What’s in a Name? EVERYTHING!

David asks the Lord, “Deal kindly with me for the sake of Your name” (Psalm 109:21 BSB). He was asking the Lord, ‘According to who You are, deal with me that way’. Several names throughout Scripture define His nature or describe His characteristics. The following names describe who God is:

• Jehovah: “Lord”. This name occurs 6,823 times in the Old Testament beginning with Genesis 22:4.

• Jehovah-Jireh: “The Lord will provide”: Genesis 22:14

• Jehovah-Rapha: “The Lord who Heals”: Exodus 15:22-26

• Jehovah Nissi: “The Lord our Banner” (our protection; a faithful God; a God who gives us victory): Exodus 17:15

• Jehovah-M’Kaddesh: “The Lord who Sanctifies” (makes holy): Leviticus 20:8

• Jehovah-Shalom: “The Lord our Peace”: Judges 6:24

• Jehovah-Elohim: “Lord God”: Genesis 2:4; Judges 5:3; Isaiah 17:6; Zephaniah 2:9; Psalm 59:5)

• Jehovah Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness: Jeremiah 23:5,6; 33:16

• Jehovah Rohi/Raah: “The Lord our Shepherd”: Psalm 23

• Jehovah-Shammah: “The Lord is There”: Ezekiel 48:35

• Jehovah-Sabaoth: “The Lord of Hosts” (Lord Almighty): Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7,11; Kings 3:9-12; Jeremiah 11:20

• El: “God”; mighty, strong, prominent; used 250 times in the Old Testament beginning in Genesis 7:1

• Elohim: “God”; used 2,570 times in the Old Testament beginning in Genesis 1

• El Roi: “The God who sees me”: Genesis 16

• El Elyon: “Lord Most High”; Psalm 57:2

• El-Shaddai: “God Almighty”: Genesis 17:1

• Adonai: “Lord”; “Master”; used 300 times in the Old Testament always plural when referring to God; heavy use in Isaiah and Ezekiel

Knowing God's character according to the names that describe Him, should result in “awe-inspired reverence and submissive wonder” (Psalm 60:4,5 Amplified). However, this requires revelation by the Holy Spirit to understand His nature. It is only then that we are brought to our knees in gratitude and praise for an amazing God who is our Healer, Provider, Protector, Sanctifier (the One who makes us holy), the Righteous One that makes us right with Him, Lord God Almighty, the One Who is with us, the One who sees us, the One who is always with us. By knowing His nature, we know what He has done for us, the victory that He has established for us, and how He cares for us. This is when awe, wonder, and praise occur. It is by knowledge of Him, intimacy with Him, that brings us to understanding. This causes us to be hopeful, joy-filled, expectant, confident, grateful, and resting with an experience of peace.

For example, for those who have a position of honor and worship of the Lord, He sets up “a banner to shield them from attack” (Psalm 60:4,5). By faith, we believe that God is our protection because that is His character; we have the opportunity to be strong in Him and the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10) while we stand during a trial or difficult circumstances; we take up the “whole armor of God that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:13); we possess His shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit which is His Word (Ephesians 6:16,17). God provides protection in all of these ways. The peace of the Lord is also a guard for our hearts and minds that comes from knowing we prayed and prayed according to His Word, which is His will (Philippians 4:6,7). Therefore, we know our prayer has been heard and answered; we have what we prayed for as our possession, and we know it before we see or experience it (1 John 5:14,15).  We go through by His equipping in peace as we know God’s character; we know that He sees us. By knowledge we understand according to God’s character that He has provided for us, that we have everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3); it is His character to be our Provider.

There is nothing any of us need to do to earn the goodness of God. Goodness is His nature. Confirmation of this truth is found in His descriptive names. He responds to each of us according to His nature, not according to our behavior or what we deserve. His nature is grace!

Knowing God’s character establishes peace, “that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ” (Philippians 4:7). We fear nothing from God as understanding His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). So, no matter what our circumstances, we may be content (Philippians 4:7). This is only possible when we know the character of God, believe who He is, and trust Him. And we see the character of God on full display through Jesus who is the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), the sole expression of God’s very nature (Hebrews 1:3).