The names of God part 6
The names of God part 6
The Names Of God
Part 6
From : Brian Jennings
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
Now that we have worked our way through the 31-day study let’s backtrack and look at a few of the names covered. Any additional input if anyone has access to Greek or Hebrew lexicons will help the novice to understand God a little better, and benefit this study personally to readers.
The Hebrew word “EL” for God is used in many varied composite forms throughout the Old Testament. The basic meaning in the Hebrew is: … strong … mighty … a mighty one … a hero …
In regular use it is scarcely applied to God without some form of secondary or subordinate position, or attribute with it. The word is more frequently used in the poetical language. It can take on the suffix of the first person e.g. “my God”.
Whatever is most excellent, or surpasses in their kind, is said to be of God (EL). When used of God it is depicting the mightiest of the mighty. There is no power that can stand against His arm, and yet He shows a gentleness to save. My mind grapples with a God so powerful and yet He is continually gracious and merciful to save the repentant.
In 1corinthians ch1v27: But God chose the foolish things of the world that the wise might be put to shame, and God chose the weak things of the world so that He might put to shame the strong things.
A bringing down of that which would be high and an exalting of that which is low in His sight.
Job ch36v22: Behold, God (EL) exalts by His power: Proverbs ch14v34: Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin will bring to shame to any people.
To walk in any form of might is to walk in the righteousness of God, for no force of evil can stand in the presence of His righteousness. 2Corinthians ch5v21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Part of your birthright as a child of the Most High God (EL ELYON) is to walk as a son or daughter of righteousness. Abram would be a good example. Genesis ch12-ch25v8 and Hebrews ch11 … by faith He pleased God … etc.
Mon 12 Mar 90 2:44p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
“ELOHIM” translated God is used whenever the creative power and the omnipotence of God are described or implied. “Elohim” is the creator-God. It is plural in form as can be seen in Deuteronomy ch6v4:
Here, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
The word for “one” here is the Hebrew word “echad” which is a numeral taken from a root word “achad” meaning to unify. “Echad” means united, i.e., one – or a composite unity. The body of Christ (as in the church) is said to be one body but made up of many parts. Our God is the same. He is one, but one in tri-unity.
This is a hard concept for our finite minds to comprehend and I think it is something that we will not reach agreement on. Nevertheless it does not change the fact of who God is, or what he is. Whether we agree or disagree does not change the truth of God and how He exists past, present, or future. We have to accept that there are some things that we are just not allowed to know, as we would not be able handle them within our finite mind. God is an infinite being from eternity past till eternity future. There is adequate scripture to reveal that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God. “Elohim” is merely one of the Hebrew words that intimate this fact. To argue whether He is three separate beings or three in unity is silly. He is still the God our Creator. If you wrestle with the tri-unity of God and think this is hard. Try explaining the seven Spirits of God then. Give up now on the things that you do not understand and let God reveal things to you as you need to know them.
If you haven’t done so already, find a copy of Strong’s exhaustive concordance and do a little colour coding in your own Bible on the names used for God and His attributes. It is a big task but very rewarding for those who have no knowledge of Greek and Hebrew.
I have done this now in three King James Bibles (easier in this translation as the Strong’s is using the KJV text. I have also colour-code a Septuagint version (Greek Old Testament) with no prior knowledge of Greek. Starting at page one and just working through word by word with the various forms of “Kurios” and “Theos” plus a few others.
You won’t need to go to that length unless you feel led by God into it, but just the English words for LORD and GOD (coloured to represents the Hebrew form), would open your eyes far more to Him than just reading Lord or God in the appropriate place in our English version (it lacks the communication of His intrinsic nature and how He deals with men).
Tue 13 Mar 90 11:17p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
Isaiah ch28v9: To whom shall the LORD teach knowledge? And who shall He make to understand truth? Them that are weaned from milk, and drawn from the breast. For precept upon precept; line upon line; here a little and there a little.
This is what He has done with His name from Genesis to Revelation. Each time He uses His name there is a little bit more added to the revelation of Himself to man. Finally that revelation became clear in Christ Jesus. Adding line upon line and here a little, there a little, until finally we have the full revelation of God in Christ Jesus.
