What is God’s Name apart from God?
Big Questions | 05 November 2023 | Gareth Higgs
‘God’
a generic term - lots of ‘gods’ all over the place
‘God’ needs something added to it to make it specific e.g ‘God of the Bible’, ‘God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (see below for all the names of God in OT)
In OT the term ‘El’ is used for God to describe a powerful being (Genesis 1:1)
Exodus 3:13-15
God self discloses who He is - ‘I am who I am’ - Yahweh
Hebrew people considered this so holy a name that it was never spoken
to reflect that sense and be faithful to the text the word ‘LORD’ is capitalised in Bibles
This is the Name that introduces the God of the Bible - the God of the Covenant People who acts out of loving commitment to His people
God cares about His Name
Ten commandments - God’s Name should not be misused (Ex 20:7)
Lord’s Prayer - ‘Hallowed/holy is Your Name
Jesus
Danger in the church of lots of vague talk about God where we need to talk specifically about Jesus
John 8:53-59
Jesus deliberately identifies Himself with the name of Yahweh
Re-iterates the claim that the Son of God was, is and always will be
You can tell that what Jesus says is significant (blasphemous to his hearers) because it causes a rumpus
Jesus is Yahweh appearing in human form
God’s authority is implicit in Jesus - He is given the ‘name that is above every other name’ (Phip 2:9-10)
All of the blessings and promises of God find their fulfilment in Jesus
2 Corinthians 1:18-22
Now all the blessings, attributes of God are fulfilled in Jesus
Jesus is the Name to be honoured, Jesus is the Name to be lifted up
We honour and revere and love Yahweh, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds!
There is power in the Name of Jesus!
Names of God in Old Testament
El Elon - ‘God Most High’ Gen 14:19, Num 24:16, Ps 7:17, Dan 7:22
El Olam ‘Eternal God’ - Gen 21:33
El Elohe-Israel - ‘the God of Israel’ - Gen 33:20
Jaweh-Jireh - ‘the Lord provides’ - Gen 22:8, 14
Jahweh-nissi - ‘the Lord is my banner’ Exodus 17:15
Yahweh-shalom - ‘the Lord is peace’ Judges 6:24
Yahweh-tsidkenu - ‘the Lord our righteousness’ Jer 23:6
Yahweh-shammah - ‘the Lord is there’ Ezekiel 48:35
Yahweh-shebot - ‘the Lord of hosts’ 1 Sam 1:3, 1 Sam 17:45
Quedos-Israel - ‘the Holy One of Israel’ (occurs 29 time in Isaiah - e.g Isaiah 45:11)
Ancient of Days Dan 7:9, 13, 22