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The Old Testament names of God

  • El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)

  • El Elyon (The Most High God)

  • Adonai (Lord, Master)

  • Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)

  • Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)

  • Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)

  • Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)

  • Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)

  • Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)

  • Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)

  • El Olam (The Everlasting God)

  • Elohim (God)

  • Qanna (Jealous)

  • Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)

  • Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)

  • El Roi (The God Who Sees and Remembers)

 

"Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above the earth and heaven." Psa 148:13

 

In the Old Testament times, a name was not only identification, but an identity as well. Many times a special meaning was attached to the name. Names had, among other purposes, an explanatory purpose (e.g., Nabal, whose name means "fool," is the target of Abigail's explanation to David: "For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:" - 1Sa 25:25).

 

Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His names. When we study these names that He reveals to us in the Bible, we will better understand who God really is. The meanings behind God's names reveal the central personality and nature of the One who bears them.

 

Who is God to you?

 

Is He your Most High God, All sufficient One, Master, Lord of Peace, the Lord Who Will Provide? Is He your Father? We must be careful not to make God into an "it" or a "thing" to which we pray. He is our Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd. God knows us by our name, shouldn't we know Him by His?

 

From: https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm

 

 

In the Out House  - Michael Moynahan SJ

It’s been a long,

dusty ride.

A steep and winding road

weaves serpentine

up the side of mountains.

They race the sun

with prospects of a new head to tax,

albeit a small one,

an impending certainty.

Sky and mother

are visual proof.

 

They reach the city

exhausted

but full of hope.

The husband,

mistaken on occasion

for her father,

fails to act his age

and dashes toward

a door about to close.

 

“Excuse me.

Could you give me a room for the night?

Some place to lay our heads?”

 

“Can’t you read, buster?

We’re all filled up.”

 

I understand.

It’s my wife.

she’s about to have her first child.”

 

“That’s not my problem.”

 

“He’s not a problem.

He’s a fact

of life.”

 

“Open you ears, buddy,

because I’m only

gonna say this once.

We ain’t got no room.

So scram!”

 

“I understand”

is drowned

by the sound of a

slammed door.

 

 

 

 

 

Three times he will try

to find them lodging.

And with each failure

feel less capable

of caring for his wife

and that life within her

wanting out.

 

“It doesn’t look good.

All their rooms are taken.”

“Don’t worry.

God will provide.”

 

And all the time thinking:

“That’s what I’m afraid of.

They’re sorry

but they’re full.

It’s looking bleak.”

 

“God will give us

what we need.”

He shakes his head.

She believes this

and it comforts him little.

 

The third stop

looking like a

distant bleak relation

of the previous two.

 

Until the owner’s wife

spies the young girl wince

from a movement she understands

all too well.

 

“You can have the place out back.

It isn’t much

but it will be a roof

over your heads.

There’s fresh hay thrown.

The animals won’t bother you

and the child will be warm.

I’ll get some rags and water.

Go on now,

the mother

and baby

are waiting.”

 

Silently

the young girl’s face

proclaims:

 

“Magnificent!”

 

 

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