| Satan has caused an unsuspecting church to adopt | | | | The word shem is the word "name," and when used |
| his days and names of false gods to keep them | | | | for the name of God, it literally means "destroy |
| from coming to know the true God intimately by | | | | chaos." The word shalom, exemplified in the peace of |
| learning His covenant names and their meanings | | | | the Sabbath day, literally means "destroy the |
| (Read more about this in the upcoming book, Bible | | | | authority (Satan) that causes chaos." And Shabbat |
| Code Broken! -- The Truth about the Christian | | | | means "repent or return to the covenant or cross of |
| Sabbath, soon available at Mill City Press, Minneapolis). | | | | Jesus (who defeated Satan by His blood)." |
| God's covenants and His names are closely related. | | | | While some don't like the idea of keeping the law, we |
| The Sabbath opens the door to understanding His | | | | must understand that Jesus is the Law or Torah, |
| covenant names and to intimacy with Him. | | | | which in the word picture in Hebrew means, "what |
| Moses is a good example of a man of God with a | | | | comes out of the man who was nailed to the cross." |
| literal mountaintop experience of intimacy with God. | | | | That's Jesus. He gave the law and He is the Law, |
| The circumstances of His calling at the burning bush | | | | which is love. |
| demonstrate a principle that explains why the | | | | Jesus is our Sabbath or Rest. Shabbat means we |
| Sabbath allows us to know God intimately through | | | | rest by returning to the covenant, the first one God |
| His names. We can read the story in Exodus 3. | | | | made with man. Returning or repenting means |
| Like many who have not yet walked on holy ground, | | | | choosing God's Kingdom over Satan's. Satan has |
| Moses was in a fleshly attitude when he saw the | | | | established Sunday as his day, while Jesus made it |
| famous bush. He did not perceive at first that this | | | | clear that His Sabbath pictures and explains the |
| miracle was from God (Ex. 3:3). | | | | names and ways of the true King and His Kingdom. |
| Then Jesus spoke to him from the bush and told him | | | | We cannot rest in Jesus, our Sabbath, if we do not |
| to remove his sandals since the area around the bush | | | | rest on Kingdom day. |
| was holy ground. God's presence permeated that | | | | Jesus is also Yehovah Shalom. We cannot destroy |
| ground, just as His presence fills the Sabbath day. | | | | the authority that causes chaos in our lives if we |
| The sandals represented walking the way of the | | | | choose to "rest" with Satan on his day. How many |
| world. Taking them off meant disposing of the | | | | Sunday keepers experience a true rest? Jesus says, |
| outside world to come into the presence of a holy | | | | "Come unto Me and you will find Shabbat shalom, for |
| God. | | | | I am Your Shabbat and Your Shalom." |
| The Christian world has not yet been blessed to | | | | He is Yehovah Shammah, the God who is always |
| understand that the Sabbath is holy like that ground | | | | there for us or present with us. Yet Jesus says He |
| in which God's presence dwelt. We have been | | | | made the Sabbath holy, so He is present in a special |
| walking like the world and trampling down God's holy | | | | way with us on His day. His covenant promise says |
| Sabbath (Isa. 58:13). | | | | He will never leave us or forsake us. A covenant |
| When Moses took his dirty sandals off his feet, he | | | | works both ways, however. When we find out about |
| began to be aware of God's presence and holiness | | | | His Sabbath, He doesn't want us to forsake the |
| and to be in awe of this holy God (Ex. 3:6). | | | | assembling of ourselves together with Him on His |
| Something wonderful happened that will also take | | | | day. We must not forsake Him. |
| place when we cease treating the Sabbath as an | | | | Jesus is our Raah or Shepherd, and He makes His |
| ordinary day. God is calling us to holy ground, as it | | | | sheep lie down in green pastures with Him on His day |
| were, to share a holy time with Him so He can reveal | | | | of rest. Satan wants us to keep his Sunday so we |
| Himself to us. As we stand in awe of Him on that | | | | will not be able to be still and know that God is God |
| holy ground, we will open the door to the kind of | | | | and that He is Love. We can only know the true |
