thursday thirteen

I am teaching a Bible Study about the names of God.  We are using Kay Arthur's book, LORD, I Want to Know You.  I also am using Nathan Stone's book, The Names of God.

So, here are 13 names that are used for God in the Bible.

1. Elohim.  El is the word that means god.  Baal is an el.  If you are talking about Hercules, Aphrodite and their cohorts, you are talking about Greek elohim.  Elohim is the plural for el.  

But Elohim in reference to GOD denotes His creative power.  The first verse of the Bible says, In the beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth.  And while the word is plural, the pronouns used in this passage is singular.  He.  Him.  One God, but plural.

2. El Elyon.  God Most High or Most High God.  This name denotes God's sovereignty.  There is none above Him.  And there is none equal to Him.  He is above all things.

3. El Shaddai.  Almighty God or God Almighty.  This name means "All-sufficient One."  It is the name that shows us God's ample supply for our needs.  It goes beyond ample.  The name suggest a flowing of bountiful supply.

4. Jehovah.  This is THE name of God.  When asked by Moses what His name was, this is the answer He gave.  Jehovah means "Self-sufficient One."  He exists in and of Himself.  He relies on nothing to sustain His being.  He IS Being.  The name is similar to a word that means "to be".  Nobody knows how to pronounce this name. The ancient Israelites would not write it nor pronounce it.  Some say Yahweh.  Jews say Hashem, which means simply The Name.  They believe that the sign of the Messiah will be that he will know how to correctly pronounce this name.

When you see LORD in your Bible, as opposed to Lord, it is this name.

5. Jehovah - Jireh.  The LORD Will Provide.

When Abraham took Isaac to the alter and God provided a ram for the sacrifice, this is the name given to God.  He provided a way.  This name speaks to God's ultimate provision for us through the sacrifice of His own son.

6. Adonai.  Lord.  This name has to do with position.  Do we let Him be our master?  

7. Jehovah- Rapha.  The LORD Heals.

8. Jehovah - Nissi.  The LORD My Banner.  This is a name for warfare.  Just as our soldiers fight under our flag, we fight under the LORD.  Armies as far back as Joshua's army fought under a banner.  Often it was a pole rather than the way we think of banner.  A rod.  

9. Jehovah-Mekoddishkem.  The LORD Sanctifies You.  We trust God to save us, but many times we think we can sanctify ourselves.  Only God can save.  Only God can sanctify.  So while I talk abouts living a holy life, the truth is that only God can bring about holiness in our lives.  We must surrender to it, but only He can accomplish it.

10. Jehovah-Shalom.  The LORD Is Peace.

11. Jehovah-Sabaoth.  The LORD Of Hosts.  This is a name of deliverance.  When we come to the absolute end of ourselves we find need of The LORD of Hosts.  Every use of it in the Bible is when an individual or the nation is desperate.  

12. Jehovah- Raah.  The LORD My Shepherd.  All that a shepherd is for the sheep, He is for us.  Protector, provider, supplier, guide, etc.

13. Jehovah-Tsidkenu.  The LORD Our Righteousness.  This name gave the promise of a new covenant.  The covenant of grace.  And with it the promise of a new heart.  We cannot be right with God without God.  

Two bonus names:

El Roi - The God Who Sees.  You are never out of His sight.  When you are suffering, He sees.  He knows.

Jehovah- Shammah. The LORD Is There.  You are never alone.