Chapter 5
The
Names of the Lord
"They that know thy name
will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek
thee." Psalm
9:10
Throughout the Word of God names were given to children
that had special meaning and significance. Sometimes a person’ s name would be
changed or a name would be ascribed to him, either by God or by someone else,
indicating radical change of life. Here are some examples: Adam means “red
earth,” indicating his being created by God from the dust of the earth. Jacob
means “cheat, supplanter;” but God changed his name
to Israel, which means “prince with God.” Moses means “drawn forth.” He was
named that because Pharaoh’s daughter drew him out of the water. In the Bible,
the name given to a person said something about that person.
The same thing is true concerning the names of the Lord
our God. However, no single word in human language is sufficient to serve as a
name for him. Therefore, there are several words or names by which he has made
himself known. The names applied to God in Scripture describe his glorious
character, reveal his great attributes, and display his redemptive purpose. In
this study we will look at the names by which God reveals himself in the Holy
Scriptures and their meaning. There are ten specific names ascribed to our God
in Holy Scripture.
1. The first revelation of God is found in Genesis 1:1-“In the
beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The name of God
given there is “ELOHIM.” “Elohim”
means “to worship.” This is the name of our God. He is THE WORSHIPPED ONE. He
is the only object of true worship, praise, adoration, and trust. The word
“Elohim” is given in the plural, though is refers to One God. The significance
is obvious. We worship One God who is three distinct Persons in One glorious
Being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7).
2. Another name of God is “EL” or “ELI.” In Genesis 12:7-8
the Lord appeared to Abraham, and made a covenant with him. Abraham built an
altar there and called the place “Beth-El,” which means “the house of God.”
This is the word our Lord used, when he cried, “Eli, Eli, lama sa-bach-tha-na?” that is
to say, “My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). This name, “El”, means “strong, or mighty
God.” It is expressive of the power of God.
3. Next, God reveals himself under the name “ELIOM” in Genesis 14:18-22. “Eliom”
means “ the most high God.” It is expressive of God’s supremacy and majesty.
Our Lord Jesus, of whom Melchizedek was at least a type, (if not Christ himself
in one of his many preincarnate manifestations), is
called “the Son of the Highest” (Luke 1:32). Eliom is
the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity.
4. God also revealed himself to Abraham by the name “SHADDAI,” which
we translate “Almighty” (Gen. 17:1).
“Shaddai” means “God all-sufficient.” It expresses
more than the power of God alone. It expresses the power and sufficiency of God
to bestow his grace and fulfill his promises. El-Shaddai
is God able to save, able to do his will, able to shed his blessings upon his
people.
5. In 1 Samuel 1:9-11, we see Hannah calling upon “THE LORD OF HOSTS” in her deep
distress. “The Lord of Sabaoth” (Isa. 6:3; James 5:4) is our God. This name is
expressive of God’s sovereign dominion and power over all his creatures. The
Lord of Hosts has “his way in the armies
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand,
or say unto him, what doest thou?”
“Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving
would be loosing,
Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s
own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? Christ
Jesus, it is He—
Lord Sabaoth His name,
From age to age the same—And He must win the battle!”
6. In Genesis 15:2, Abraham
called upon God by the name “ADONAI,” to give him the promised covenant seed.” “Adonai” means “the Cause,” or “the Support.” Truly, Adonai is a suitable name for our God. He is the original
cause of all things (Rom. 11:36). Our God supports and maintains all things
(Heb. 1:3); and he upholds his saints with the right hand of his righteousness
(Isa. 41:10).
7. In Exodus 3:13-14, the Lord appeared to Moses as “EJEH,” which
means “I Am that I Am.” “Ejeh” refers to the immutability of our God and Savior
(Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8). With our God
there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
He is eternally the same (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8; James 1:17). “I Am” is God who
changes not.
8. In the New Testament, the word by which our God is
most often revealed is “LORD,” the
Greek words translated Lord are “Kurios” and “Despotes” (2 Pet. 2:1). “Lord” simply means, God who is
sovereign. It refers to God’s dominion, power, authority, and right of
ownership over all things. This is the word commonly used to describe Christ
our Mediator King (Acts 10:36; I Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:4). While this particular
word is often translated “master” or “sir,” as a title of respect and applied
to men. When it is applied to Christ, it implies his dominion and authority as
Lord over all things. Yet, it also implies the willing surrender of all
believers to him as their Lord (Luke 14:25-33). Christ is the sovereign despot
of all men (2 Pet. 2:1). He is our Lord (John 20:28).
9. The word translated “GOD” in the New Testament is “Theos.” “Theos,” God, is one who is holy, who sees all things and
knows all things, and disposes of all things.
God who is light is perfectly holy. He sees all things with perfect
clarity. And he disposes of all things as he will.
These nine names of God tell us that God is infinite,
eternal, almighty, self-existent, self-sufficient, ineffably glorious and holy.
This great God is a God to be feared, worshipped, and obeyed. He is a consuming
fire, unapproachably glorious in holiness. Let me have nothing to do with this
God; “who only hath immortality dwelling
in light, which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen, nor can see!”
I am a frail, fickle man of sinful flesh. Should I ever meet this God, great
majestic, glorious, and holy, his sovereign power would consume me more quickly
than dried grass is consumed in a blazing furnace. Is there then no hope for
sinners? Is there not a daysman to stand between us
and God? Is there not One with holy hands and a pure heart who has never lifted
up his soul unto vanity, who can approach God in our stead, and stand before
him to plead our cause? Indeed there is! Blessed be God, there is a Substitute,
who is himself God! He is constantly revealed under a tenth name of God
throughout the Scriptures.
10. God’s glorious redemptive name is “JEHOVAH.” The word “Jehovah” means “Savior” or “Deliverer” (Ex. 6:3). God in
Christ is God mighty to save. Jehovah, essentially means “to be.” And our Lord
Jesus Christ declares that he is the One “which
is, which was, and which is to come” (Rev. 1:4). He is the eternal God of
salvation, redemption, and deliverance. “This
glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD” (Duet. 28:58) is not to be
taken in vain, used in common speech, or spoken with any levity. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord
thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who taketh his name
in vain” (Ex. 20:7) He that sent redemption to his people and commanded his
covenant forever is to be reverenced by us. “Holy
and reverend is his name” (Ps. 111:9). Let us ever extol, honor, praise,
and magnify the name of the Lord our God. “I
will praise thee, O Lord my God,
with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy
mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell” (Ps.
86:12-13). “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name
give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake” (Ps. 115:1).