| awesome revelation Moses received. | | | | Creator when we rest at the exact time He did, |
| What was that revelation? It is the same described in | | | | being still on His Sabbath, getting to know Him. |
| Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath was to be a perpetual | | | | Raah is literally the "man of the eye (letter ayin)," the |
| covenant, the first one revealed to Adam, and a sign | | | | one who watches out for the sheep. A similar |
| between God and the believers that "you may know | | | | concept is found in Yehovah Yireh (Jehovah Jireh). |
| that I am [the Eternal, the I AM] who sanctifies you | | | | God sees ahead and knows our every need, already |
| [makes you holy]." | | | | having devised His plan of provision for us. As you will |
| God's words to Moses when he took his shoes off | | | | see in this book, God's perfect will of provision for us |
| holy ground were quite similar. He told Moses: "I AM | | | | is impossible without keeping the day of provision, |
| WHO I AM..." (Ex. 3:14). He revealed many other of | | | | the Sabbath of "mannafold blessings." |
| His names to Moses, but YHVH or Yahweh or | | | | In Jesus' ministry more dramatic healings occurred on |
| Yehovah was His "memorial-name" that showed He | | | | the Sabbath than at any other time. Healing ministries |
| was the Eternal One who dwelt outside of time and | | | | are discovering inadvertently the Sabbath healing |
| could do anything we required of Him according to | | | | anointing. It is to be expected. After all, Yeshua |
| His covenants. | | | | Rapha, Jesus our Healer, has poured Himself and His |
| The knowledge of God's ten covenants and His | | | | healing power into His day. |
| many names has eluded a church who has broken His | | | | Our Mighty, Jealous Warrior |
| Ten Commandments by profaning the fourth one | | | | Jesus is Yehovah Nissi, the Banner we rally around |
| (James 2:10). The church will only gain the intimacy | | | | and seek refuge in so that He will lead us to victory. |
| and power it desires when it begins to recognize | | | | The word nes (noon samech) has a picture meaning |
| what God calls holy ground or holy time. | | | | of "life support," yet its true meaning is an ensign, |
| Makkadesh ("the [Eternal] who sanctifies you") is not | | | | standard of identifying flag of the warrior that we |
| the only name God reveals in His Sabbaths. It is only | | | | follow and who protects us. The same word is used |
| representative of all His names that connect us to a | | | | for Jesus as the serpent of sin that was lifted up for |
| holy God on His holy day. The Sabbath connects us | | | | us and thus later became our standard of |
| to all God's covenants and all His names that we can | | | | righteousness. Since He is our Sabbath, and the |
| call on to make us more like Him -- the goal of our | | | | Sabbath was a sign between Jesus and us that He is |
| existence and the reason for the Sabbath. | | | | our God and we are His people (Ex. 31:13), He is our |
| In the healing book we discussed some of the | | | | Ensign, Our Identifying Banner of Identity and |
| redemptive names of God. His covenant names are a | | | | Victory. We take refuge in Him every Sabbath, being |
| vast subject on which we will only touch briefly here. | | | | strengthened in Him, the Captain of our Salvation, our |
| We discovered many of these names by keeping the | | | | Mighty Warrior and Champion (Isa. 19:20; Jer. 20:11). |
| Day of Trumpets, an annual Sabbath that we will | | | | Jesus is the "Mighty One of Jacob...the Shepherd, the |
| cover in the next book. While these names have | | | | Stone of Israel..." (Gen. 49:24). He is our "refuge and |
| greater power when used with the rod of Jesus | | | | strength, A very present help in trouble" (Ps. 46:1). If |
| released on that day, we can still claim these names | | | | we dwell intimately with Him on His Sabbath, even an |
| in claiming our covenant rights in prayer. | | | | atomic bomb on ground zero will not touch us. |
| Names of Intimacy and Power | | | | Jesus is our Protector. He is the Captain of the "host |
| The words written in many of the verses of Exodus | | | | of the [Eternal]" (Josh. 5:14) and the "[Eternal] OF |
| 3 to Exodus 14 reveal names of God that we can | | | | SABAOTH [or Tseva'ot, Hosts or armies of heaven]" |
