Five Names of God

Five Names of

G od

Five Names of

G od

What do you know about your name? Does it have a special meaning, definition, or purpose beyond simply what the combination of letters represents? When someone hears it, do they truly get an understanding of who you are? The thing about a name is that it has the ability to identify, summarize, and define an existence within the context of one word. However, without a personal encounter, a name can merely become a symbol, an arrangement of arbitrary sounds. If you want to truly know a person, you have to not only know them by name, but by nature.

God’s Names Throughout Scripture God’s true presence and character is made known by the meaning of His names. Each name identifies aspects of His nature. His names also identify His presence in our lives. The problem is that many of us know His name, but are not fully aware of His nature and therefore we lack a true encounter with His presence.

So, I’d like to introduce you to the nature of God by exploring just five of His names. I’d like you to meet: Jehovah: The “I Am who I Am” Jehovah Jireh: The Lord our Provider Jehovah Tsaba: The Lord our Warrior Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace Jehovah Rohi: The Lord my Shepherd The first thing you have to know is that God’s names carries weight. His names matter. Attached to each one is a set of character qualities, promises, and meanings, and unless you fully understand and know them, you run the risk of not accessing or utilizing them in the way that God has designed.

Jehovah Jehovah—I Am Who I Am Jehovah is the name most of us are familiar with in one form or another. It is also the name that is used most frequently throughout the Old Testament—6,519 times. This name, Jehovah, is God’s personal name. Jehovah translates to “I Am who I Am.” We can talk about the power of God and even His presence, but when we talk about Jehovah, we are talking about Him as a person—His character. Jehovah is

the side of God who relates to you and me, His creation. Jehovah is the God who personally reveals Himself to us, right in the middle of the trials, struggles, and details of life. His name Jehovah tells us that God is a person. This is a characteristic you want to remember because it lets us know that we serve a very real and very personal God. He wants to be in a relationship with you!

Jehovah Jireh Jehovah Jireh—The Lord Our Provider Now let’s take a look at the name Jehovah-Jireh. Typically in Scripture, when God wants to reveal Himself—His person—to someone, He does it with the name Jehovah tied to another name that reveals something about Him at a deeper level. I like to call these names compound connections. A compound connection is when God unveils Himself in a very personal manner. The root word for the name Jireh literally means “to see,” yet when put together with Jehovah the literal translation is, “The Lord will provide.” You see, the combination of these two names, Jehovah and Jireh, tells us that there is a relationship between God “seeing” and God “providing.” I know this concept can be a bit hard to grasp, so, to

help us better understand Jehovah Jireh, let’s look in Genesis at Abraham’s story and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. Through this story, you get a clear picture of the direct link between our provision and God’s seeing. First you have to know that Isaac was extremely special to Abraham and represented a promise of God to Abraham. However, God needed to know that Abraham would obey Him even when it was painful and hard to understand. Genesis 22:2 tells us that God tested Abraham and told him to take his son to be sacrificed, which was clearly a contradiction. Out of complete faith, Abraham obeyed and trusted that God would provide an answer to the difficult situation he faced. If you are not familiar with the details of this particular story I encourage you to read Genesis 22. In summary, God provided for Abra-

ham after He saw his willingness to obey. So the question is: What must God see so that He might provide for you when you are caught in a contradiction of life? He needs to see the same things that He

saw in Abraham. Abraham did not delay his obedience. He did what God had asked him to do even though he didn’t know how God was going to work it out. Friend, are you willing to trust God completely with whatever it is that is your “Isaac”? In case you are wondering, yes, everyone has an Isaac. But just like with Abraham, God expects us to act and to let it go so that we can experience Him as our provider, Jehovah Jireh. Whatever it is that you are holding on to so tightly—whether it’s your career, marriage, health, finances, search for a mate—you need to follow what God has instructed you with regard to it. God longs to be Jehovah Jireh to you today. Let Him!

Jehovah Tsaba Jehovah Tsaba—The Lord Our Warrior The second name and part of God’s nature I want to explore with you can be found in the story of David and Goliath. Scripture tells us that David was a young, small boy facing a large giant. However, David was not fighting in his own power. David knew God’s name, Jehovah Tsaba, and he relied on His nature to fight the battle for him. Scripture tell us this: You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts [Tsaba], the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down

and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands. —1 Samuel 17:45-47 The name Tsaba essentially means “army, host, warfare.” David knew that God was the Lord of the Army and the victory was ultimately His. So when he approached Goliath, his giant, he said, “the battle is the LORD’s of Tsaba.” Simply put, David knew he could not win in his own power. So he showed up and handed God the ball. He gave Jehovah Tsaba control over the battle he was facing. Now, this does not mean that David sat down and did nothing. Rather, he did all that he could, but he did it with one truth in mind, which is that God would be victorious. God’s name Jehovah Tsaba covers those giants who rear their ugly heads from time to time. Trust Him. He’s bigger than any Goliath you may face. Trust His presence and in the power of His name and give him the ball.

