A Study of the Names of God

In scripture we learn that God was given names for His various characteristics - it's pretty amazing and we can learn more about Him as we study the way people perceived Him throughout scripture.

The prefix El means mighty or strong and emphasizes the fact that first and foremost, He is mighty.

As He created the world and everything in it, He is called Elohim. It is a plural name depicting the Trinity as the creator. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit worked together to create the world. This name is used in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of 'Elohim'; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

The name El Elyon is used in Isaiah 14:13 and depicts God as the Most High God, the giver of power, wisdom and might. The strong one.

In Genesis 16:63 we read that God is called El Roi by Haggar as she is cast into the wilderness by Sarah. She used that name because He is the God who saw her and spoke with her in her aloneness. Remember this one when you think that no one knows what you are going through. Our God is El Roi, who ever sees us and knows what we are enduring.

Another name is El Shaddai, the God Almighty, our protector, the all-sufficient one. This name is used in Psalm 91:1– "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High (El Shaddai) will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Adonai is another name for God. It means that He is the Lord and Master, the Lord Jehovah or YHWY and depicts our relationship to Him. Malachi 1:6 puts it this way, "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the Lord Almighty. "It is you, O priests, who show contempt for my name."

One of the most well-known names for God is Jehovah, it is used more than 6,000 times in the old testament, the first being Genesis 2:4, "This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the Lord God (Jehovah) made the earth and the heavens." This name means I AM WHO I AM - God as the self-existant one - unchangeable - eternal.

We find out that He is also Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide. This is the name used by Abraham when he took Isaac to Mt. Moriah to sacrifice him. "Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place 'The Lord Will Provide'. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided'." Genesis 22:13-14.

God is also known as El Olam, the everlasting God, in Isaiah 40:28. "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God (El Olam), the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom."

God has many names related to the name Jehovah, He is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord my banner. "Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner (Jehovah Nissi). He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation'." (Exodus 17:15-16)

He is also known as Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our peace. When Gideon was confronted by the Angel of the Lord and told he was going to save Israel out of Midian's hand, he was fearful to meet the Lord face to face. "But the Lord said to him, 'Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace." Judges 6:23-24

The Lord God Almighty is also known as Jehovah Sabbaoth, the Lord of hosts. "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah Sabbaoth) seated on the throne, high and exalted, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory'." Isaiah 6:1-3

God is Jehovah Maccaddeshoem, the Lord thy sanctifier in Exodus 31:13 - "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy'." He is the one who sanctifies us, and it is only through our obedience to Him that we are sanctified.

He is also well-known as Jehovah Rohi, the Lord my shepherd. Psalm 23:1 makes this characteristic very clear to us. "The Lord is my shepherd (Jehovah Rohi), I shall not be in want."

Jehovah Tsidkenu, means the Lord our Righteousness and can be found in Jeremiah 23:6. "In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord our Righteousness."

The name Jehovah Shammah refers to the Lord who is present. Ezekiel had a vision of the temple in Jerusalem even though the Jewish people were taken into captivity by Babylon. He saw the city and the temple and heard the Lord speak to him about his vision. "And the name of the city from that time on will be The Lord is There." (Ezekiel 48:35b)

God is also the Lord our healer or Jehovah Rapha. "Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there He tested them. He said, 'If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you'." Exodus 15:25-26.

But of all these names used to describe God and His attributes in the Old Testament, the most favorite name was used by Jesus. He called God His Father. He referred to Him as "Abba" which can be interpreted by us today as "Daddy". How amazing that Jesus told His followers to pray to Our Father who art in heaven. The Lord God Almighty, the creator, the Most High God, the God who protects us, who sees us, our Lord and Master, the self-existent one, our provider, our peace, our banner, our sanctifier, our shepherd, our healer - He wants us to call Him Daddy. Why? Because that's the kind of relationship He wants to have with each one of us. That of a loving Father, who cares enough about each one of us that He provided a way for us to come into a relationship with Him. That way is Jesus  said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me." (John 14:6)

Are you looking for a loving Father? Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If you have, then you've got a package deal, because the Lord God Almighty has adopted you into His family and Jesus is not only your King, but also your brother. Praise God for His provision. He truly is Jehovah Jireh!

Getting To Know God: A Prayer Journey

Getting To Know God: A Prayer Journey: http://marshamundy.blogspot.com/2011/02/casting-our-cares-upon-god.html
http://marshamundy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sharing-our-faith-with-others.html

http://marshamundy.blogspot.com/2011/02/casting-our-cares-upon-god.html

http://marshamundy.blogspot.com/2011/02/sharing-our-faith-with-others.html

These are a few of my favorite quotes...

Through the years, I've read many books by Christian authors and I often write some special quotes in the front of my Bible or journal. I just want to share some of those with you today.