| use to call on His help in time of need. The | | | | (Rom. 9:29; Isa. 1:9). While technically we are not the |
| combination of calling on God to remember His | | | | army, we are officers and commanders of the |
| covenants with us and claiming the appropriate name | | | | armies of heaven. When we speak out the Word of |
| of God for our situation is a powerful way of | | | | God, angelic armies are released (Ps. 103:20). We can |
| invoking God's aid. These claims do not have near as | | | | even call on Jesus Himself to fight for us. We officers |
| much power when disconnected with the Sabbath | | | | meet for instruction from the Supreme Commander |
| covenant, the first covenant with man that opens | | | | and Divine Master on His Sabbath. How can we |
| the power of all the others. The names intensify that | | | | benefit from the fullest protection if we do not dwell |
| power. | | | | in God's secret place of intimacy (Ps. 91:1) on the |
| We must first understand that in Genesis God | | | | Sabbath and get our marching or commanding orders |
| reveals Himself as a Family called Elohim, a Family of | | | | from our Righteous Captain on His day? |
| Creator Gods into which He calls us (Gen. 1:26-27). | | | | It is impossible to fully understand and be established |
| That is the family name and the church name, the | | | | in the righteousness of God without keeping the day |
| church of God. The personal names of God, | | | | that Yehovah Tsidkenu inhabits. The Divine Master of |
| however, are more powerful, intimate and anointed. | | | | the Sabbath is Jesus our Righteousness. |
| The three members of the Triune Godhead have | | | | Jesus is the "Holy One [Kadosh] of Israel [the |
| three distinct personalities and are separate Beings. | | | | believers]" (Ps. 71:22). He expects His saints or holy |
| The word echad ("one" -- Deut. 6:4) denotes unity, | | | | ones to meet with the Holy One, El Elyon (the Most |
| not one Being. All three, the Father Agape (Love), | | | | High God), on His holy day. As we shall see, |
| Jesus the Word who became the Son and the Holy | | | | Makkadesh (or Mekaddishkhem, the Eternal our |
| Spirit are all eternal and thus all can be called Yehovah | | | | Sanctifier) sets us apart to be especially holy as we |
| or the Eternal One, the I AM. Using their personal | | | | keep His sign between Him and His people (Ex. 31:13). |
| names, however, allows us great intimacy and | | | | The only other place where this name is used refers |
| anointing. | | | | to God sanctifying us as we keep His statutes (Lev. |
| Our Father calls us all by name, and even has a | | | | 20:8). In the sequel we shall see that the annual |
| special new name prepared for each of us (Rev. | | | | Sabbaths and the laying down of long term burdens |
| 2:17). He expects us to call Him by name, which the | | | | to Jesus on the new moons represent statutes of |
| title "Lord" or "the Lord" does not allow us to do. | | | | the fourth commandment (II Chron. 2:4). |
| While we are to honor Jesus as Adonai or Kurios or | | | | Another of God's names that applies to the Sabbath |
| as Divine Master and Supreme Commander, he wants | | | | is Kannah, Jealous. As the church has unwittingly done |
| us to be intimate with Him by calling Him by His | | | | today, Israel had made covenant with Baal instead of |
| name, Jesus. Calling Him by His Hebrew name at | | | | "the [Eternal], whose name is Jealous..." (Ex. 34:14). |
| times opens up all the conceptual meanings of that | | | | Respected prophets of God have come against the |
| name, Yeshua -- much more than simply the concept | | | | modern marriage of the church to Baal. They do not |
| of salvation or Savior. | | | | yet, however, understand that church as a who has |
| While we may hear at times the Father's voice or | | | | been keeping the feasts of Baal without realizing it. |
| the voice of Jesus in our spirits, our principle teacher | | | | Halloween is only one example. The others explained |
| is the Holy Spirit. While He is called Yahweh or the | | | | in the sequel may surprise you. |
| Eternal, He is not our Divine Master in the way Jesus | | | | Jesus is a faithful Bridegroom who is jealous over His |
| is. Today many use the generic title "Lord" to refer | | | | bride. He wants her to worship only Him on His day. |
| to all three members of the Trinity. They confuse | | | | He doesn't like being stood up on His weekly date |