Jehovah Shalom

Jehovah Shalom—The Lord Is Peace Speaking of battles, have you ever experienced peace in the middle of one? To experience peace is even bigger than just being calm. The word shalom means “whole,” “complete,” or “well-being.” It means having things properly aligned and ordered. It means more than just feeling good at a particular moment. It even means more than happiness. Peace has to do with well-being regardless of circumstances. A person who is at peace is someone who is stable, calm, orderly, and at rest within. Peace doesn’t mean that there is calm when all is calm. It is actually the complete opposite. Godly peace means that you are at rest even when everything else seems to be all wrong. Jesus says it clearly, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” ( John 16:33) We are to expect bad days, weeks, or even months in this world. But what Jesus reminds us is that we are not to define peace by our circumstances. So how do we experience this name of God, Shalom? We submit to Him and abide in His presence. Jesus, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), left His peace with us ( John 14:27-28). Shalom is found by intimately abiding with Him. Friend, if you want peace, there is only one Person who can give it: Jehovah Shalom. What Jehovah Shalom does in the lives of

those who know this name is bring rest.

Jehovah Rohi Jehovah Rohi—The Lord My Shepherd Remember that term I mentioned earlier, compound connection? I want to share with you just one more. This one comes couched in a poetic psalm that has the power to change your life. You are probably familiar with this particular psalm already. It begins with, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” Be careful not to let your familiarity with this psalm keep you from experiencing its fullest meaning. The Hebrew word for “shepherd” is the word rohi, or ra’ah, which connotes “to tend, pasture, shepherd.” The job of a shepherd is to tend the sheep. Oftentimes we skim past those five words so quickly and without fully grasping all that is contained within them. But when you look at them and examine them slowly, you realize what a potent statement the beginning of Psalm 23 actually holds. The Lord is a personal Shepherd, a right-now God. David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Jehovah Rohi is the One to whom David looked to tend to his life and care. When you know the power of the name Jehovah Rohi, you will discover that God is able to meet all of your spiritual, directional, physical, emotional, and

eternal needs. In other words, when the Lord is your Shepherd, He has you covered. So the question is not only, is the Lord your Savior but also is He your Shepherd? Have you submitted totally to Him as a dependent sheep? I am sure you have figured by now that knowing God’s names does not necessarily dictate a change in your reality. But experiencing His presence and understanding His nature will change your perspective. You will still face troubles. However, intimacy with God provides a sustaining hope. Today whatever you face, know that God is true to His name and aware of the details in your life. He is working on your behalf for good. He is faithful to His name—He is your Lord, Provider, Warrior, Peace, and Shepherd. I encourage you to trust Him more by knowing Him better.

GO DEEPER If you enjoyed this, you may also be interested in other Tony Evans teachings.

The Power of God’s Names In his exciting new book, bestselling author Dr. Tony Evans shows that it’s through the names of God that the nature of God is revealed to us. Who is God in His fullness? How has He expressed His riches and righteousness? How can you trust His goodness? As you get to know the names of God and understand their meaning, God’s character will become real to you in life-changing ways. You will explore the depths of God as: Elohim: The All-Powerful Creator Adonai: The Owner of All El Shaddai: The Almighty Sufficient One El Elion: The Most High Ruler Jehovah Nissi: The Lord’s Banner of Victory Jehovah Mekadesh: The Lord Who Sanctifies Jehovah Rophe: The Lord Who Heals Jehovah Tsikenu: The Lord My Righteousness Immanuel: God With Us By studying and understanding the characteristics of God as revealed through His names, you will be better equipped to face hardship and victory, loss and provision, and all of the challenges life throws at you.

The Power of God’s Names Bible Study The Power of God’s Names - Leader Kit contains a Member Book, the original book on which this study is based, and two DVDs that feature the dynamic video teaching of Dr. Tony Evans. To fully grasp the significance and power of knowing God’s names, you first need to understand the context of names within biblical cultures. In Old Testament times a name was more than simply nomenclature. It was, rather, a replica and revelation of the individual or thing itself. Kit Includes: Member Book Two DVDs with a promotional video and six 30-minute teaching sessions Original book on which the study is based Features: Six video segments featuring Dr. Tony Evans teaching the study Guidance for six group experiences Six weeks of daily lessons and learning activities for individual study five days a week

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The

Urban

Alternative The Urban Alternative (TUA) is a Christian broadcast ministry founded over 30 years ago by Dr. Tony Evans. At TUA, we seek to promote a kingdom agenda philosophy designed to enable people to live all of life underneath the comprehensive rule of God. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including media, resources, clergy ministries and community impact training. The Urban Alternative’s daily radio broadcast airs on over 1,000 radio outlets in America and in over 100 countries worldwide. Find us online at TonyEvans.org.

About

the

Author

Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry dedicated to restoring hope and transforming lives through the proclamation and application of God’s Word. For over three decades, Dr. Evans has also served as senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas. He is a prolific author of numerous books, including the best-selling Kingdom Man. His radio program, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans,” is heard daily on nearly 1,000 radio outlets. Dr. Evans is also the chaplain for the Dallas Mavericks and former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys.

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