Yahweh Sabaoth
"The Lord of Hosts/Armies" David refers to God as such in Psalm 46:7. This passage in particular is referring to the Lord as a place of refuge in hard times. The previous verse describes what happens when God speaks, nations raging, kingdoms toppling, etc. and it shows God's strength. He then goes to describe Him as the Lord of Hosts and compare Him to a stronghold.
So, there is a definite idea of protection and refuge through God's power, but, accompanying the idea of a host or army, is the idea of offense. God is not merely defending His people, but pressing forward, making ground. Our God is an active God, reaching out and conquering. In this light we rejoice for we can see God winning the battles and, finally, the war.
Showing posts with label Names of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Names of God. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
7 Apr. 2012 - Yahweh Shalom
Yahweh Shalom
"The Lord is Peace". This name stems from an interesting event in the life of Gideon. God has called him to serve and he [Gideon] has just realized that he has been speaking face-to-face with the angel of the Lord. Needless to say, Gideon was completely terrified and afraid he was going to die. That's when God says to him, in verse 23, "Peace to you. Don't be afraid for you will not die." It is after this, in Judges 6:24, that we see this name used.
Well, what this means for us: we have the ability to know true peace for our God is peace. whatever the situation, we are able to have peace through Him.
"The Lord is Peace". This name stems from an interesting event in the life of Gideon. God has called him to serve and he [Gideon] has just realized that he has been speaking face-to-face with the angel of the Lord. Needless to say, Gideon was completely terrified and afraid he was going to die. That's when God says to him, in verse 23, "Peace to you. Don't be afraid for you will not die." It is after this, in Judges 6:24, that we see this name used.
Well, what this means for us: we have the ability to know true peace for our God is peace. whatever the situation, we are able to have peace through Him.
Friday, April 6, 2012
6 Apr. 2012 - Yahweh Rapha
Yahweh Rapha
God himself identifies, in Exodus 15:26 as "The God Who Heals". This statement follows a purifying of a bitter spring and a statute and ordinance given - that if Israel obeyed God completely and explicitly, God would not inflict upon them what He did to the Egyptians.
Who is this being who claims power over sickness and health? Simply, it is God. After all, He created the entirety of the universe, so surely He has the power to cure or afflict His creation. Add to this the fact that this name is a name given to God not by man, but by God Himself. God is a healer God, providing for our needs.
God himself identifies, in Exodus 15:26 as "The God Who Heals". This statement follows a purifying of a bitter spring and a statute and ordinance given - that if Israel obeyed God completely and explicitly, God would not inflict upon them what He did to the Egyptians.
Who is this being who claims power over sickness and health? Simply, it is God. After all, He created the entirety of the universe, so surely He has the power to cure or afflict His creation. Add to this the fact that this name is a name given to God not by man, but by God Himself. God is a healer God, providing for our needs.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
5 Apr. 2012 - Yahweh Nissi
Yahweh Nissi
"The Lord is my Banner".
Tis name occurs after the Israelites were attacked by and victorious over the Amalekites in Exodus 17:15. I find this name interesting because of the use of a banner.
When I think of a banner, two main usages come to mind:
"The Lord is my Banner".
Tis name occurs after the Israelites were attacked by and victorious over the Amalekites in Exodus 17:15. I find this name interesting because of the use of a banner.
When I think of a banner, two main usages come to mind:
- A rallying point. This banner was a standard, a symbol to which warriors in a battle could look and fins the rest of their troop, rally around it and press forward. It was also an emblem of hope and many superstitions arose surrounding various standards (particularly the eagle of the Roman legions).
- A banner was a tapestry of sorts. It recounted the victories of a particular ruler or people for a set period of time. It remembered and commemorated the events of the past.
Both of these can apply to God. Firstly, in our war against sin and temptation, and against the powers and principalities present in this world, God is is the point around which we, as Christians, should be rallying. He is our source of hope and He is truly the bringer of victory. Secondly, when we look to the Lord, we should be reminded of His love for us, His sacrifice, and the recent impacts He has made on our lives.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
4 Apr. 2012 - Yahweh Yireh
Yahweh Yireh
Yahweh is the personal name of God, I AM THAT I AM. This is the name given to Moses in Exodus 3 as a proof to the Israelites in Egypt.