| Yahweh, the Eternal, with Adonai, both incorrectly | | | | with His beloved. Through this book we believe He is |
| translated "LORD" or "Lord" respectively in most | | | | beginning to woo His bride, weaning her from the day |
| translations of the Bible. | | | | of Baal back to Him in Sabbath intimacy with the |
| In our songs of praise and in our prayers, the three | | | | Bridegroom (Hos. 2:14-20). |
| members of the Godhead love to hear their names. | | | | While Baal is referred to as El-berith, the god of the |
| By using their personal names, we show our desire | | | | covenant (Judges 9:46), that is a name that should |
| to be intimate with them. Those names have special | | | | apply to Jesus. When we keep a day other than the |
| significance in the context of the day of intimacy, the | | | | day He commands, we are in ignorance for the most |
| Sabbath. | | | | part making a covenant with another god. We are in |
| The Names Revealed in Exodus | | | | all sincerity breaking the very first covenant God |
| A loving, intimate God reveals His redemptive love | | | | made with man and thus sabotaging all the others. |
| and power in the Sabbath, which pictures Him | | | | While not going against our free will, Jesus is jealous |
| rescuing us out of our "Egypt" or time of sin (Deut. | | | | over us. |
| 5:15). It is no coincidence therefore that He reveals | | | | Jesus fights for us. He is called Ish Milchamah (Man of |
| His names, including His redemptive ones, in Exodus. | | | | War; Ex. 15:3) and El Gibbor, the Mighty God, the |
| In Exodus 13 and 14 seven names of God emerge: | | | | Victorious or Mighty Warrior (Isa. 9:5-6; 10:21; Zeph. |
| the Eternal God my Shalom, my Shabbat or Rest, | | | | 3:17). |
| Yeshua, Savior, Salvation, Accomplisher, Defender, | | | | But will Jesus give His all for those who do not see |
| Vengeance. | | | | Him as their Protection (Deut. 32:38, Sithrah) and |
| Beginning in Exodus 3, more names are revealed to | | | | Hiding Place (Sether, Ps. 32:7) in whom they rest on |
| describe Yehovah, or the Eternal One: my Holy God | | | | the Sabbath? In a great chapter to look for names |
| (Ex. 3:5); my Creator Father and my Covenant (3:6); | | | | of God, Moses spoke prophetic words even for the |
| my Prosperity and my Adjudication, which means | | | | church today (Deut. 32:36-39). Jesus will indeed have |
| God will personally defend us in His righteous | | | | compassion on His people when He sees their |
| judgments in the court of heaven (3:7); my Deliverer, | | | | strength is gone trying to rest in the day He did not |
| Power and Answerer (3:8); my Relief (3:9); my | | | | bless. Finally they will seek Jesus as their "hiding |
| Supreme Commander (3:10); my Sustainer, True Sign | | | | place." |
| (3:12); my Fullness, Answer to all my needs, Supplier | | | | Jesus wants us by His side, learning from Him on His |
| (3:14 paraphrased -- "I am whatever or whoever you | | | | day. After all, He is King of Kings and High Priest. He |
| need Me to be"); my God of Forever, Guide (3:15); | | | | wants to train us as kings and priests under Him on |
| my God of Inheritance (3:17); my Anointer (3:18, | | | | the day of the Kingdom. As Shepherd of the Sheep, |
| giving us the words to say and the power to say | | | | He wants the sheep to show up when He calls them |
| them); my Hand of Correction, Tower (3:20); my | | | | to assemble. As the Bishop and Guardian of our souls, |
| Enricher (3:21); my Plunderer of Enemies (3:22). | | | | He wants to renew our souls on the Sabbath, the |
| Exodus 4 gives more: my Belief, my One who | | | | day of refreshing. As Daystar and Light of the World, |
| comes, my "Empowerer" (4:5); my Chooser, Seer | | | | He wants to shine the light of His truth on us every |
| (4:22-23). | | | | Sabbath. |
| Chapter 5 adds the name, my Celebration (5:1), but | | | | How can Jesus be the Chief Cornerstone of the |
| how can we call Him that if we do not celebrate with | | | | building that is the church if the church does not |
| Him at His times of celebration? | | | | present themselves as lively stones on the Sabbath |
| "I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and | | | | day to be built up spiritually? As the Firstborn and as |
| with great judgments," God says in Exodus 6:6. We | | | | our Elder Brother, would He not expect fellowship |
