December 31 – The Lord God of Hosts

“For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind and declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness and treads on the high places of the earth, the Lord God of hosts is His name.” – Amos 4:13 (NASB)

Before Amos began prophesying, he had been one of the “shepherds” of Tekoa, a town in the hill country of Judah about. It was the Northern Kingdom of Israel, to whom Amos’ message was directed. Amos, was called to prophesy in Israel and the message God gave him was primarily one of judgment, though it ended with words of hope. Like Israel in In the middle of the 8^th century B.C., we must meet our God in judgment; but if we try to face God upon our good deeds, we shall not be able to stand before Him. If we would prepare to meet our God, we must now meet him in Christ Jesus, the eternal Son of the Father, who came to save lost sinners. We must seek Him while he is to be found. Our verse reveals the God whom we must be prepared to face. He is the Lord God Almighty. Our Sovereign God who holds all things together (Colossians 1:17), who created the mountains and the winds and who can turn the dawn back to darkness, this eternal omnipotent God is who only Jesus can prepare us to stand before Him (Jude 1:24-25).

 

197

 

December 9 – God’s Delivery Promise

“Then David said to the Philistine, “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, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. “This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, … 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  (NASB)

We continue to find promises in each of the 66 Books of the Bible and today we find this in 1 Samuel. The situation is dire and Saul, the first human king of Israel, and his army were beset by the Philistine people. Among them was a tribe from Gath which had men of unusual and great height. One they called Goliath was 9 ½ feet tall daily goaded the army of Israel and no one dared to face the giant. No one except David, a shepherd from Bethlehem the son of Jesse and great-grandson of Ruth. Remember Ruth? David believed in the Lord God and trusted Him to answer his prayers. David’s declaration and response to Goliath was that David fought in the name of the Lord and for the glory of the Lord. We have this promise that the name and glory of God will extend to the uttermost parts of the earth, to all nations. David understood the foremost issue. He recognized that the Philistines were in effect challenging the Lord by confronting the Lord’s people. So David came to fight in the Lord’s name.  Goliath fought in his own name and lost his head. 

198

December 7 – His Incomprehensible Name

“Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that when your words come to pass, we may honor you?” But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is “wonderful?”” – Judges 13:18 (NASB)

Our verse comes from the story of Samson in the Book of Judges. The Lord God visits in person the mother of Samson ad announces Samson’s birth and calling. His father Manoah asks for an in person announcement rather than believing the hearsay his wife tells him regarding the news of Samson’s birth. In this account, the Lord then appears to Manoah with a miraculous demonstration. But that is not enough because Manoah asks, What is Your name? This secret name is again indicative that the Angel is the Lord. “Why do you ask My name?” The Angel would not divulge His name just as He didn't reveal His name to Jacob in Genesis 32:24–30. Considering how often we hear the name of God bandied about with no respect and often with a great disrespect, we can be amazed at Manoah’s response – He wished to honor the name of this messenger who was the Lord God Himself. But he is told by the angel of the Lord that is not possible because “my name…is ‘wonderful.'" The word ‘wonderful’ means ‘incomprehensible,’ see Isaiah 9:6. The true meaning of God’s name is wonderful beyond our ability to understand it.

198

August 18 – Security In The Tower

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.” – Proverbs 18:10 (NASB)

Towers from antiquity have always been vital and strategic for protection. From earliest records, towers demonstrated power and wealth. Towers were named by the person who built them or the town for which they were built. Watchtowers built by farmers were platforms from which farmers protected their land and livestock. These towers were also a protected shelter for shepherds to watch their flocks and a fortified position for sentinels to guard a city. The expression, “the name of the LORD” used in this verse is found only here in Proverbs. It contains the very name of God and stands for the manifest perfections of God such as faithfulness, power, mercy, and wisdom, on which the righteous rely for security. The righteous turn to the name of the Lord, that is, to His revealed character. In Exodus 3:15 when God calls Moses from out of the wilderness he says to him “ This is My name forever, My memorial-name to all generations.” In Exodus 15:3 Moses declares “The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is His name.” By putting our trust in His Name we’re as safe as a person hiding from the enemy in a strong tower.

A watchtower on the south side of the Levonah Valley, in the mountains on the border between Samaria and Judea.

