The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Proverbs 18:10,
"The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."
We are told that the Lord's name is a fortified tower that provides safety. What does that mean?
Living in a hostile, rebellious world dominated by a collective sinful nature and the sin that dwells with the hearts of individuals provides plenty of opportunity for the need to find, even flee to protection, which is what a "fortified tower" provides. Couple that with our own sinful nature that renders us culpable to the horrific judgment of God, we all need a safe place to flee to! That place is found within the name of the Lord, our "fortified tower" that provides us safety.
We actually find variations of names of the Lord in Scripture that point to and help us understand the character and nature, as well as the activities of the Lord, his disposition and even something of his agenda. Here is a sample of the Lord's names from the Old Testament I swiped from blueletterbible.org. I don't know anything about this ministry but they have a great listing of the Lord's names that illustrate what I am saying:
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)
Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
Within these names we find provision from the Lord of things we often have need of. Who has ever felt the need for supernatural provision? Let them call out to "Jehovah Jireh." Who has ever felt the need for peace in their life? Let them call out to "Jehovah Shalom." Who has ever sensed the sin in their lives and felt the need to find forgiveness and a right standing with the Lord our Judge? Let them call out to "Jehovah Tsidkenu." Who has ever felt the need for direction, protection and companionship? Let them call out to "Jehovah Raah." Who has ever felt the need for sensing the presence of the Lord in their lives? Let them call out to "Jehovah Shammah."
I don't subscribe to the notion that we actually have need to call a specific name of the Lord to ask for help with a specific need in our lives. Any of the names he has provided us will do. "Lord", "God", "Jesus Christ", "Savior", any name will do. Our God is One and the same God existing as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Any name we call will bring us access in our time of need.
I think it is important to note that the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob is God and there is no other. He offers us the opportunity to call out to him when we find a need in our lives. Without the Lord and his help there is no purpose in life. Without the Lord there is no meaning to life. Without the Lord there is no future beyond the grave for us to look forward to. Without the Lord we are nothing. Calling on him, calling on his name, provides us all we have need of.
Have you called on the name of the Lord?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment