Opus 2024-212: Name Tag

Isaiah 57:15 (NASB95)
For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.

Jeremiah 16:21 (NASB95)
“Therefore behold, I am going to make them know-- This time I will make them know My power and My might; And they shall know that My name is the LORD.”

Exodus 34:14 (NASB95)
--for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God--

Psalm 68:4 (NASB95)
Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Lift up a song for Him who rides through the deserts, Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him.

When I was teaching one of the first things I did, at the beginning of the year, was to make out a seating chart so I could learn names.  After establishing, who was present, according to the role, I would go around and write a name down corresponding with the seat.  I would generally ask them if that was what they wanted to be called, and it was surprising how many actually went by different names.  Sometimes the name they wanted to be called was just a derivative.  Sometimes it was totally different.

As the year went on, they would sometimes get different names.  Sometimes this is because they got secure enough to tell me what they really wanted to be called.  On occasion, they might receive a new name from me based on behaviors or observed characteristics.  I tried to be kind in that.  One of my principles though was to try and call people what they want to be called and pronounce it right.

God has told us His name.  The one He gave, Yahweh, means “I am.  It is an announcement that He exists, which carries with it, the understanding that He is aware, that He is watching.  There are a few other names the Bible assigns.  At one point it calls Him holy, and another jealous.  His key name, though, is Yahweh.

So?  Celebrate with me, the fact that we worship the God Who wants us above all else to understand that He exists.  That should be a game changer for you.

homo unius libri