What’s in a Name?

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What’s in a Name?

Psalm 9:10   —  And those who know Thy name  will put their trust  in Thee;  for Thou,  O LORD,  hast not forsaken those  who seek Thee.

These days  people often give their children  cutesy names  with cutesy spellings,  just to distinguish them  from the rest  of the crowd.     But,  in many other cultures  and especially  in biblical times,  a name  was an actual description  of that person’s being  or reason  for being.     That is why God  has so very many names  throughout the Bible.     God’s all-sufficient greatness  is so overwhelming  that no one particular name  can adequately describe Him.     God’s names  help us  to grasp small ideas  of who He is  and what He does  for us.

Psalm 9:10  tells us  that those who “know” God’s name  will put their trust  in Him.     So,  if we want  to grow  in trusting our Lord  during times of trial,  we need  to learn to “know” His name.     That doesn’t mean  just memorizing a list  of God’s names,  but realizing why  those names  belong to God  and how those attributes  of God  will strengthen us  in a true  and growing faith.

Whole books  (with tons of pages)  have been written  about the many names  of God,  and here are  only a few verses  that describe our Lord.    As we read each verse,  we can think about  how that should describe God  in our lives.

Psalm 89:15-16   “How blessed are the people  who know  the joyful sound!     O LORD,  they walk  in the light  of Thy countenance.     In Thy name  they rejoice  all the day  and by Thy righteousness  they are exalted.”      Here,  “LORD”  has the Hebrew definition  of the self-Existent  or Eternal One.     Those rejoicing  in the Eternal One  are glad  to live  in His ways.     Then,  it’s the LORD’s righteousness  that exalts  the faithful  —  not any self-righteousness  on their part.

Isaiah 9:6    “For a child  will be born to us,  a son  will be given to us;  and the government will rest  on His shoulders;  and His name  will be called Wonderful Counselor,  Mighty God,  Eternal Father,  Prince of Peace.”       There’s a lot  to try and fathom  in this verse.     God’s marvelous greatness  is far beyond  our imagination  in all these names.

Isaiah 44:6    “Thus says the LORD,  the King of Israel  and his Redeemer,  the LORD of hosts;  ‘I am the first  and I am the last,  and there is no God  besides Me.’”        This verse is so assuring  when we realize  that our Lord  is eternal  and does not change.     Just think what that means  in times  of trouble.    Our LORD  is the one and only God,  the one and only judge  or mighty one  of any sort  and it is He  who has redeemed us,  bought us,  and set us free.     We don’t have to wonder  about any other way  of salvation.

Psalm 18:1-2    “I love Thee,  O LORD,  my strength.     The LORD is my rock  and my fortress  and my deliverer,  my God,  my rock,  in whom I take refuge;  my shield  and the horn  of my salvation,  my stronghold.”       King David has all sorts  of rock-solid,  descriptive names  for our God.     Every name describes  how solidly  the LORD can be trusted.     That’s just what we need  to know  in our trials.

Psalm 23:1-6   “The LORD is my Shepherd,  I shall not want.     He makes me  lie down  in green pastures;   He leads me  beside quiet waters.     He restores  my soul;   He guides me  in the paths  of righteousness  for His name’s sake.     Even though I walk  through the valley  of the shadow  of death,  I fear no evil;   for Thou art  with me;   Thy rod  and Thy staff,  they comfort me.     Thou dost prepare a table  before me  in the presence  of my enemies;   Thou hast anointed my head  with oil;   my cup overflows.     Surely goodness  and lovingkindness  will follow me  all the days  of my life,  and I will dwell  in the house  of the LORD  forever.”

Wow!     Our Shepherd  does all this  for us  —  for HIS NAME’S SAKE.     None of these benefits  are ours  because of any worthiness  on our part.     God does all this  because He is true  to His Name forever.

It’s time  to give thanks  and praise.   Are we trusting?

As we learn  to trust God  for who He is,  our “Hallelujah!”  will be filled  with a deeper appreciation.

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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