THE NAME OF THE LORD

GENESIS 4:25-26

Rick Jackson

In our western culture names don't always mean anything more than what sounds nice aesthetically. In the eastern cultures this is not always the case, and in the Bible we find that names were very important. Look at the number of people in the Bible who were given new names to indicate a change in their lives (Abram, Sarai, Jacob, and Saul of Tarsus just to name a few).

Over 100 times the Scripture uses the exact phrase "the name of the Lord". There is power in that name because of the person of the Name. There are perils in misusing or abusing the name of the Lord. Then again there is also great potential for those willing to call upon the name of the Lord rightly.

I. THE PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH "THE NAME OF THE LORD"

The phrase "the name of the Lord" is used:

1. By God to declare Himself as God (Ex. 33:12-20, 34:4-9, Joel 2:26-27, Zeph. 3:-12)

2. By men to worship God as God (Gn. 13:4, 16:13, 21:33; Job 1:21-22; Ps. 124:8, 148:5, 13; Pr. 18:10; Jer. 3:17, 22)

3. By God and men to identify Jesus as God (Ps. 118:21-29, Joel 2:32; Mt. 21:9, 23:29, Lk. 19:10, 38, Acts 2:21, 4:10-12, 10:48; Rm. 10:13, I Cor. 6:11)

Have you called upon the name of the Lord and received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour?

II. THE PERILS ASSOCIATED WITH "THE NAME OF THE LORD"

It may seem strange that there could be danger or peril associated with this wonderful name but the Bible warns us carefully on this very matter. We are warned about:

1. The misuse of the Name (Ex. 20:7; Lv. 24:11, 16; Dt. 5:11; Is. 48:1)

2. The misappropriation of the Name (Dt. 18:22; Zech. 13:3)

3. The misjudging or mistrust of the Name (Jer. 11:21-23, 26:8-10, 20, 44:15-23; II Co. 11:13-15)

Just as there are perils in taking the name of the Lord lightly or wrongly there is also, for those who take the Name rightly,

III. THE POTENTIAL ASSOCIATED WITH "THE NAME OF THE LORD"

1. We can use the name in praise and thanksgiving (Ps. 7:17, 102:21, 113:1-2, 122:4, 135:1, 148:13)

2. We can represent the name as we are called to serve Him (Dt. 18:7, 21:5, 28:10, 32:2-4; I Sm. 17:45; I K. 10:1; I Ch. 21:18-20; II Ch. 33:18; Is. 50:10; Acts 9:29; Col. 3:17; James 5:10)

3. We can love the Name and call upon the Lord in prayer(I K. 18:24, 32; Ps. 116:4-5, 13, 17; Is. 56:6; James 5:14)