By Garry Knighton Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La.
	THE MAJESTY OF GOD Lesson Five of Nine THE NATURE OF GOD AS REVEALED IN HIS NAMES

• (This lesson should be presented over several sessions)
  INTRODUCTION:
• • There was a time when a man's name told you much about him.
    • At one time, surnames indicated occupations.
      • John Smith - usually a worker of metal.
      • John Baker - a baker of bread.
      • George Miller - a grinder of grain.
      • John Gardener - a man who took care of a garden.
      • Bill Tanner - a tanner of animal skins.
    • Surnames indicated positions.
      • John Earl - a mighty warrior.
      • George Duke - a ruler under a prince.
    • Surnames indicate residence.
      • John Britton.
      • George London.
      • Jack Ford - lived where one could ford the river.
  • Names in the Bible carried significant meanings.
    • Adam - "Red Earth."
    • Abraham - "Father of a Multitude."
    • Jesus - "Savior."
    • David - "Well Beloved."
    • Isaac - "Laughter."
  • In the Bible, especially the O.T., God revealed Himself by several special names.
    • These names give us a deeper insight into the nature of God and His
      relation to creation.
    • It was made clear that, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy
      God in vain..." (Exodus 20:7).
    • The knowledge of God's names cannot be over-emphasized.
    • Psalm 9:10 - "They that know thy name will put their trust in Thee."
    • ONE name cannot describe God's greatness, just like one name cannot
      describe you.
  • In this lesson, let's look at the names of God in the Bible and let His
    nature be revealed through these names.

(GENERAL OR BASIC NAMES:)

• ELOHIM - (THE ALL-POWERFUL, CREATIVE ONE).
  • The name conveys the idea of strength, creative and governing power by the Almighty
    who keeps His promises.
  • It occurs:
    • Genesis chapter 1 - 30 times.
    • Genesis chapter 2 - 50 times.
    • O.T. - 2570 times.
  • It is a Hebrew, masculine ending noun, plural in form.
    • Notice the plurality:
      • Genesis 1:26 - "Elohim said, Let US make man..."
      • Genesis 11:7 - "Come, let US go down..."
      • Deut. 6:4 - One God == thus a plurality in the Godhead
• EL - (THE STRONG ONE).
  • This is a generic term which expresses authority, strength, and majesty.
  • The most common name used for Deity.
    • Used predominantly in Job and Psalms.
  • This name is often used with nouns or adjectives to form compound names.
  • It is also important to see EL as it is used in the name of strong Bible characters.
    • Elisha
    • Elijah
    • Joel
    • Elizabeth
• ELAH, ELOAH - (THE ADORABLE ONE).
  • Occurs 43 times in Ezra.
    • 46 times in Daniel.
    • 1 time in Jeremiah.
  • This name stresses His Deity.
    • The Adorable One or The Worshipped One.
• EL - ELYON - (THE MOST HIGH).
  • Psalm 57:2 - "I will cry unto God Most High, unto God that performeth all things for me.
  • Isaiah 6:1-6.
• EL - ROI - (GOD WHO SEES).
  • Gen. 16:1-16 - Haggar.
  • God sees our afflictions.
  • Remember: God sees everything we do.
    • Hab. 1:13 - "Thou that art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on
      perverseness..."
    • Psalm 139:1-12.
• EL - SHADDAI - (ALMIGHTY).
  • Gen. 17:1,8,15,22.
  • Gen. 18:9-14.
  • This name was mostly used by the Patriarchs.
    • Thought to convey: "One who is able to supply, nourish, and satisfy."
    • No matter what the need is, God can supply.
• ADONI - (MASTER OR LORD).
  • Psalm 110:1 - "Jehovah saith unto my Lord (ADONI), sit thou at my right hand, until
    I make thine enemies thy footstool."
  • This prophecy is ascribed to Christ - Acts 2:34-35.
  • God (Christ) is our owner, Master, Lord.
    • Acts 2:36.
• ROCK - (THE STEADFAST ONE).
  • Ps. 94:22 - "But Jehovah hath been my high tower, and my God the Rock of my refuge."
    • Stronghold.
  • Ps. 61:1-2 - "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will
    I call unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I."
  • It was upon Christ the Rock that the church was built.
    • Matt. 16:13-18.
• JEHOVAH - (SPECIAL OR COVENANT NAME - "TO BE" OR "BEING")
  • Exodus 3:13-15.
  • Jesus claimed to be "The Great I Am".
    • John 8:24.
    • John 8:49-59 - (58).
  (COMPOUND NAMES FOR GOD)
• JEHOVAH - JIREH - (JEHOVAH WILL PROVIDE).
  • Gen. 22:14 - "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah - Jireh: as it is said to
    this day, In the mount of Jehovah it shall be provided."
  • Christ provides today.
    • Phil. 4:19 - "And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory
      in Christ Jesus."
• JEHOVAH - TSIDKENU - (JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS).
  • The word deals with acquittal, justification, and righteousness.
  • Jere. 33:16 - "In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this
    is the name whereby she shall be called; Jehovah Our Righteousness."
  • Christ is Our Righteousness.
    • II Cor. 5:21 - "Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the
      righteousness of God in him."
• JEHOVAH - SHALOM - (JEHOVAH IS OUR PEACE).
  • Judges 6:24 - (saw angel, thought he would die). "Then Gideon built an alter there
    unto Jehovah, and called it Jehovah-Shalom..."
  • Jesus is our peace.
    • Isa. 9:6.
    • Eph. 2:14.
• JEHOVAH - ROHI - (JEHOVAH IS MY SHEPHERD).
  • Psalm 23:1.
  • Jesus is our shepherd.
    • John 10:14-15.
• JEHOVAH - SHAMMAH - (JEHOVAH IS THERE).
  • Ezk. 48:35 - "...and the name of the city from that day shall be, Jehovah i there..."
    • The presence of God was in Jerusalem.
  • Christ is with us.
    • Matt. 28:20.
• JEHOVAH - ROPHE - (JEHOVAH HEALS).
  • Ex. 15:26 - "...I am Jehovah that heals".
  • Jesus is our Great Physician.
    • Luke 4:18-23.
  • Jesus heals the diseases of sin.

• CONCLUSION:
  • God is seen to be powerful through His names.
  • The Deity of Christ is proven through His names.
  • When you reject Jesus, you reject God.

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