197

July 8 – A Name Worthy to Worship

“Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.” -  Nehemiah 9:5 (ESV)

This verse from the book of  Nehemiah is a demonstration of  proper worship of God. This chapter is an account of the people’s reaction after hearing the Law of Moses read. They likstened for 3 hours about the sins of their fathers and for 3 more hours confessed that they had been partakers of similar evil deeds. In response to all of this, they worshiped. Some were a surviving remnant of Israel that was left and not carried away to Babylon; some also those who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon after 70 years of forced exile. Nebuchadnezzar sacked Jerusalem and took nearly all of the excellent, educated and young to live in Babylon during the three mass exiles. While this is a long confession of sin, it is within the recitation of God’s mighty redemptive acts on Israel’s behalf. Indeed, an expression of worship. We might something about true worship from these words. It begins with acknowledgement of the greatness of God’s name and learn that God’s name is glorious and deserves to be spoken with the greatest of awe and recognition that no other name is greater or higher in all creation.     

194

January 27 – Praise Forever and For Everything

“Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forever. From the rising of the sun to its setting The name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations; His glory is above the heavens.” Psalm 113:2-4 (NASB)

Like many of the Psalms in the Bible, today’s selection is a song of  praise to God. Our choice of verses today are found in one of the Hallel Psalms. “Hallel” means praise and these songs were sung on the night of the Passover. We are reminded in these verses that the Lord deserves praise from us at all times and in every place. We begin our praise in  the morning when we rise by setting in our heart an attitude and desire to praise God. Through the day we praise the Lord for who He is and for what He does. He is what He is and has always been that way. He will not change and that is a promise we can depend on. We continue our praise to the end of the day⸺the sun’s setting and into the night. We can fall asleep praising God. Perhaps our ancestors praised Him and our descendants will also always praise Him. God wants people everywhere to praise Him. He wants them all to hear about Him and about His goodness. The gospel message has gone out and there are people across this world who are praising Him⸺He is worthy.

199

December 27 – Our Failures Will Be Forgiven

“ I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.” -  1 John 2:12 (NASB)

Is it worth it? We try and try and fail and fail so we try again. Yes, there is hope. One gift from God that came to us through Christ – He has given us a clear purpose for living. There is a meaning and purpose to our salvation. The second implication of the twofold truth that Christ came to destroy our sinning and to forgive our sins is this: We make progress in overcoming our sin when we have hope that our failures will be forgiven. If we don’t have hope that God will forgive your failures, when we start fighting sin, we give up. Soon it will be a new year on our calendar. Perhaps many of you are pondering some changes, because you have fallen into sinful patterns and want out. You want some new patterns of eating, entertainment, relating to your spouse, of sleep and exercise, courage in witness. But you are wondering whether it’s any use. Well, here’s your second Christmas present: Christ not only came to destroy the works of the devil — our sinning — he also came to be an advocate for us because of experiences of failure in our fight.

196

In part sourced from John Piper's podcast, "Solid Joys." https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/three-christmas-presents 

December 15 – It Was Because

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 (NASB
“And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High;” - Luke 1:31-32a (NASB)
“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 (NASB)

The birth of Jesus was known before God created the earth and humans. During this season, we sing about the message which the angels told to the shepherds near Bethlehem the night Jesus was born.  But today's verses tell us that before that, God predicted through His prophet Isaiah the birth of the “Son of God.” God had sent the angel Gabriel with the message about the birth and name of Jesus to Mary who was chosen to be His mother. Gabriel made a visit later to Joseph who was to be Mary's husband. Gabriel revealed why God had chosen the name Jesus for the child who was to be born.  It was because He would save His people from their sins. The prophecy of Isaiah is repeated in Matthew 1:23. These messages, given to the world before the child was born, are important to us. Jesus was coming in order to be our Savior. We should rejoice today that God sent His Son to save us. It was an important message given before He came.  It is just as important today. God promised to provide a way for us to be saved and Jesus is that Way.

