August 2007 - Elder's Corner - Events & News - Evangelical Free Church of Huntington Beach

Elder’s Corner August 2007

The Names of God

In various places in Scripture, I’ve read phrases such as “bless His name,” or “praise His name.” Reading these has caused me to puzzle and sometimes feel disobedient. At the very least, I felt I was uninformed about something very important. I do “bless” or praise God or Jesus but in doing so, I am focused on the person of God the Father or Christ Jesus – not their names.

Following is a partial listing of the verses asking us to revere His Name:
Psalm 34:3 Let us exalt His name together, 106:8 Yet He saved them because of His name… 135:3 Sing praise to His name, for it is delightful… Acts 3:16 His name has made this man strong. Others: Ps. 66:2, 68:4, 96:2.

As I pondered this, I remembered the planter in front of our church library. I copied down all of the names of God found on the plaques gracing that planter. We have Dennis Anderson and his helper friends to thank for this beautiful planter and its plaques.

Anyway, I want to reacquaint you with those names and then see if you concur with my conclusion. These are the names found on those plaques:

Adonai – Lord & Master (plural)
Yahweh – Lord Jehovah
Immanuel – God with us
Alpha & Omega – First & Last
El Shaddai – All sufficient one
Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide
El Roi – The God who sees
Jehovah Rasha – The Lord that heals
I Am – The light of the world; The true vine; The bright and morning star

Are you beginning to get an idea about why we should praise and exalt His name? Here are more of His names:

El Olam – Everlasting God
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace
Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is our banner (signifying His presence, protection and aid)
Elohim – the creator (plural), preserver, transcendent, mighty
Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord is our righteousness
Jehovah Elohe – Mighty one
Abba – Father (daddy)
Jehovah* – Self-existent one,"I am”
Jehovah-Rophe* – The Lord who heals (implies spiritual, emotional & physical healing)
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh* – The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah-Rohi* – The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Sabaoth* – The Lord of Hosts (commander of God’s armies)
El Elyon* – Most high
Kanna* – Jealous
Palet* – Deliverer
Yesha* – Savior
Gaol* – Redeemer
Magen* – Shield
Eyaluth* – Strength
Tsaddiq* – Righteous Ones
Zur* – God our Rock
Jesus* – (from Joshua) Jehovah is salvation
Christ* – Messiah (the Anointed One)

I began to understand why I should bless, praise and exalt His name. These various names describe who He is and what His marvelous attributes are. I can worship Him by praising and exalting Him for those marvelous qualities of who He is. That is, worship Him by praising and exalting His name(s).

In an excerpt from New Illustrated Bible Commentary. It says, “In ancient society, a name was more than a title. It revealed a person's character.” This confirmed in one way, I was on the right track. What do you think?

I have encouraged you (in a previous article) to worship God by praying His Scriptures back to Him (personalizing those Scriptures). Now I hope you will join me in this additional way to worship God (if you haven’t already).

I conclude with some “I Am’s” in the NT (predominately in John’s Gospel).

I am – the way, the truth and the life; the water of life; the gate for the sheep; the good shepherd; the God of Abraham, Isaac, & Jacob (the God of the living); the bread of life; the living bread; from above; the son of man; the resurrection and the life; teacher and Lord; the Messiah; in the Father; the vine; Before Abe was even born, I am!
And lastly (in Isaiah) Jesus is called Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

* Note: names with asterisk are from http://www.ldolphin.org/Names.html

E. Dennis Bolen