THE PERSON WE PRAISE

I. Why Praise His Name?

• Scriptures
  • "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised." (Psalm 113:3)
  • "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain" (Exodus 20:7)
  • Psalm 8:1 -- "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth."
  • Psalm 29:2 -- "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name."
  • Psalm 34:3 -- "Let us exalt His name together."
  • Psalm 48:10 -- "According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise."
  • Psalm 66:4 -- "They shall sing to thy name."
  • Psalm 72:19 -- "Blessed be His glorious name forever."
  • Psalm 100:4 -- "Give thanks to Him and praise His name."
  • Psalm 103:1b -- "Praise His holy name."
  • Psalm 145:2 -- "I will praise you and extol your name forever."

• Significance
  • A name designated character. It represented the kind of person someone was to be.
  • Thus the names of God reveal to us something of His character. These are names He gave Himself and thus they reveal to us what God chooses to show us about Himself.
  • To praise God, properly, we should know Him intimately. Let us see the significance of His names.

II. What are the Names of God?

Elohim

• Elohim is used over 2700 times in the Bible. It means "the one who is great, mighty, and dreadful."
• Occurs in Genesis 1 thirty-two times.
• Plural -- indicates Trinity.
• Name by which covenants were instituted.

El Shaddai

• Used 48 times in O.T.
• "The one who is mighty to completely nourish, satisfy, and supply us."
• The concept of nourishment here is akin to that of a mother feeding her child. It is more than just providing for needs -- it is bonding with us, loving us, cherishing us as no other can do.
• Genesis 17:1 -- used to initiate the covenant with Abraham.

Adonai

• "Lord"
• Usually occurs in plural when referring to God (because of the Trinity).
• Refers to His ownership of all that is. Refers also to our need for stewardship.
• Isaiah 6 -- "I saw the LORD . . . ."
• The one who reigns.

Jehovah

• Exodus 3:14.
• Eternally self-existent and self-sufficient.
• Used of God as He reveals Himself to man through a covenant.
• Open your Bible to Exodus 3:14 where we are introduced to Jehovah. Starting here, write the next reference down in the margin next to Exodus 3:14. Then look up that reference and then we'll right the next reference down in that margin. This way, you can study the names of God for yourself. So next to Exodus 3:14 write Genesis 22:14

Jehovah-Jireh

• Genesis 22:14.
• "The Lord provides." "Provide" means "to see before."
• He knows every need in advance.
• Now next to Genesis 22:14 write Exodus 15:26.

Jehovah-Rophe

• Exodus 15:26 -- Name given by God Himself.
• After bitter waters of Marah.
• "Healing is what I am."
• Now next to Exodus 15:26, write Exodus 17:15

Jehovah-Nissi

• Exodus 17:15.
• God prevailed in battle against the Amalekites as Moses prayed. When he stopped praying the Amalekites began to win. Finally Aaron and Hur help Moses pray and God gives the victory to Israel.
• Jehovah-Nissi -- "The Standard" to which all men must gather and behind which all men must march.
• Now next to Exodus 17:15, write Leviticus 20:7

Jehovah-M'Kaddesh

• Leviticus 20:7
• "The One who makes you holy."
• Thank God! This name follows the command to be holy. This can only happen through Him. We cannot be holy without Him making us holy.

Jehovah-Shalom

• Judges 6:24
• The nation suffered from war because they had not kept God's law. An angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon to appoint him to be a redeemer for Israel. Gideon was unsure. So he went to get a sacrifice to offer to the Lord. He wanted to see in what manner the sacrifice was accepted so he would know if it was really God.
• The angel touched it with a rod and it was consumed by fire.
• Gideon was frightened but the Lord said, "Peace, Do not be afraid, You are not going to die!" Gideon replied, "Jehovah-shalom." He recognized that God is peace.

Jehovah Rohi

• Psalm 23:1 -- "The Lord is my shepherd."
• He is the Good Shepherd.
  (1) Guidance
  (2) Feeding
  (3) Protection
  (4) Mercy
• Revelation 7:17 -- "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Jehovah-Tsidkenu

• Jeremiah 23:5-6 -- "The days are coming when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do that which is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: Jehovah-Tsidkenu" [The Lord our Righteousness].
• tsidek means exact measurement. God's standard of righteousness is exact. Only one person has ever lived up to that standard -- Jesus.

Jehovah-Shammah

• Ezekiel 48:35
• After a very sad message from Ezekiel. All the glory has departed from the Temple and from Israel.
• But God is coming again! The glory will return! One day men will proclaim "God is there!" [Jehovah-Shammah]
• Where? In our hearts.
  (1) 2 Corinthians 3:16
  (2) 2 Corinthians 6:16 -- "For we are the temple of the living God."

III. Why His Name is Important to Us

• God's character is revealed through His names.
• God reveals our need through His names.
• The nature of our redemption is revealed through His names.
• We can know what to expect of life through His names.
• We can come to know Him better through His names.
• We can come to know the riches of being a Christian better through His names.
• Praising the names of God brings to light that particular characteristic.

Using His Names:

• When you are about to give up -- Jehovah Jireh.
• When you are sick -- Jehovah Rophe.
• When the battle is fierce -- Jehovah-nissi.
• When you are disturbed -- Jehovah-shalom.
• Jesus is all of these.

