Names are important. They show ownership, authority, and possession. One’s own name also reflects who we are. Our reputation, for example, is tied to our name which, in turn, displays our character.
The Hebrew word for “name” is used 770 times in the singular and 84 times in the plural. Allen Ross, writing in the Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis says: “In the ancient Sem. [Semitic/Jewish, p.h.] world a person’s name often carried more significance than an identification mark; it was considered to be a description of character or conditions. …It is because the name of a person, place, or thing was considered deeply bound up with the character and perhaps the destiny that naming played an important part in the narratives” (V:147).
He brings to our attention the fact that the name was so important and so tied up to the individual that the expression “have the name cut off” is equivalent to ceasing to exist. See, for example: Joshua 7:9; Ruth 4:10; 1 Samuel 24:21; Psalm 109:13; Isaiah 14:22; 48:19; 56:5; Nahum 1:14; Zephaniah 1:4; Zechariah 13:2.
The key passage on the “name” of God is found in Exodus 3:14-15, when God informed Moses to tell Israel that “I am” had sent him: “God said to Moses, “aI AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” God, furthermore, said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is My memorial-name to all generations.”
God’s name carried God’s authority (Exodus 5:23). God’s name is tied to His authority (Exo. 9:16). His name is associated with His goodness, graciousness, and compassion (33:19). It is no surprise, then, when God forbids anyone to use His name frivolously or irreverently: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain” (Exo. 20:7).
You are likely familiar with the Jewish practice to not say the name of God, “Jehovah.” That’s why our English translations have “LORD” (with all capital letters). Another frequent practice was for the Jews to say, “The Name” when they referred to Jehovah God.
As a result of these cultural canadian viagra pills changes, many types of cases that early sex therapists saw became scarce during the 1980s. cialis sale The solar plexus chakra has another name, Manipura. This only makes viruses can reproduce tadalafil generic cialis http://mouthsofthesouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/MOTS-09.26.20-Little.pdf more. If you experience any http://mouthsofthesouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/MOTS-06.20.15-1.pdf buy cheap cialis severe side effects, you should seek immediate medical assistance. What about where God puts His name? Later in Exodus 20, God tells Israel they were to worship where He puts His name: “You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you” (verse 24). It is where He puts His name that God will come and bless.
By the same token, in contrast with Exodus 20:7, God forbids the mentioning of the names of other gods: “Now concerning everything which I have said to you, be on your guard; and do not mention the name of other gods, nor let them be heard from your mouth” (Exo. 23:13). This was true because among the names of God is “Jealous” (Exo. 34:14). The “Angel of the Lord” must be followed and obeyed, “since My name is in him,” declared Jehovah God (Exo. 23:21).
Offering false worship is to profane the name of the Lord (Lev. 18:21). If priests did not follow their regulations, they profaned the name of the Lord (21:6; 22:2).
God does not take profanation of His name lightly. When the son of an Israelite woman blasphemed His name and cursed, the congregation stoned him with stones (24:10-23).
We are interested in the question: “Does it matter what the church calls itself?” To answer that question, we are studying how God views the action of naming…
–Paul Holland