Some of His names appear as Jehovah composites and others are El composites and each one cannot convey to us in English the full meaning behind each one. Some overlap and the meaning may appear in a general sense in all the names. There are some however that are very specific. Again, as in my last message, we will disagree at times as to the exact interpretation of things, but the main thrust will still find agreement it is hoped.
Some of the names:
JEHOVAH SABAOTH The Lord of Hosts (Captain of the armies of the Lord)
When God uses this name be prepared to duck for someone is in line for a splatting.
JEHOVAH RAPHA The Lord thy Physician
JEHOVAH JIREH The Lord my Provider
What God says He will provide is Grace. My grace is sufficient for thee, or My provision is sufficient for you.
EL-ELYON The Most-High God
Again within this name is the creator God.
EL-OLAM The Everlasting God
The God of eternity whether past, present, or future.
These are just a few and as you the student begin to unfold the mysteries within the names of God, you will stand in amazement at just how little you did know concerning God.
Wed 14 Mar 90 11:03p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
One thing that we learn very quickly doing word studies in Hebrew or Greek is that there is usually more behind the word used than we realize. For instance, “Elohim” is bound in relationships and covenants. There is a lot in the keeping of a covenant, and the last thing you do is to break a covenant with God.
We read in the Bible that David and Jonathon had a blood covenant. God had a covenant with Noah, and a covenant with Abram. God makes covenants and He will always keep His end.
At different times in the word, God reveals a new name, this in turn reveals something new of the character of God from within the name. We serve a God of character and the ultimate revelation of His character is Christ Jesus the Lord. God ceased His revelation this way after the birth of His Son as that revelation was then complete. Through the Old Testament it is an ongoing revelation until the birth and later the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Jesus words ring out that He did not come to destroy the Law (or the Word) but rather to fulfill it.
Open up your heart and let the Bright and Morning Star arise in your hearts as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS. Let Him fulfill in you the desires of the heart of the Father.
Thu 15 Mar 90 11:40p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
As we work our way through a few of the names of God, some things take on a new light that we may have known for years, but suddenly stand out. One such passage is found in the book of Joshua ch10v12 and surrounding verses for context.
The king in question was Eglon for those eager students who wish to follow his ultimate end through scripture. Read Judges ch3 prayerfully.
In Joshua ch10 we have a picture of Jehovah (the big boss). He comes to Joshua and says “Fear not”. Now how many of us stand before our enemies quivering in our boots and the Lord comes in telling us to Fear Not. But Lord, have you fallen out of your tree and landed on your head, look around me. Boy are we silly with God sometimes. We should remember that He is the potter and we are the clay. It is He who wrote the handbook not men, it was men that were used but they were overseered by God to pen His thoughts for the manual for us to live by.
“Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand; there shall not be a man of them stand before you.” Look out people, duck, God is on the case. The Lord was even throwing down stones from heaven on the enemy. Now comes the crunch. Remember in one of our studies we mentioned faith and pleasing God. Well here we are at the crossroad of pleasing God. Joshua stands and puts his faith into action and decides that he is going to be a God-pleaser.
Picture yourself in front of the friends and people that you grew up with. You state quite catergorically in front of them, “Sun”. Now they think you are mad because you are talking to the sun (that’s bad enough). Next words are even worse. “Sun, stand thou still ….. “. If you were one of the crowd on this day, what would you be thinking at this point …………… Then, to your amazement, the sun and moon and moon (not to mention everything else), does just that.
This big God who is splatting everybody who opposes His will and purpose suddenly causes everything to freeze where it is at to allow His people to gain victory. The awesome power at His command, yet in His gentleness He holds the very universe from exploding as the very atoms would have nothing holding them if they stood still. So much care for His people that as the battle wages on, not one soul is lost that can possibly, even remotely come to a saving knowledge of Him who is the power to save to the uttermost. His vengeance is only meted out on a rejecting world, and even then, it is only after every possible step has been taken to assure man’s place in eternity with the Shepherd of Love … THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!
Is that encouragement or not. Take heart people that when God is on the enemies case that they had better move. Philippians ch2 says that “At the name of JESUS every knee shall bow …” Satan, move out of the way as God’s people are coming of age and walking to victory.
Fri 16 Mar 90 11:46p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
God goes on revealing Himself by virtue of His names. His name changes which we will look at here. If you have a King James or New American Standard version of the Bible you will see straight away what I am talking about.