198

November 2 – Unrestrained Passion Forever

 “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” – John 17:26 (ESV)

Our verse and promise come from the Lord’s Prayer. No, not THAT Lord’s Prayer but the prayer our Lord offered up to the Father on His last night. Soon to be arrested, Jesus prayed for all his disciples and included all who ever will be. Can you imagine being able to enjoy what is most pleasurable with unrestrained energy and passion forever? This of course is not our experience now. Too much blocks our satisfaction in this world. Is there anything in this created world that has a personal worth great enough to meet the deepest cravings of our hearts? Do we possess the strength necessary to treasure the best resources to their maximum worth? Do the joys we have here and now come to an end? No, No, and Yes. Nothing lasts. Jesus prayed “that the love with which you, Father, have loved me may be in them.” God’s infinite love for his Son in us! If God’s pleasure in the Son becomes our pleasure in the Son, then the object of our pleasure, Jesus, will be inexhaustible in personal worth. Never become boring, disappointing, or frustrating. No greater treasure can be conceived than the Son of God.

 199

 

September 4 – Remember, Remember, Remember,

“Remember the word to Your servant, In which You have made me hope. -  Psalm 119:49 (NASB)
I have remembered Your ordinances from of old, O LORD, And comfort myself. - Psalm 119:52 (NASB)
O LORD, I remember Your name in the night, And keep Your law. -  Psalm 119:55 (NASB)

Can you consider for a moment what life would be like if you were unable to remember? Memory is critical part of our lives and when we know someone in their later life whose memory is failing them, we understand the critical factor of danger. Perhaps they no longer remember what might hurt them such as a hot pot on the stove. Perhaps they no longer remember their way home. Perhaps even they no longer remember their family or even their own selves. It is tragic. The Psalmist affirms three remembrances in his life and we’ve selected the verses that declare what he remembers. He remembers the word God has given him and from that He has acquired hope. He remembers the ordinances he learned in the past and he is comforted by them. And, perhaps most important and valuable, he remembers God’s name in the night which helps him keep God’s law. Those afflicted with the diseases that rob them of their memory often struggle most at the end of the day as the sun sets. Let us rejoice for it is a blessing when we can remember God’s Word all through each day. 

195

July 20 –His Name’s Sake

“For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself” -  1 Samuel 12:22 (ESV)

What is in a name? Especially the name of God? Foremost it is the guarantee of an unbreakable promise. When God makes promises, those who have believed can trust in their fulfillment. Samuel was the last prophet/judge of God’s chosen people. The people demanded to have a king and God sent Samuel to anoint Saul to be Israel’s first king. The people rejected God as their true King. As King Saul is crowned, the people are warned to not forget their God and to serve, obey and not rebel against His commandments. God’s promise that He will not forsake His people is renewed. He established the promise on His name, “for His great name’s sake.” God’s promises to us are also given to us in His name. That means the promises are unbreakable and even when we disobey, God keeps His promises. God promised to make Israel a people for Himself based on His name. His promises hold true no matter how far the people stray. We have the same promise. All faith believers are given promises of God for salvation, which include justification, sanctification, glorification.  God will be with us forever.

192

 

April 4 – He Is His Name

“For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” – Malachi 1:11 (ESV)

As we read the Bible we find that God’s name is to be taken (used) seriously and with much honor. So it is that one of the Ten Commandments instructs us to not take or use the name of the LORD God in vain. What God does for us and for all humans is all done for His name’s sake. It is for His great name’s sake that God will not forsake His people – that is us who believe. Even when we indulge in our own pleasures and when we forsake the straight path He sets before for us.  Even when we trust in our own understanding instead of God and turn from God’s commands in disobedience, He remains faithful to us because he has promised to and He does this for His name’s sake AND that He might make known to His mighty power. That was why God opened the Red Sea for the Children of Israel to cross on dry land as they exited Egypt (Psalm 106:8-9). It is difficult to break the habits we’ve had for years invoking God’s name uselessly but God’s name is who He is and He is worthy of honor and glory. 

199

April 3 – His Great Name

“For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.” - 1 Samuel 12:22  (NASB)

As we study the words and acts of God, we discover that He placed a great amount of importance on how we treat His Name. Everything God does is done for His great name’s sake.  The name of God is above all names ever for His name has been from before time. Whatever we think, say, and do reflects how important God’s name is to us. In our verse today, the children of Israel after having had God as their ruler and King and administered by God’s appointed judges and prophets, were jealous of the ways of the godless nations around them had Kings.  They wanted a King too. They demanded Samuel appoint a King for them. Once they had their King, they quickly forgot how God had cared for them, even when they strayed into idolatress pagan worship.  But God chose Israel and his decedents to be His people. God promised in an unbreakable covenant to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) that He was their God and would care for them. Because of that promise it was for His Great Name that God keep His promises. God’s very name is why He can’t lie or break a promise.     