| can thus call Him "my Redeemer and my | | | | with His brothers and sisters when He calls them to |
| Administrator of judgments." As we will see more | | | | meet with Him? He is Head of the Body. He must |
| powerfully in the sequel, Jesus is our Burden-lifter | | | | ask sometimes, "Where is My body?" |
| (6:7). He is also our Rewarder (6:8). | | | | Restorer of Body and Soul |
| Exodus 7 continues the revelation: my Eternal God of | | | | He is the Great Physician and the Sabbath is His |
| hosts (7:4); my Revealer of Truth (7:7); my | | | | healing day par excellence. He wants His people to |
| Commander of Serpents (including snaky Satan) and | | | | come to Him for healing of soul and body on His day |
| King of kings (7:9-12); the Eternal God of the | | | | of healing. He is our Rock of Defense and Stability in |
| Hebrews (7:16); the Water of Life, Giver of Life, | | | | the storms of life, and we need the strength and |
| Commander of Death (7:17). | | | | support He gives us to face the tempest of another |
| In chapter 8, we see the God of serving, increase, | | | | week. |
| restraining and binding (8:1-2); My God of boundaries | | | | As Author and Finisher of our Faith, He wants to build |
| (setting limits and limiting Satan, 8:22); God of the | | | | up our faith through the Sabbath manna of His Word. |
| walls (8:23). | | | | As the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of |
| Another aspect of God's character is highlighted in | | | | the world for us, He wants us to remember the |
| Exodus 9. He is the God of distinction, wanting His | | | | Sabbath in the redemptive sense: His blood brought |
| people to be the same (standing out above the | | | | us out of our spiritual "Egypt" of sin (Deut. 5:15). As |
| others, higher, set apart, honored, majestic, the God | | | | Emmanuel, God with us, He wants to be with us and |
| of gods and High Priest of priests, 9:4); My God of | | | | us with Him on His day. |
| health and healing, Controller of pestilence and | | | | As our Burden-bearer, He wants us to lay on Him at |
| consuming plagues, (9:9; 15:26; Yehovah Rapha, | | | | the beginning of each Sabbath our weekly load of |
| Healer); Controller of weather (9:18); God of | | | | cares and problems so we can come and rejoice with |
| punishment (9:19). | | | | Him. His joy is our strength. That phrase was written |
| God then reveals Himself as the Breaker of pride, | | | | in the context of an annual Sabbath celebration (Neh. |
| stubbornness and selfishness (10:3) and the Controller | | | | 8:10). Our Sabbath songs of joy and our fellowship |
| of the movement of plagues and diseases (10:4-20); | | | | with God and our spiritual siblings renew our joy and |
| God of light and darkness (Definer of good and evil, | | | | strength in Jesus for the coming week. |
| 10:21); God of heights and depths (10:21). | | | | Let's Get Personal |
| Our God is the Eternal God of restoration, promotion | | | | God's personal names carry great power and |
| and compensation (Ex. 11:2); God of the firstborn | | | | anointing and produce intimacy. While elder Brother |
| (11:5). | | | | Jesus sometimes plays the role of Father, our Father |
| In chapter 12 we see the God of the Passover and | | | | Love, Agape, Abba, is called the Father of glory and |
| the God of redemption (Yehovah Gaal; 12:3); the God | | | | of lights, Father of the fatherless, Father of mercies |
| of mercy (12:8); God of cleansing and purifying (12:9); | | | | and the God of all comfort. He is the Ancient of |
| God of completeness (12:10); God of holy | | | | Days, and His Fatherhood supercedes the fatherly |
| convocations and feast days (12:11); God of | | | | aspect of Jesus: "Is not He your Father who has |
| destroying the power of sin (12:15); God of | | | | bought (kanah or qanah) you? He has made you and |
| commencing and finishing (12:16); God of permanent | | | | established (kuhn) you (Deut. 32:6)." |
| ordinances (12:17); God of issuing forth holiness | | | | The conceptual meanings of kanah as used in this |
| (12:18-22); God of the circumcision (12:48). | | | | verse are manifold: procure, buy back; been jealous |
| God has declared the Sabbath to be holy, and He | | | | for you; recovered you from a worthless holder |
| sets aside other things as holy. He is the God of | | | | (death and Satan); made a plan for your life; given |