Yahweh Yireh (some of you might know it as Jehovah Jireh, well Jehovah is a mistransliteration of the Hebrew - Hebrew, particularly Yahweh, is written as consonants and I believe the vowels are merely diacritics, but I could be wrong. So, YHWH = Yahweh, not Jehovah).
Anyway, this name means "The Lord Will Provide". We see this name occur in Genesis 22:14. In this passage, Abraham was told to give Isaac as a sacrifice to God. As Abraham is about to lay the fatal wound, God stops him and provides a sacrifice.
We can apply this in our own lives. God is a god who provides. After all, did He not make everything which we use or consume? Beyond that, He is a god who gives gifts of various kinds. I have seen spiritual gifts, monetary gifts, gifts of providence and more come into play because God gave them and they were a blessing.
Yahweh is the personal name of God, I AM THAT I AM. This is the name given to Moses in Exodus 3 as a proof to the Israelites in Egypt.
Yahweh Yireh (some of you might know it as Jehovah Jireh, well Jehovah is a mistransliteration of the Hebrew - Hebrew, particularly Yahweh, is written as consonants and I believe the vowels are merely diacritics, but I could be wrong. So, YHWH = Yahweh, not Jehovah).
Anyway, this name means "The Lord Will Provide". We see this name occur in Genesis 22:14. In this passage, Abraham was told to give Isaac as a sacrifice to God. As Abraham is about to lay the fatal wound, God stops him and provides a sacrifice.
We can apply this in our own lives. God is a god who provides. After all, did He not make everything which we use or consume? Beyond that, He is a god who gives gifts of various kinds. I have seen spiritual gifts, monetary gifts, gifts of providence and more come into play because God gave them and they were a blessing.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
3 Apr. 2012 - Elohei-Shammayim
Elohei-Shammayim
This name means "The Lord, The God of Heaven".
Now, unfortunately, the source from which I've been reading as provided a verse which brings no mention to God at all, let alone this name. Still we can look at this name and see it's imports.
The biggest thins is that here, God is named the God of heaven. Most cultures accepted that there was a god/pantheon of gods that existed in a supernatural location known as heaven (or by various different names, but the concept is the same). Since God is named God of heaven, he is automatically exalted above any other gods as he is the god of their realm. Again, we see God's primacy and superiority over the foreign, false gods.
This name means "The Lord, The God of Heaven".
Now, unfortunately, the source from which I've been reading as provided a verse which brings no mention to God at all, let alone this name. Still we can look at this name and see it's imports.
The biggest thins is that here, God is named the God of heaven. Most cultures accepted that there was a god/pantheon of gods that existed in a supernatural location known as heaven (or by various different names, but the concept is the same). Since God is named God of heaven, he is automatically exalted above any other gods as he is the god of their realm. Again, we see God's primacy and superiority over the foreign, false gods.
Monday, April 2, 2012
2 Apr. 2012 - El Gibbor
El Gibbor
El Gibbor means "The Mighty God" and He is most definitely mighty. How many beings do you know that can create something from nothing, existence from word, or even man from dust? Our God is a God of strength, uplifting and protecting the weak and poor, yet punishing and destroying the sinful and immoral.
We can see in Isaiah 9:6 that God, specifically the saviour to come, Jesus, is called Mighty God. Why? For He shall destroy the link between sin and death and defeat sin and Satan. The former has already happened - Christ's sacrifice on the cross - and the latter will be finished at the end of time. This mighty God has has made it possible for us poor, broken sinners, to finally have a means to be restored to a right relationship with God.
We can see other instanced of God's might: Jesus calming the storm, Jesus casting a demon into a flock of pigs, or even the Holy spirit freeing Peter and John from prison. We serve a Holy, Mighty God
El Gibbor means "The Mighty God" and He is most definitely mighty. How many beings do you know that can create something from nothing, existence from word, or even man from dust? Our God is a God of strength, uplifting and protecting the weak and poor, yet punishing and destroying the sinful and immoral.
We can see in Isaiah 9:6 that God, specifically the saviour to come, Jesus, is called Mighty God. Why? For He shall destroy the link between sin and death and defeat sin and Satan. The former has already happened - Christ's sacrifice on the cross - and the latter will be finished at the end of time. This mighty God has has made it possible for us poor, broken sinners, to finally have a means to be restored to a right relationship with God.