These are a few of my favorite quotes, I hope they become your favorites too:

"Whenever a rock is mentioned in the Bible, it is a type and shadow for Jesus." Perry Stone

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." David McCasland

Chuck Swindoll explains the trinity like this: "God is the initiator, Christ is the implementor, and the Holy Spirit is the one who empowers."

"What we do in life echoes in eternity." Author Unknown

"Look for the face of Christ in the people you disagree with." W. H. Griffith-Thomas

"God pursues us in our restlessness, receives us in our sinfulness and holds us in our brokenness." Scotty Smith

"To be crucified a person is: 1) facing only one way; 2) they are not going back; and 3) they no longer have plans for their own lives. That is a disciple of Jesus Christ." Charles Stanley

"The word of God is like a lion, we don't have to defend it, we just have to let it out of its cage." Author Unknown

"Before people want to hear what you say, they want to know that you care." Author Unknown

"God is above, presiding; beneath, sustaining; within, filling." Hildebert of Lavardin

"Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
Francis of Assisi

"The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer

"It is permissible to pray for whatever it is permissible to desire." Thomas Aquinas

"Search your heart several times a day, and if you find something that is disturbing your peace, remember to take the proper steps to restore the calm." Francis de Sales

"The world tells us to look out for ourselves; God tells us to give ourselves away. The world tells us to rule; God tells us to serve. The world tells us to be first; God tells us to put others ahead of ourselves. The King of kings came to serve. The world will see Jesus in us when they see us serve."
Henry and Richard Blackaby

  "Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." Mother Teresa

"Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can." John Wesley

"Trouble and perplexity drive us to prayer, and prayer driveth away trouble and perplexity." P. Melanchthon

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. Deep unfathomable mines of never-failing skill, He treasures up His bright designs, And works His sovereign will..." William Cowper

Christmas–God's gift to the world

     Just think about this–the God who created the world and everything in it, the God who made man in His image, who made us to be a reflection of His glory, the God who wanted more than anything to have a relationship with those He created–He knew the only way that could happen was through a blood sacrifice. And not just any blood, but sinless blood. God knew the only way to restore His relationship with us, was if He came to earth and sacrificed Himself on our behalf. He had to become one of us, give up His glorious home in heaven and live among us.

     As we celebrate Christmas each year, we commemorate His arrival to earth in human form, as a baby. When we sing, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” we are welcoming Christ as God with us. That’s exactly what Christmas is all about. And it is the second most important event on the Christian calendar–the first being the ultimate sacrifice, the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. But you can’t have the sacrifice without first having the birth.

     As we prepare for Christmas, we decorate with lights–which represent Christ as the light of the world. “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:3) “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:1-5)

     We also put up our nativity scenes based on Luke’s account of Christ’s birth. “While they were there (in Bethlehem), the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)

     We put angels on our trees and mantels as a reminder that angels announced His birth to shepherds and angels also played an important part in announcing His birth to His earthly parents. We also decorate with stars as a reminder that the magi followed a star to the birthplace of the newborn king. And we purchase and make gifts to give to our loved ones because the wise men gave gifts to the holy one.

     There are a lot of traditions which have been added to the celebration through the years–Christmas trees, Santa Claus, sleigh rides and jingle bells, but all those things can enhance our celebrations because, after all, Christmas is one huge birthday party for Jesus. We have much to celebrate because the God of all creation has arrived on earth!

     Those who try to eliminate Jesus from Christmas have no idea that they are also eliminating themselves from God’s kingdom. Jesus came to earth for one reason–to sacrifice His sinless blood for the human race so that we could all have a restored relationship with God, our creator. He came for that specific purpose, but God has given us freewill and we can choose to believe that Jesus is God in the flesh or refuse to believe. 

     As I was decorating my mantel this year, I had such a burden in my heart for those who have never heard the good news. Maybe, just maybe, this blog will reach someone who has never heard about Christ. Maybe, just maybe, someone will view Christmas in a different light after reading this blog. And maybe, just maybe, someone who really doesn’t “feel” like celebrating this year will decide to light a candle, hang a star or set out a nativity. “O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

Finding God in a garden...

A writer writes, right? So that is what I am determined to do. I need to record my random thoughts about how I see God showing up in my ordinary, everyday life.

September 27, 2016
As I sat on the deck in my backyard today enjoying the cooler autumn air, I watched as the little birds came to the feeder. They landed on the picket fence and sunflower stalks congregating in little groups, waiting for a turn at the feeder and basically, just enjoying the day - like me.

A breeze was blowing the whirl-a-gig in the raised flower bed, the small garden flag was swaying to and fro. The sky was clear - not a cloud anywhere and it was so very blue.

In the distance I noticed that the soybeans in the field behind our house were turning from bright green a few weeks ago to yellow, which means it won't be long until harvest. A flock of birds flew over the bean field and were joined by another flock. They moved in unison this way and that and looked like a cloud performing a dance in the sky. A few sparrows sat on the rim of the bird bath taking small sips and they flying away to join their own little flock.