Genesis ch1 and skipping through it lightly you will see God is mentioned quite regularly. Each time it is “G” in upper case and the “od” in lower case. If you move into Genesis ch2v4 and on the name changes to “Lord God”. Note that in “Lord” the “L” is capitalized and the “ord” is in upper case. Turn to Genesis ch15v1 and you will see “Lord” again as in ch2, but in v2 “Lord” becomes capital “L” but lower case “ord”. The word “God” on the other hand has “od” in upper case. The KJV and NASB bring this out, but I am not sure if the other translations do.
The reason for this difference is that it denotes different characteristics within the name of God. Each time in English we read Lord or God, and we tend to interchange them a lot. This also applies to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To God, His names do not mean the same thing. In scriptural terminology “God” with the upper case “od” and God with the lower case “od” are very different. Just as Lord is different from God, and Lord with the upper case “L” and lower case “ord” is different to the Capitalize “L” and the upper case “ord”. By now you are all probably confused but God is not.
Turn back to Genesis ch1 and continuing throughout the chapter we find the word “God” with Capital “G” but the “od” in lower case, that is the name “Elohim”. It literally means: “The God who binds Himself in covenant relationship regardless of cost to Creator or creation. It is a plural noun and it speaks of the God who develops relationships. He is the God that says “I will never leave you, not forsake you”.
Sat 17 Mar 90 11:49p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
When we speak of all these different names of God we are speaking of about the same God, just highlighting different aspects of Him.
“Elohim” is the God who is in covenant relationship with His creation regardless of the cost. He is the God who loves to be in relationship and He will never leave it. In chapter 2 though we see “Lord God” or Jehovah Elohim. This name represents the God who hates iniquity but loves righteousness. He is the God who must judge sin.
As Elohim does not count the cost to enter into relationship, Jehovah Elohim must judge sin regardless of cost to creator or creation. From Genesis ch2v4 we look at the God who loves righteousness and must judge sin. In ch1 it is the God of relationship and covenant. That is why in Psalm ch23 He says “For His name sake He leads me into righteousness”. Because there is no other covenant higher than His own name. Genesis ch1v26 Let US make man in OUR image (bearing out the plurality of the Godhead). Ecclesiastes ch12v1 Remember your CREATORS in the days of your youth (once again bearing out the plurality of God). Job ch35v10 Where is God my MAKERS (“makers” being plural and bearing out again the trinity)
What God is saying from Genesis ch1 throughout, He is giving us insight into the trinity. Although it can’t be proven on that one word alone, as one word does not make a doctrine, but we see a glimpse as through a glass darkly.
Matthew ch28v19, Jesus commands us to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Still again bearing out that Elohim God is in the plural. When we wrap it all together with other attributing verses we can then develop a teaching on the trinity, but this is not a doctrine.
This is a side issue coming out of the names of God. The main thrust of the name Elohim is the covenant keeping God and not the trinity (although it is in plural form).
If we go by the law of repetition we see God continually saying things … “And God said…”. The moment God says anything, it is a covenant and He is bound to keep it. Every time God says He is going to do something, He does it, He never changes His mind. His word can be trusted people. Listen to Him speak to your heart as He longs for a relationship with you.
Sun 18 Mar 90 11:14p From : Brian Jennings
To : All
Subject: NAMES OF GOD
Genesis ch1 shows a God who dearly loves His creation, He longs to be in relationship with it, He yearns to stamp His image upon it. He has this world that somehow is formless and void. Carefully as one in love and gently wooing His love. He brings His light to her.
When we are first Born Again by the Spirit of God, our lives were formless and void. We were in darkness until the light of the Gospel dawned upon us.
Second thing He does is to bring His life to her. This too, happens to us as we realize experientially the life of Christ birthed within us.
Third, He stamps His image upon her, and if we let Him, He will stamp His image upon us. This is the redeeming God who loves to bring His relationship to His creation. As He did with the earth, so is His desire with man, His ultimate creation. Open up to Him today and let His relationship with you take on a special meaning.
If this file has assisted you and you have questions please feel free to drop a message by private netmail to the writer, Brian Jennings (680/804) or Ken Richards (680/803.1) or Marilyn Simmons (680/803.6).