Introduction: So Many Names!
Each of the 30 in-depth lessons in this class will teach you who God is and help you grow in an intimate relationship with Him.
So Many Names!
Why does God have so many names? We all have many names when you think about it. Our names depend on who is talking to us and when.
Oh how I miss hearing my grandmother's singsong voice when she came down the hallway to wake me in the morning. She sang out "Robin" or "Sweetheart" so that each name had extra long syllables that were full of love.
My mother called me "Lit' Bit" unless she was really angry with me; then she shouted, "Robin Renee!" My hubby and I call each other Honey. My nine children called me Mommy when they were younger and now my eight grown children call me Mom. One of my daughters graduated to Heaven at age thirty-six, and I long to hear "Mom" from her when are joined together again. Sometimes I dream of her as a little girl and hear her call me Mommy again. It is a precious gift I treasure, and it stays with me for days.
My Sunday school children called me Miss Robin or Teacher. A long time ago, I was a police officer and I got called a lot of names I won't mention, but usually, I was called Officer and eventually Detective. My grandchildren call me Marmie (or something that sounds like Marmie but I always answer). On websites, I am labeled as Author, Writer, Teacher, or Mother of Nine. To my cardiologist, I'm a heart patient. To my dogs, I am the "Treat Giver" and "Pooper Scooper." :)
Do you feel that you know me a little better by reading a little about what others call me? That is what this class is about—getting to know God better by studying his character, his qualities, and his attributes. When you have a relationship with someone, you want to know their name but also their qualities. We can build a closer intimate relationship with God by getting to know his name.
“Name” in biblical usage correctly describes the person, place, or object and indicates the essential character of that to which the name is given. 1
Hallowed be Thy Name
In the Lord's Prayer, we say "Hallowed be thy name." God’s name implies the person, power, authority, character, and the very reputation of God. His character is like a multi-faceted diamond because it includes who he is and all the things he does. You cannot define God with one word, such as power or patient, as they are each only one aspect of God’s character.
God's glory lies in his awesome character. This character is of such an amazing caliber that it invites us to join in union with him. Knowing his character validates our faith. This is why no matter how small our faith in God maybe, because it has as its object the character of our Father in Heaven, its potential is unlimited.
The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary explains:
To the Hebrew mind, God was both hidden and revealed, transcendent and immanent. Even though He was mysterious, lofty, and unapproachable, He bridged the gap with mankind by revealing His name.
The truth of God’s character is focused on His name. The divine name reveals God’s power, authority, and holiness. This accounts for Israel’s great reverence for God’s name. The Ten Commandments prohibited the violation of God’s name (Exod. 20:7; Deut. 5:11). Prophets spoke with authority when they uttered God’s name. Oaths taken in God’s name were considered binding, and battles fought in the name of God were victorious. Other nations would fear Israel not because it was a mighty nation but because it rallied under the Lord’s name. In the NT God’s name is manifested most clearly in Jesus Christ. He is called “the Word” (John 1:1), and Jesus Himself makes the claim that He has revealed the name of God (John 17:6). God’s name is His promise to dwell with His people. 2
YHWH
Phillip Keller (one of my favorite authors) wrote:
So enormous was the respect of the ancient Hebrew people for the name of God that they dared not even formulate it with their lips nor attempt to put it into human language. It was represented in writing by the letters Y H W H. Later these were expanded to Y A H W E H, which became the name Jehovah, and in our English translations, it is represented by the expression “the LORD” (e.g., KJV and NASB).
Obviously, the eternal God, the One who is from everlasting to everlasting, could scarcely be identified by any simple human title. Again and again, when asked who He was, the simple reply that came back was, “I AM THAT I AM.” Even Jesus, when pressed on this point replied, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). By this, it was intended to make clear that God is the eternal, enduring, everlasting Lord of all the universe, both Heaven and Earth. Because he, our Father, is from everlasting to everlasting the same, He deserves our utmost respect and reverence. 3
Thirty Names in Thirty Days
Over one hundred names show us that God is the source of all truth and love. As we study the thirty names in thirty days we will see the Trinity in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. For example, the prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 gives several descriptive names of God that are his qualities in Christ.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In each lesson, we will look at
- The key Bible verse
- God's Hebrew name (if in the Old Testament, English in the New Testament)
- The English meaning of the name
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