Names for Christ in Scripture:

Advocate (1 John 2:1)
Almighty (Revelation 1:8)
Amen (Revelation 3:14)
Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:9-14; Judges 6:11-14)
Anointed (Psalm 2:2)
Apostle (Hebrews 3:1)
Author (Hebrews 12:2)
Alpha (Revelation 1:8; 21:6)
Babe (Luke 2:16)
Beginning of creation (Revelation 3:14)
Begotten of Father (John 1:14)
Beloved (Ephesians 1:6)
Bishop (1 Peter 2:25)
Blessed (1 Timothy 6:15)
Branch (Zechariah 3:8)
Brazen Serpent (John3:14)
Bridegroom (Matthew 9:15)
Bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16)
Captain (Joshua 5:4)
Carpenter (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3)
Child (Isaiah 9:6)
Christ (Matthew 1:16; 2:4)
Commander (Isaiah 55:4)
Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25)
Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)
Dayspring from on high (Luke1:78)
Day Star (2 Peter 1:19)
Deliverer (Romans 11:26)
Desire of nations (Hag. 2:7)
Door of the sheepfold (John 10:7)
Emmanuel (Matthew 1:23)
Express image of God (Hebrews 1:3)
Faithful witness (Revelation 1:5; 3:14;19:1)
Father of eternity (Isaiah 9:6)
First Fruits (1 Corinthians 15:23)
Foundation (Isaiah 28:16)
Fountain (Zechariah 13:1)
Forerunner (Hebrews 6:20)
Friend of sinners (Matthew 11:19)
Gift of God (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Glory of God (Isaiah 60:1)
God (John 1:1; Romans 9:5;1 Timothy 3:16)
Governor (Matthew 2:6)
Guide (Psalm 48:14)
Head of Church (Colossians 1:18)
Heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2)
High Priest (Hebrews 3:1; 7:1)
Holy Child (Acts 4:30)
Holy One of God (Mark 1:24)
Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 41:14)
Horn of salvation (Psalm 18:2)
I AM:
I am the Bread of Life (6:-35).
I am the Light of the World (9:5).
I am the Good Shepherd (10:11).
I am the Door (10:9).
I am the Resurrection and the Life (11:25).
I am the true Vine (15:1).
I am the Way (14:6).
Jehovah (Isaiah 26:4; 40:3)
Jesus (Matthew 1:21)
Judge (Micah 5:1; Acts 10:42)
King:
King of Israel (Matthew 27:42; John 1:49)
King of kings (Revelation 17:14; 19:16)
Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36)
Lawgiver (Isaiah 33:22)
Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5)
Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)
Man (Acts 17:31; 1 Timothy 2:5)
Master (Matthew 8:19)
Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
Messiah (Daniel 9:25; John 1:41)
Mighty God (Isaiah 9:6; 63:1)
Minister (Hebrews 8:2)
Nazarene (Mark 1:24)
Only begotten Son (John 1:18)
Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7)
Physician (Matthew 9:12)
Potentate (I Timothy 6:15)
Prince (Acts 3:15; 5:31)
Prophet (Acts 3:22)
Propitiation (1 John 2:2; 4:10)
Power of God (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Purifier (Malachi 3:3)
Priest (Hebrews 4:14)
Rabbi (John 3:2; Matthew 26:25; John 20:16)
Ransom (1 Timothy 2:6)
Reaper (Revelation 14:15)
Redeemer (Isaiah 59:20; 60:16)
Refiner (Malachi 3:3)
Refuge (Isaiah 25:4)
Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16)
Rock (Deuteronomy 32:15)
Rod (Isaiah 11:1)
Root of David (Revelation 22:16)
Rose of Sharon (Song of Solomon 2:1)
Sacrifice (Ephesians 5:2)
Samaritan (Good) (Luke 10:33)
Savior (Luke 1:47, 2:11, 4:42)
Second Man (1 Corinthians 15:47)
Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16,19)
Seed of David (2 Timothy 2:8)
Seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15)
Servant (Isaiah 42:1; 49:5-7)
Shepherd:
The Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)
The Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
The Great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20)
My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)
Shiloh (Gen. 49:10)
Son of David (Matthew 9:27, 15:22, 20:30, 21:9; Mark 10:46, 47)
Son of God (Matthew 4:3-6, 8:29, 14:33, 16:16, 27:54; John 1:49, 9:35, 10:36, 11:27; Luke 1:35, 4:41)
Son of man -- Christ's favorite name for himself. According to his own testimony, the Son of man:
Came not to be ministered to (Matthew 20:28).
Came to seek and save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11).
Can alone forgive sin (Matthew 9:6).
Had not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20).
Is Lord of the Sabbath (Luke 6:5).
Would be betrayed (Matthew 17:22).
Should suffer (Matthew 17:12).
Would be lifted up (John 3:14).
Would be three days in the heart of the earth (Matthew12:40).
Would be raised from the dead (Matthew 17:9).
Will come again in the glory of his Father (Matthew 16:27; 24:30).
Will send forth his angels (Matthew 13:41).
Shall sit upon the throne of his glory (Matthew 19:28).
Son of Mary (Mark 6:3).
Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32)
Stone (Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:32, 33; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:6, 7)
Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2)
Teacher (Master) (Matthew 26:18; John 3:2; 11:28)
Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6)
Word (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13)