197

March 21 – I AM the Promise

“God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  - Ex 3:14. (ESV)

Moses was confused. He was tending the sheep and goats in the wilderness for his father-in-law. It had been 40 years since he fled from Egypt and his favored position. On Mt. Horeb he comes across a bush on fire but not consumed by the fire. He approaches to investigate. God calls out his name, “Moses, Moses”.  So much to learn here but our promise today God made with his Name. He is sending Moses back to Egypt with a massive job assignment. Moses lacks confidence. He knows names are important so he asks God who he is to say sent him on this mission. Who will he tell the Israelites has sent him to lead them out of Egypt when they ask what God’s name is. Moses asks “They’ll want to know under what authority I have come back.”  God tells Moses His name. “Say…I AM who I AM has sent me to you.” It is the verb “to be” and spelled out in Hebrew as “Yahweh.”  It is a name that is a promise. God is and always has been. In most modern English Bibles we use ‘The LORD.’ Other versions use Jehovah.* 

195

*The making of the name Jehovah.

There was no name ‘Yehowah’ or ‘Jehovah’ at the time God met with Moses in the wilderness. His name was I AM which in Hebrew becomes the four consonant name YHWH and when pronounced, it needed vowel sounds to voice it as Yahweh.  Hebrew often did not use vowels for certain words but had pronunciations and when written out vowels were used.  When God gave the Children of Israel the Ten Commandments, the third commandment was “You shall not take the name of YHWH your God in vain for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”  The Jews over time were so concerned with possibly slipping up and accidently saying the name YHWH in vain they refused to ever say it or even write it.  It was overly cautious because infractions of the law required so much in sacrifices and vows to wipe their slate clean.  Forgiveness for sins required proper and fitting sacrifices as well as behaviors.

The Masoretes were a group of Jewish scribes who were guardians of the written law and helped preserve the text of the Old Testament Scriptures. They eventually developed notes on the text based on Jewish traditions. The word Masorete comes from the ancient Hebrew word for "bond," used to refer to the Jews' obligation to keep covenant with God. Masoretes, who from about the 6th to the 10th century worked to reproduce the original text of the Hebrew Bible, replaced the vowels of the name YHWH with the vowel signs of the Hebrew words Adonai translated "Lord" or Elohim translated "God". Thus, the artificial name Jehovah (YeHoWaH) came into being. Although Christian scholars after the Renaissance and Reformation periods used the term Jehovah for YHWH, in the 19th and 20th centuries biblical scholars again began to use the form Yahweh. Early Christian writers, such as Clement of Alexandria in the 2nd century, had used a form like Yahweh, and this pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton was never really lost. Other Greek transcriptions also indicated that YHWH should be pronounced Yahweh.

January 23 – His Love In Us

“ O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:25-26 (ESV)

The last meal Jesus had with His disciples was His last Passover meal on Earth. He concludes his prayer with a call to the Righteous Father. The word translated “righteous” here doesn’t occur often in John’s Gospel. It’s significant as it’s His praise of the Father’s work of revelation. God our Father is right (righteous) and the world is in the wrong ("the world does not know You"). Jesus has known, and revealed the Father, and continues as Christians follow His example. The essence of God is love. Jesus revealed the Father and His love to the world in His own death and resurrection. And the Father made known His love for the Son by raising Him to glory. Jesus’ purpose in revealing the Father was that Christians would continue to grow in that love, that the Father’s love for the Son may be in them, and to enjoy the personal presence of Jesus in their lives and “I in them. Jesus has four petitions for believers: preservation (John 17:11), sanctification (John 17:17), unity (John 17:11, 21–22), and participation in Jesus’ glory (John 17:24). This prayer is answered every day with the conversion of each lost soul.  