| sanctifications (13:2); God of the covering shade and | | | | you a destiny; appointed you a time to exist in a |
| the flaming pillar of fire (13:21). | | | | certain place; planned for you; gave you authority; |
| More Names to Claim | | | | caused course corrections in your life so you could |
| The above are only a few of the names of God we | | | | come to Him; assigned a program for you; enabled |
| can claim in the diverse circumstances and challenges | | | | you to walk with Him; hindered your destroyer; given |
| of our lives. The power these names have when | | | | His Son's life as surety for yours. |
| connected to the Sabbath covenant is exponential in | | | | This same Hebrew word, also the word for jealous, |
| its scope. When we connect the challenge we face | | | | is used when Jesus as Melchizedek refers to the |
| with the proper covenant and the appropriate name | | | | Father as "God Most High, Possessor [Kanah] of |
| of God, claiming the same in prayer, the results of | | | | heaven and earth" (Gen. 14:19). The conceptual |
| this combined claim of covenant promises and God's | | | | meaning in this context is: create a contract for |
| specific names are powerful. Our problem melts away | | | | ownership; take away from one not qualified (Satan); |
| like homemade peach ice cream in the sun on a | | | | receive from a worthless owner; redeem for a |
| smothering, 97-degree South Carolina day. | | | | rightful owner; redeem in truth. |
| In communion for release from trauma, we give | | | | Melchizedek was one of Jesus' names. It means King |
| other names for Jesus that we can use in different | | | | of Righteousness. Jesus in that human form was King |
| circumstances. We repeat together, addressing Jesus | | | | of the city of Salem, peace, wholeness or perfection. |
| with every name, "Jesus, You are my ......God, High | | | | Jerusalem was thus prophesied to be the city of the |
| Tower, Savior, Support, Rock, Deliverer, Avenger, | | | | perfect King of Peace. Abraham added to the name |
| Light, Path, Love, Bridegroom, Hope, Eternal Life, | | | | Salem by declaring Mount Moriah to be called |
| Substitute, Peace, Fullness, Delight, Thankfulness, | | | | Yehovah Yireh, thus the Yeru or Jeru of Jerusalem. |
| Anointing, Sustainer, Partner, Friend, Strength, Power, | | | | Yireh means "see" or "vision." So the city and Jesus |
| Authority, Sabbath, Wholeness, Vindication, Helper, | | | | Himself are referred to as our Jerusalem, our vision |
| Claim, Redeemer, Blessing, Promise, Teacher of skills, | | | | of peace and perfection. The world will only know |
| Jealousy, Contender, Jerusalem (King of Peace for all | | | | Shabbat shalom when Jesus returns to rule the world |
| my affairs), High Priest forever, Priestly King." | | | | in peace from Jerusalem. He is the King of shalom for |
| In the book on healing, we gave some of Jesus' | | | | all our affairs and our Vision and Hope of Peace for |
| redemptive names, preceded by His name Yehovah, | | | | the future. |
| the Eternal, Self-existent One. When we take apart | | | | "Your Father who bought you" is also "your Father |
| the individual letters and combinations of letters in a | | | | who established you" (Deut. 32:6). The word is kuhn |
| Hebrew word, we add to the conceptual meaning of | | | | and includes: abide in you; gives you clarity of mind; |
| the term. In the case of YHVH, we see the word | | | | continues with you through all trials; lifts you up; |
| havah in the last three letters, literally that which | | | | pitches a tent around you; raises His arm to defend |
| comes from the nail (that secures or establishes) or | | | | you; becomes stirred up over you; causes you to |
| exists. The first letter means "hand," so the Eternal is | | | | succeed and upholds your righteousness; strengthens |
| the One whose hand brought all things into existence. | | | | you. |
| YHVH also suggests "to become known." This shows | | | | While one description in the following verse applies |
| a God who continually reveals Himself. He revealed | | | | more specifically to Jesus, praise to all members of |
| Himself to Moses when Moses respected the holy | | | | the Godhead is evident: "For the [Eternal] your God is |
| ground. He reveals Himself to His people when they | | | | the God of gods and the [Divine Master over all |
| honor His holy Sabbath. | | | | masters], the great, the mighty, and the awesome |