We can see other instanced of God's might: Jesus calming the storm, Jesus casting a demon into a flock of pigs, or even the Holy spirit freeing Peter and John from prison. We serve a Holy, Mighty God
Saturday, March 31, 2012
31 Mar. 2012 - El Olam
El Olam
El Olam means "The Everlasting God". This name is found in Genesis 21:33, in which Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, allowing him to live on the Philistines' land.
Being everlasting denotes that God is, was, and will be in existence forever. It also means that God will last forever. That is, His character and nature will last forever, showing God to be a God consistent and unchanging in this regard.
It is on this everlasting nature of God that Abraham was able to make a lasting oath. After all, if an oath were given on a capricious, fluid god, could that oath be trusted to hold its integrity? God the everlasting provides the solid foundation for oaths, but more importantly, for faith and belief.
El Olam means "The Everlasting God". This name is found in Genesis 21:33, in which Abraham makes a covenant with Abimelech, allowing him to live on the Philistines' land.
Being everlasting denotes that God is, was, and will be in existence forever. It also means that God will last forever. That is, His character and nature will last forever, showing God to be a God consistent and unchanging in this regard.
It is on this everlasting nature of God that Abraham was able to make a lasting oath. After all, if an oath were given on a capricious, fluid god, could that oath be trusted to hold its integrity? God the everlasting provides the solid foundation for oaths, but more importantly, for faith and belief.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
30 Mar. 2012 - El Elyon
El Elyon
El Elyon means "The Most High God". This description of God appears in Genesis 14:18, in which Melchizedek, the priest blesses Abram. The use of this name, Most High God, served to elevate God above any other human gods (as He was the most high).
This name is particularly relevant throughout the Old Testament, especially in The Pentateuch, where God was introducing" Himself to Israel, and the prophets, where Israel was being called back to God from other gods.
Additionally, by elevating Himself above all other gods, He logically made all other gods pointless, useless, and unworthy of worship. Then, if God is truly the Most High God seated above the other "gods" and reigning over the spheres of these same gods, then all these other gods are rendered redundant and therefore mere hubris, They are not true gods, but concepts of man.
God, however, is truly the supreme ruler of the universe, everything inside it, and everything outside it.
El Elyon means "The Most High God". This description of God appears in Genesis 14:18, in which Melchizedek, the priest blesses Abram. The use of this name, Most High God, served to elevate God above any other human gods (as He was the most high).
This name is particularly relevant throughout the Old Testament, especially in The Pentateuch, where God was introducing" Himself to Israel, and the prophets, where Israel was being called back to God from other gods.
Additionally, by elevating Himself above all other gods, He logically made all other gods pointless, useless, and unworthy of worship. Then, if God is truly the Most High God seated above the other "gods" and reigning over the spheres of these same gods, then all these other gods are rendered redundant and therefore mere hubris, They are not true gods, but concepts of man.
God, however, is truly the supreme ruler of the universe, everything inside it, and everything outside it.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
28 Mar. 2012 - El Shaddai
El Shaddai
Okay, for the curious, I'm starting a short study on the names given to God as a way of describing Him. El Shaddai, is the first on the list. Enjoy!
El Shaddai is one name under the "Elohim Group" as I call it. El is a generic name for God and the plural form, Elohim, denotes a position of honour to the bearer, i.e. God.
El Shaddai means "God Almighty" one example of this name for God being used occurs in Genesis 17:1-2 in which God established His covenant with Abram, instituting circumcision as a sign of the covenant and changing Abram's name to Abraham.
El Shaddai could also be translated as "the sovereign God", reflecting the same idea as above, illustrating God's rulership (sovereignty) over everything, particularly His sovereignty over Canaan, Abraham, the land, time, and more.
Our God is almighty God worthy of worship and devotion!
Okay, for the curious, I'm starting a short study on the names given to God as a way of describing Him. El Shaddai, is the first on the list. Enjoy!
El Shaddai is one name under the "Elohim Group" as I call it. El is a generic name for God and the plural form, Elohim, denotes a position of honour to the bearer, i.e. God.
El Shaddai means "God Almighty" one example of this name for God being used occurs in Genesis 17:1-2 in which God established His covenant with Abram, instituting circumcision as a sign of the covenant and changing Abram's name to Abraham.
El Shaddai could also be translated as "the sovereign God", reflecting the same idea as above, illustrating God's rulership (sovereignty) over everything, particularly His sovereignty over Canaan, Abraham, the land, time, and more.
Our God is almighty God worthy of worship and devotion!
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