What's in a Name? - 12

The Compound Names of God …

 

Jehovah-Tsidkenu (tsid-KAY-noo) - The Lord is our Righteousness.

            Jesus is the King of Kings and the One who came from David’s family bloodline. He is also the One who passes on His righteousness to us as God’s children.

            Paul speaks of our righteousness being given to us by Christ in Romans 3:22-23, “All people sin and fall short of God’s glory, but God freely makes us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.” Being righteous involves being in a right relationship with God. Once we become “saved” from our sins, we are then in right standing with the LORD. Listen to Ezekiel 36:26-27, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

            When we pray to the LORD, who is our righteousness, we are speaking with the one who has stepped in on our behalf to restore us to His likeness and right fellowship with Him. Being ‘righteous’ isn’t just following God’s Law. Christ fulfilled the Law by virtue of his death. So, what is being said here is that being righteous isn’t merely a matter of our outward behavior, but a matter of the heart … of our thoughts, motives, and desires, of which only God knows. The goal isn’t only to do what God says, but to become like Him in everything we think, say, and do. Therefore, righteousness is primarily a relationship, not something we simply attain. It is a direction, thru loyalty, and commitment, resulting, in part, in hope. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Names of God, Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2009; The Names of God, Rose Publishing, 2009.

What's in a Name? - 11

The ‘El’ Spin-offs … 

 

EL OLAM (o-LAM) - “The Everlasting God” or “The Eternal God”.

 

‘Olam’ is a Hebrew word that occurs more than four hundred times in the Hebrew scriptures (OT). It is translated as "eternal," "everlasting," "forever," "lasting," "ever," or "ancient". It refers to the fullness of the experience of time or space.

We find EL OLAM for the first time in Genesis 21:33, “Abraham planted a tamarisk tree* in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.” EL OLAM shows us that God is the God of all ages, everything that happens is under His control. Throughout human history EL OLAM has been manifested and has revealed his purposes to men. His utmost revelation and manifestation is found in his Son Jesus Christ.

            This name teaches us that God created time yet exists outside of and beyond it. Before the creation of the universe there was God with no beginning and no end. All things we know of change through time, yet our Father never does. This means the character of God, His Word, His Kingdom, and all He stands for never change and never end.

            Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* A tamarisk tree is a “very graceful tree, with long feathery branches and tufts closed clad with the minutest of leaves and surmounted in spring with spikes of beautiful pink blossoms, which seem to envelop the whole tree in one gauzy sheet of color”. - www.biblestudytools.com

Resources: The Names of God, by Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2009; https://discoveringthejewishjesus.com/el-olam/; www.scripturalgrace.com

 

 

Word for the Day

"God doesn't give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best & straightest paths to Himself." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Word for the Day

"Relying on God has to start all over everyday, as if nothing has yet been done."

CS Lewis

What's in a Name? - 10

The ‘El’ Spin-offs

 El Elyon (el-YOHN … pronounced like John only with a ‘Y’) - The God Most High or The Most High God.

He’s the Sovereign God in whom we can put our entire faith & trust. El Elyon is the God who is supreme* over all other gods (who would be considered ‘false’ gods - with a little ‘g’.)

 Melchizedek, king of Salem, and priest referred to God as “El Elon” 3 separate times when he blessed Abram. ^{(Genesis 14:17-22)} The name was also used in Psalm 78:35, “Then they remembered that God was their rock, that El Elyon was their redeemer.” El Elyon is used 28 times in the Old Testament; 19 times in the Psalms alone.

The term “Most High” simply means that God is above everyone and everything. This stands to reason because scripture is clear that Almighty God created everyone and everything that is in existence. There is nothing greater than God. He existed before time began and shall exist ad infinitum … there shall be no end to His existence. The word ‘preeminence’ is used in conjunction with Almighty God, for it means, “Superior to or above all others”. No one else in existence can match the wisdom, power, and majesty of our God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory, 

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

* Means: Greatest in power, authority, importance, significance, character & achievement. (Taken from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language).

Resources: The Names of God, Rose Publishing, 2021; The Names of God by Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2009; http://blog.theblueletterbible.org.

Word for the Day

 

What's in a Name? - 9

The ‘El’ Spin-offs …

 

El Shaddai [shad-DIE] > God Almighty - The God who corrects & disciplines.

This name can also mean “The All Sufficient One” or “The God of the Mountains”.

                  When God revealed Himself to Abram in Genesis, He used this name. “When Abram was 99 years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am El Shaddai (God Almighty); walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.’” ^{(Genesis 17:1-2)} The Old Testament patriarchs considered El Shaddai to be the covenant name of God. When anyone prays in the name of El Shaddai they are declaring the name of the One for whom NOTHING is impossible. If you speak this name and there is no affirmative response, it doesn’t mean God is incapable of doing thus and so. What it means is that the wheels in heaven have begun to turn and just as Jesus tarried and arrived after Lazarus had already died, the delay was for a reason and that being to bring glory to God. ^{(John 11:38-44)}

                  The LORD is also referred to as “the God of the Mountains”, which speaks of His strength and unchanging nature. It also reveals that He is not only the creator of all things, but the maintainer of the entire universe. El Shaddai occurs 31x in Job and 17x in the remainder of scripture. So, when you pray to God it is more than appropriate to call Him El Shaddai.

                  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Names of God, Rose Publications, 2021; The Names of God, Ann Spangler, Zondervan Publishing, 2009.