ever was and Who ever will be. Isaiah 48:12-13 records this:
" Listen to Me, O Jacob, whom I have called: I am He; I am the First and I am the Last. My own hand laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand together. "
Moses, when blessing the tribes before they moved into the Promised Land, caught sight of El Olom, the Everlasting God: (Deuteronomy 33:27)
" The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, `Destroy him'! "
El Olom . . the uncreated God, Who was before time began and will be after time ends . . the Everlasting God, yet totally involved and active in the affairs of His creation, and as El Olom He has the awesome power to outwork His purposes.
We now turn to the fourth compounded Name of God, which we saw previously when used with His Covenant-keeping Name of Yahweh, the LORD Roi (the Shepherd). We see it recorded in Genesis 16:13 and it refers to the story of Hagar. She was with child after Abraham had decided to `help' the LORD with His Covenanted promise that He would give him a son! In her distress at the treatment she received from Sarai, Hagar ran away - only to find that, like David, who lived many centuries after her, there is no place where we can hide from God! The Angel of the LORD spoke to her and told her to name the child Ishmael:
" She gave this name to the LORD Who spoke to her: `You are the God Who sees me', for she said, `I have now seen the One Who sees me'. That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi (meaning `the well of the Living One (El) Who sees me'. "
This gives us a revelation of a God Who is watching over every move of His creation . . a God Who sees everything and has the power to use it in all things, all circumstances, for His own purpose and will. El Roi is the Mighty God Who sees everything, Who keeps watch and outworks His purposes in the affairs of the people of the world.
We finally turn to the last of the compounded names of Elohim - hammered into His Nature so as to make them inseparable. It is El Gmulot (El Gum-ulot) and we find it recorded in Jeremiah 51:56 where Jeremiah is prophesying the downfall of Babylon for what she has done to the LORD's people. The opening verse of the chapter sets the scene: `See, I will stir up the spirit of the Destroyer against Babylon . .' whilst verse 56 brings out this Name of God:
" For the LORD is a God of retribution (El Gmulot);
He will repay in full . . . . declares the King,
Whose Name is the LORD Almighty. "
This Name speaks of a God Who is active in the affairs of men, and in His own time He acts in retribution against those who go beyond what He intends - and it is this Name of God that many do not want to accept! Nevertheless, the Scriptures reveal that His Righteousness demands such a God, and His compounded Nature and Name `El Gmulot' reveals this to be so. We now need to draw together these Names of Elohim which are hammered (compounded) into His Nature and bring this study to a close.
We need to keep firmly in our minds that all power and authority has been given to Jesus. These Names and the Nature of God are now fully revealed and fulfilled in Jesus, not in the sense of a Covenant-keeping God outworking His promises to His people, but as King of kings and Lord of lords! These are the words of Jesus Himself, written in Matthew 28:18:
" All authority has been given to Me
in heaven and on earth. "
Paul also reveals this in 1 Corinthians 1:24 where he talks of: `Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God'. John, writing down his revelation from Jesus, gives us these words:
" `I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End',
says the LORD God, `Who is, and Who was,
and Who is to come, the Almighty. "
We have no need to become worried or concerned over a possible `money crash' or the fearful pronouncements concerning `taking the mark of the Beast'. We should quieten the excited chatter over seeing `the One World Government' emerging, or the excitement on hearing of a mighty computer called `the Beast' which is located in Brussels. Our thoughts and chatter should be concerned with Elohim alone, our all-powerful and Almighty God, Whose Name is compounded with His Nature and is seen in the Lord Jesus. He is in total control over all that He has made and He is outworking His purposes for His eternal Glory, whilst watching over His people with such tender loving care - all seen and known in the Name of Jesus.
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