THE NAMES OF GOD

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  (Exodus‬ ‭20:7‬)

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Those words were penned by William Shakespeare. He may have been right about botany, but not theology.  When we ask concerning God, “What’s in a name?” we must answer—everything!

  

God’s name describes His nature.  That is why using God’s name in a vain or profane way is such a sin—to devalue God’s name is to defame God Himself.

  

As we have previously noted, there are many portraits of God in Scripture—and we talked about several—that He is a Rock, a Shepherd, a Defender, and so forth.  Many pictures are needed because one portrait does not give us a complete description.

  

Likewise, there are many names of God found in the Word of God, for one is inadequate to define Him.  This series of studies will focus on the names of God, and I pray will be a source of encouragement and blessing to you—and supremely will glorify God’s great name!