My name doesn't carry much authority with it. When my kids were young, and my name was 'Mommy', there was a measure of authority in that name... "Because Mommy said so!!" was often the last word in a dispute way back then. But other than that, 'using my name' wouldn't get you special treatment at a booked restaurant, or leniency from a speeding ticket. In fact, my name is somewhat non-discript... I know a woman who can't ever remember my name, and when she sees me, she always calls me "Janet". I answer to it anyway :-D And, the Social Security Administration reports that there are children in our country named "Gouda", "Veal", "Adonis", "Denim", "Dung" and even "ESPN". Hmmm.Bruce & I are once again involved in leading a small group study at our church. It's an adaptation of Experiencing God (Henry Blackaby) for couples. One of the points Blackaby makes is that God reveals Himself to individuals who seek Him, and as a result, they (we, me, you) come to know Him by a special and unique name. For example, He identified Himself to Abram as El Shaddai (God Almighty) when He told him that his 90 year old, barren wife would have a baby, --something so impossible, only a mighty god could accomplish.
There are many other names of God recorded in scripture, and in my mind, as He has revealed His nature and His character to me at various times in my own life. But one divine appellation that I find most interesting is Hashem.
In Hebrew, it means "The Name". So many times in the Bible, that's what He is referred to...
David and Solomon talked about building a temple for "The Name". We're told that Jesus came in the name of the Father. Psalm 20:1 says "may the name ... protect you." Our Lord is so mighty that just the name has the power to protect us and authority to do what He says.
This is significant to me because it doesn't imply that God is an ambiguous, out-there whatshisname. But it tells of a personal God... one whose name can reflect meaning to each individual as God reveals Himself by name and we experience His nature.
He knows my name, and I know His.
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In studying Psalm 47 today I found some interesting things that point out the importance of THE NAME...
Labuschagne (1987:1) remarks that one of the most important discoveries of our time in the field of biblical studies is the fact that the Bible contains literary works structured by symbolic numbers, and that this numerical structural analysis may assist in emphasising the meaning of the text (cf also Bazak 1988 and Sibinga 1987:187). However, Labuschagne warns that this must not be confused with the traditional world of mysticism, magic, or pseudo-science. A quick look at some of the findings with regard to Psalm 47 must suffice.
In his article on the composition of Psalm 47, Sibinga (1988:478) points out that, leaving aside the superscription, the psalm consists of 37 words and that the confession of faith in verse 2.b ("A great ruler over all the world") is composed of five Hebrew words, words 13 to 17 from the beginning of the psalm. Its twin confession in verse 7.a ("For God reigns over all the earth") also has five words, in this case words 13 to 17 of the second half of the psalm, which, for Sibinga, begins with `alâh in verse 5.
According to Samuel Cohen (1995:259), the central thought of God mounting his universal throne (v.5) is emphasised by means of a number of numerical devices. Thus, for instance, the Tetragrammaton (=YHWH) in verse 5 is found exactly in the centre of the psalm (36 words + YHWH + 36 words), thereby placing the covenantal name of God in the centre of all things. Between the YHWH name in verse 2 and verse 5 there are exactly 26 words, with the number 26 forming the numerical value of the YHWH name. The central verse 5 consists of precisely 26 consonants in Hebrew, thereby giving it further emphasis. Some 400 years ago Rabbi Yaakov Emden drew attention to the fact that the name 'Elohîm for God appears seven times in Psalm 47 (Cohen 1995:261) – the significant number suggesting wholeness and completeness.
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