As I watched the activity around me in my little garden, I felt total peace.

My backyard is a foretaste of heaven. I had a sense of wonder at a God who created all the different types of birds. From the plain brown sparrows to the colorful cardinals and bluejays and the remarkable woodpeckers, each one was created by God for specific reasons.

Even the types of seeds they eat are varied. It occurred to me that He made birds initially to make sure that seeds would be spread throughout the earth. And I wondered how many of the seeds from my garden flowers will sprout somewhere next spring because of the birds visiting my yard. I know I've seen them eating seeds in the zinnia bed and they have feasted on the sunflowers. This tiny little patch of property has such amazing and far-reaching potential. It's beyond my understanding.

In the scheme of things, my garden is nice, but it's not really noteworthy - it looks kind of sad right now. Most of the plants are done blooming and growth has stopped. Weeds are threatening to take over, but it's still a peaceful place.

As I contemplated the peacefulness, I realized just how fortunate I am to have this haven in my backyard. The world around me is filled with chaos and disorder. There is so much hatred and anger - oh how those who steal, kill and destroy would benefit from a little garden time. I wonder if they would appreciate the value of time spent watching birds, or if they would sense the presence of the Almighty God which is so evident to me? I guess maybe you have to be looking for God in the everyday events to find Him.

I wonder where I'll experience His presence tomorrow?

Pray for those who persecute you...

     We, as Christians, have the words of Jesus as a reminder to pray for those who persecute us. He said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:43-45

     That is a difficult command to follow, but Jesus is our Commander in Chief and when He gives us a command, we are obligated to obey. We don't have a choice if we are truly His followers.

     During a recent Bible study, the discussion turned to ISIS and their murderous threats and ways. It is so much easier to hate them than to pray for them. But I reminded the ladies in the study that the Apostle Paul was once a terrorist. In the Book of Acts we can read about his "murderous threats". We know that he was at the stoning of Stephen. "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him (Stephen), dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul." Acts 7:57-58

     Yes, Saul (later known at Paul) was a witness to that stoning and in Chapter 8, verse 1 we read that Saul was there, giving approval to his death.

     The death of Stephen resulted in a great persecution of Christians in Jerusalem and as a result, they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who knew Jesus remembered His words to them: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." I have often wondered just how many of His disciples prayed specifically for Saul?

     The persecution continued with Saul leading the way. Yes, Saul was a terrorist - his chief aim was to rid the world of Christians. Don't believe me? This is what the Word of God has to say about him: "Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?' 'Who are you, Lord?' Saul asked. 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' He replied. 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'." Acts 9:1-6

     If you are a student of the Bible, you know that much of the New Testament was written by the Apostle Paul in the form of letters to various churches. His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed his life and he became a devout Christian himself. How was this possible? I truly believe that Jesus met Saul face-to-face because Christians were praying for those who persecuted them.

     Now if we believe that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever; then we have to believe that the prayers of believers for those who are persecuting them will still be answered. It is difficult to pray for ISIS, but we can pray for Jesus to meet them on their roads to Damascus. As they plot and plan to steal, kill and destroy, we can ask Jesus to reveal Himself to them - stopping them in their tracks and turning their lives around. Since Jesus is alive and in the business of answering prayer, He can reveal Himself to anyone at any time.

As the former terrorist, Paul, said to the church in Rome, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." (Romans 12:14) I can't think of a better way to bless ISIS than to pray for them. 

What is the world coming to?

Jesus had quite a bit to say about His coming kingdom and His disciples and the prophets also shared much about the end times. But are we there?

In Matthew 24, Jesus' disciples wanted to know the signs of His coming and the end of the age. He answered them with this: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ', and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

He went on to say, "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Jesus also said, "no one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left."

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

The Apostle Paul was given a vision of the future by God and shared some of his insights with the churches he helped to establish. He too spoke about the earth and all of creation waiting for the return of Christ. "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."

Both Jesus and Paul saw the earth in terms of childbirth awaiting the coming kingdom. Having experience three births firsthand, I can understand and appreciate what they were both stating. Birthing pains start out fairly mild and spaced far apart, but as the baby prepares to be birthed, the contractions come closer together and the pains become more severe. Extreme earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding, drought, extreme heat and cold all seem to be pointing to the imminent coming kingdom.

Paul also had these words for the believers in Thessalonica who were concerned about fellow believers who had died. "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

The world is a frightening place right now especially for Christians around the world, but these are exciting times to be alive and preparing for the return of Christ. He's coming back for a church that is standing firm and watching for Him.

Paul wrote these words to the believers in Thessalonica, "Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

What do we do while we are waiting for Christ's coming? We pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to send more workers into His harvest field, because the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We continue to be light and salt to the people around us. We watch the earth as the contractions grow closer and praise God that He will soon liberate the earth. And we pray "Come Lord Jesus"!