- 197 -

December 30 – Remembering For Purpose

“Indeed, while following the way of Your judgments, Lord, We have waited for You eagerly; Your name, and remembering You, is the desire of our souls.  At night my soul longs for You, Indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; For when the earth experiences Your judgments, The inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.” Isaiah 26:8-9 (NASB)

As the days on the calendar of this year tick off one by one, the favorite pastime of the media is to fill their time with memories of the year. This year has been challenging; we may find this activity less enjoyable than it has been in past years. For those of us who have put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ, we can always count of the blessing of remembering that He has been with us on this rocky path. It is wonderful to have close fellowship with our Lord. This was the prophet Isaiah experience and he writes about it in today's verse. As we walk with the Lord we find that He satisfies the deepest desires of our heart. Those desires are those which come from Him and they are pure and good. When God created human beings He wanted to have fellowship with His creatures.  And God made us so that we would desire to be close to Him. So we find true satisfactions when we are close to Him. We are able to say that our inner being yearns for God night and day. Isn’t that a comforting promise we have been given today? 

200

July 23 – He Will Do That Thing

“And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.””  - Exodus 33:17 (ESV)

Moses had asked God to go with him as he led the people of Israel to the Promised Land. What a wonderful answer to prayer! God agreed to go with Moses just as he had prayed. It was a very difficult time for Moses. He was instructed by God to lead the people whom God called a stiff-necked people (Exodus 33:5). He had encountered such disobedience from them with the making of Egyptian idols that Moses doubted he could lead the people rightly (Exodus 33:14-15).  Moses had asked God to go with him. This request pleased the Lord. And God wants to be with His children today, too. When we ask Him to be with us, He is pleased with our request. And, as God told Moses that He knew his name, so He knows us by name too. He knows your name and He knows mine. He wants to be with us today. When we ask for His presence He will say to us as he said to Moses, “I will do this thing that you ask. I will be with you through your trial and testing every step”

-190-

July 17 – Satisfaction From Loving

“I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”- John 17:26  (NASB)

Jesus’ prayer in this chapter of the Gospel of John  is intimately linked with the themes and language of His teaching to this point. In verse 20 of this chapter Jesus prays not only for His disciples who are to be His apostles but also for all who will believe in Him through the words they will preach, write and preserve for all the future faithful. Jesus’ desire was for us to experience that which is most enjoyable. But we find that there is nothing in this world that is of such worth that it can meet the deepest longing of our hearts.  We lack the strength to even savor the best treasures to their maximum worth. What we find enjoyment in does not last, it comes to an end. God does not love the Son the way he loves sinners. He loves the Son because the Son is infinitely worthy of love. But if God’s pleasure in the Son becomes our pleasure, then the object of our pleasure, Jesus, will be inexhaustible in personal worth. Jesus prays that this pleasure that God has in his Son will be the same pleasure we have in the Son.

-197-

June 11 – We Are, For His Great Name

“For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself.”  - 1 Samuel 12:22 (NASB)

The name of God is far more than a label, sticker, or tag to be used as an ID.  “His great name” as used in our verse today refers to His reputation, His fame, His renown, who He is.  We use the word “name” in this way when we say “they are out to make a name for themselves.”  We understand Samuel means to use “His name” this way when he says that God made Israel a people “for Himself” and that he would not cast Israel off  “for his great name’s sake.”  The Apostle Peter described God’s purpose for us in this promise: “You are a chosen race . . . that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” 1 Peter 2:9.  Meaning, those who are the true church are chosen by God to make a name for Him in the world. Let’s remember, we are joining God in his God-centeredness. And for us, that means being a Christ-dependent, Christ-exalting people. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:17 NASB.

-199-

Some content of this blog was gleaned from Desiring God by John Piper.

May 23 – Truly Only One, None Other

“He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.  And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  - Acts 11-12 (NASB)

Peter was on trial before the same court that had condemned Jesus.  He is bold and unafraid because he knew the promise God had given for salvation and eternal life.  We have another kind of promise in our verse today.  It’s the promise that the very person who was rejected by the leaders of Israel as their Messiah and was put to death by them, was the chief cornerstone of a new spiritual "building", His Church.  We have become a part of that new building through Jesus. Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven that gives eternal life to all who believe.  There were many other names that the people hoped would be their Messiah. Today, many others lay claim to be the one way.  But their way is to a god that is a false god that demands much work from their followers.  We can rejoice, if we have believed in the name of Jesus, because we have been adopted by the only true God.  Our God is the only one who can save and the only one who has done everything necessary for our salvation. It is ours by faith when we believe in God. 

-199-