God has many names in the Bible. In our English texts, the different names don't stand out as much or strike us as odd; their meanings are hidden in a different language and time. "Jehovah Jireh" we sing during worship, and wonder what that really means. Or we say, "So what? What's the big deal?"
Names are very significant in ancient times. Parents carefully chose names for their children, because names revealed the inner qualities and unique characteristics of the person. Later in life, a person might receive a new name as a result of some new accomplishment or new revelation from God. In some ancient cultures, names were so special that to know someone's personal name was to know their secret source of strength or life. When people revealed their personal name to others, this was a very intentional step toward relationship. They made themselves almost vulnerable by revealing their true identity.
To know someone's name was to know-really know-that person. So what does it mean that God revealed the name of YHWH - yoh,hey,vah,hey - YAHWEH, to Moses on lonely Mt. Horeb? What does it mean that the creator of the universe, the Almighty God, confronts a shepherd in the wilderness and tells him - the Name? It means a lot. God, through a burning bush that would not burn up, initiated relationship with a human. God revealed something of the divine mystery to a humble shepherd. "I Am that I AM." The Name is so sacred that today many religious people do not even say that Name. Some Jewish rabbis postulate that the four letters - yoh, hey, vah, hey -almost sound like breathing when spoken together. The name of God is the very breath we take to sustain life!
Does God become vulnerable to Moses, to us, in the giving of the Name? Does God give us a hint of the divine nature by the meaning of these letters? I AM. I AM. Forever fully present. The One who makes all other things be.
Post taken from www.ymroadtrip.com
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3 comments:
Last night at Bible Study we took a deep look into a widely unknown woman in Scripture named Huldah.
(2 Kings 22) She was a prophetess. Sitting here this am I am struck by something about the Name. She spoke in the Name of YAHWEH and only in the Name. If she had ventured away from His message she would face death. Maybe another reason the Ancient Israelites did not speak the Name of YAHWEH is they knew it invoked power, a power so great that the consequences of accidently misusing his Name were not desirable. How convicting. I don't give The Name the honor and reverence due Him. I don't credit Him with being Mighty and Powerful often enough.
Something that might help people understand why this study is so important: The hebrew language is written in the verb tense. In our language, when we say "snake", we often see a picture of a snake. In the hebrew language, "snake", would bring to mind the action of a snake, like slithering. If you put this knowledge into action when learning the names of God, what a powerful revelation! I like to always remember, God's names are actions, things being done on my behalf. How exciting that we have a pastor that is teaching us these things. It's our turn to put God's names into "action" in our lives. Have a great day!!
WOW... thanks des for that insight... that really speaks to me.
Shannon
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