The Name of the Lord

Names matter. Because man is made in the image of God, the Almighty has given dominion to man to name places, people, and things. God has a name, and He has revealed His name to His people. Yahweh, in Hebrew, means, “I am.” His name is glorious (Is 63:14). His name is majestic in all the earth (Ps 8:1, 9). Men and nations should fear the name of the Lord (Ps 86:9, 11; 102:15). God’s name reveals much of His character attributes. For example, “Yahweh is a warrior; Yahweh is His name (Ex 15:3).” He is Yahweh of hosts (Jer 10:16; 31:35; 32:18; 46:18; Hos 12:5; Amos 4:13), and Yahweh, our righteousness (Jer 23:6). Obviously, there are many more than these few examples.

From the time of Seth and Enosh (Gen 4:26), people called upon the name of the Lord, as Abraham did (Gen 12:8), Isaac did (Gen 26:25), and as Moses did, calling Yahweh by name (Ex 6:3; 34:5). God has chosen a people to serve His name, forever (Dt 18:5). We are called by His name (Dan 9:19). We proclaim the name of the Lord (Dt 32:3) to glorify His name (Ps 96:8).

Names carry reputations. God has a reputation. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away and blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). If one claims to have the name above every other name (Phil 2:9), like God does, then a contest is sure to ensue.

Names and reputations inspire others, and they attract the allegiance of others: Mohammed; Saladin; Obama; Alabama; etc., all stir up thoughts and emotions. “Heil Hitler!” is in direct conflict with “Hail King Jesus.” “Caesar is Lord!” is set against “Jesus is Lord.” This impacts places, as well as people. Yahweh put His name in the place of the Holy Tabernacle (Dt 12:11), and the enemies of God were always scheming to plunder and destroy it.

Names are sometimes configured to include titles: Alexander the Great, Attila the Hun, Joe the Plumber, etc. God’s name is sometimes followed by a role or an action performed by Him for the benefit of His people. Yahweh-Jireh is one of the best known and most quoted names, “Yahweh is my provider.” Many names in the Bible have meaning to show allegiance. Elijah means, “My God is Yah (Yahweh).” When someone names their child, “Christian” or “Israel” it sends a message, and the conflict continues as it has from the time of Cain and Abel (Gen 4).

The name of the Lord is an important idea in the Scriptures. If we are to know God, we must know Him by name, for those who know His name will put their trust in Him (Ps 9:10; Is 50:10). God’s people walk in the name of Yahweh, forever (Mic 4:5; Zech 10:12); therefore, we should walk in a manner worthy of God (Col 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12) and worthy of our calling to be children of God (Eph 4:1). We must not take His name in vain (Ex 20:7), nor profane it through idol worship (Lev 18:21). Christians need to have a perspective on how God views His name (Is 42:8), and how we should live in light of what His name tells us about Him. Let us consider some ideas pertaining to God’s name.

First, people are to glorify the name of the Lord (Rev 15:4), forever (Ps 86:12). Who is the Lord? He is Yahweh, the God of Israel, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 15:6). Jesus Christ is also identified as Lord (Phil 2:11), and King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16). The Holy Spirit is also Lord (2 Cor 3:17). How could all three of these persons be given the exalted title, “Lord”? The answer is the doctrine of the Trinity. There is one God in three persons. Each is God but the persons are not co-mingled. Each is identified as God and Lord, but there is only one God (Dt 6:4), one Lord, in three persons. God is in community, and He invites His redeemed people to take on His name, as adopted children into His family (Rom 8:15, 23).

Second, people need to call upon the Lord (Gen 4:26) because He is their Savior (Titus 3:4–7), and there is salvation in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given among men, where a man must be saved (Acts 4:12). It is the foolish who spurn His name (Ps 74:18).

Instead, they should follow the cry of the psalmist, “I beseech You, save my life (Ps 116:4).” God is not pleased when His name is blasphemed (Is 52:5), but men should call upon His name (Zeph 3:9) and take refuge in it (Zeph 3:12), for the name of the Lord is a strong tower (Prv 18:10).

Third, Christians do what we do in the name of the Lord (Col 3:17). Blessed Jesus came in the name of the Lord (Mt 23:39). He was sent to represent His Father (Jn 5:40), the sovereign Lord in glory, and to do His will (Mt 26:39). Jesus did not hide His relationship with God His Father, nor did He confuse His purpose to glorify the name of the Father (Jn 17:1).

The apostle Paul gave commanding instructions to the churches in the name of the Lord (2 Thess 3:6). He was ascribing power and authority to the One who called him by name, and who changed his name (Acts 13:9). In the same manner, the prophets spoke in the name of the Lord, with the authority of “Thus says the Lord” (Jam 5:10). Those who minister to Yahweh, love His name (Is 56:6). In contrast, false prophets prophesied in the name of Lord, but He did not send them (Jer 29:9, 23).

Christians call upon the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32; Rom 10:13; Acts 2:21) because we are called by His name (Jer 14:9; Acts 15:17; 1 Cor 1:2). Christians are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 6:11). We are declared not guilty and have been delivered from the wrath of God’s judgment because we are “in Christ.” We are baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 8:16; 19:5), and in paedo-baptist tradition, an infant receives her Christian name at her christening.

We are to bear the name of the Lord to the unbelievers (Acts 9:15), boldly speaking in His name (Acts 9:28), in order to magnify His name (Acts 19:17). We sing praises to the name of the Lord Most High (Ps 7:17). The name of the Lord is a powerful banner of spiritual warfare. We battle against principalities and powers in the name of the Lord (Ps 118:11–12). Demons are cast out in the name of the Lord (Lk 10:17; Acts 16:18), and some believers risk their lives for His name (Acts 15:26; 21:13).

We maintain unity in the church by His name (1 Cor 1:10). Schism is a shameful defamation to the name of Christ and His church (Jude 1:19). Everyone who names the name of the Lord should abstain from wickedness (2 Tim 2:19). Rather, our help is in His name (Ps 124:8). We should bless others in His name (Ps 129:8). When we give thanks to God, it is in the name of the Lord Jesus (Ps 30:4; Eph 5:20). Christians pray and anoint our sick in the name of the Lord (Jam 5:14), our Ebenezer (1 Sam 7:12).

Fourth, the name of the Lord Jesus should be glorified in every Christian (2 Thess 1:12). His name is exalted (Ps 20:1; 34:3), and we boast in the name of the Lord (Ps 20:7), for glory is due His name (Ps 29:2). Soon every knee will bow at the name of Jesus (Phil 2:10); therefore, whatever we do, we should do it with truth, purity, honor, righteousness, excellence, in all loveliness and good repute (Phil 4:8). If we claim the title, “Christian,” then we should live in the prescribed way revealed in the New Testament.

We have learned of the importance God places on His name. His name is holy (Lev 22:32) and exalted, and it should always be glorified. It behooves us to call upon His name and walk in it all of our days. It is our task to make His name famous (Ruth 4:14). There simply is no other name to boast in, for in believing, we have life in His name (Jn 20:31), and it is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ (1 Jn 3:23). So, with celerity, bless His holy name, yea, blessed be the name of the Lord Most High!

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

February 22, 2021