| While many claim to be gods or elohim, and God | | | | God..." (Deut. 10:17). |
| even calls His sons and daughters elohim on the earth | | | | The humble Holy Spirit, who inspired the Word of |
| (Psalm 82:6; John 10:34), Yehovah is the triune | | | | God, did not give us many of His personal names. He |
| Godhead that brought all things into existence. As the | | | | loves to shine the spotlight on Jesus and the Father. |
| Creator Family, They do call themselves Elohim, yet | | | | He nonetheless does give us a few of His names: |
| when Jesus formed Adam, He called Himself | | | | Counselor; Comforter; Baptizer; Advocate; |
| Yehovah. It is a more intimate name and it indicates | | | | Strengthener; Sanctifier; Paraclete or Encourager; |
| His special relationship with His people. Interestingly, | | | | Teacher; Guide; Spirit of Truth, of Grace, of Mercy, |
| no other commandment but the Sabbath | | | | of God, of Life. |
| commandment identifies the true God, the one who | | | | Books could be written about the names of God. If |
| made all things. In a psalm often considered to be a | | | | you "google" the phrase "names of God," you will |
| Sabbath psalm and quoted in the Sabbath rest | | | | discover some of the many names of our God. |
| discussion in Hebrews, God refers to Himself as | | | | God's Names Come Alive in the Sabbath |
| Yehovah Osenu, the Eternal our Maker (Ps. 95:6). | | | | When Jesus poured Himself into the Sabbath day, He |
| God's Names Find Their Fullest Meaning in the | | | | had to include all of who He is -- represented by His |
| Sabbath | | | | names. Without the understanding of those names as |
| Can we begin to see how connected God's names | | | | they relate to the Sabbath, we cannot truly know |
| are to His Sabbath? None of His names take on their | | | | the real Jesus. |
| full meaning unless we are keeping the day that | | | | We are granted greater understanding and power to |
| identifies the real Jesus and those who are set apart | | | | use God's names as we keep the Sabbath. His names |
| as holy by Him. | | | | inevitably tie in with the meaning of the Sabbath. The |
| God is the El or one true God above all others who | | | | shalom and sanctification we find in the Sabbath |
| aspire to Godship. The first letter aleph, literally | | | | enable us to see Jesus as He really is (Heb. 12:14). As |
| meaning "ox," with the idea of strongest and first, | | | | Hagar explained it and as God recorded it, "You are a |
| combines with the second letter lamed, literally "cattle | | | | God who sees [El Roi]." She named the well where |
| goad" or "rod of authority," and can mean "control, | | | | she encountered Jesus as Beer-lahai-roi, well of the |
| authority, or tongue." God is indeed the first and | | | | Living One who sees me. The implication is that God |
| foremost authority of the universe, the Creator of all | | | | opens our eyes to see Him in His fullness and know |
| things. Jesus is the One whose tongue speaks the | | | | His Word, which can only occur completely in the |
| authoritative law and Word of God. It was Jesus, as | | | | context of meeting with Jesus on His day (Col. 2:3). |
| we shall see, that spoke the Sabbath commandment | | | | As our Sabbath and as Divine Master of that day, |
| on Sinai. | | | | Jesus has become a Stumbling Block to many, |
| Jesus is El Shaddai. In ancient times for a king to take | | | | especially the believers. The good news is: you don't |
| a city he had to destroy the door that led into the | | | | have to stumble anymore. |
| walled fortress. Shaddai literally means "destroy the | | | | The encouraging truth is that God is not a harsh, |
| door." Jesus is a King who takes every other | | | | cruel God who loves to find us at fault so He can |
| kingdom by force, destroying every door, including | | | | crush us. He is Love (I John 4:8). And He is, as I |
| the door to Satan's kingdom. If we want to see | | | | know well personally, Eloah Selichot, the God of |
| Satan under our feet, we must keep the day of the | | | | Forgiveness (Neh. 9:17). He forgives us for being |
| Kingdom, the Sabbath. Shaddai also has the meaning | | | | deceived about His day. The Good Shepherd |
| of "many-breasted one," a picturesque way of seeing | | | | welcomes us into the green pastures of Sabbath |
| God as both all-sufficient and self-sufficient. | | | | rest. |