Names of God

God has so many names because He is so many things to so many people. He is there with us through everything we go through. Let’s find out what a few of His names mean.

 

Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:4-6, Then I will appoint responsible shepherds who will care for them, and they will never be afraid again. Not a single one will be lost or missing. I, the Lord, have spoken! “For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “When I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness. In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.

God promises that a descendant is coming and will be called Jehovah Tsidekenu. On this day, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. We know that Jesus is the Savior, and He had no sin and was righteous. We strive to live our lives as Jesus did, but we know that Jesus understands our struggles, and when we accept Him into our lives, we are covered by His grace.

 

Jehovah Mekaddishkam – The Lord Our Sanctifier

In Exodus 31:13, The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.

The Scripture talks about keeping the Sabbath holy. It is a sign of a covenant between God and us for generations. So, we may know that He is the Lord who makes us holy. Only because of Him are we saved. Only because of His love and compassion for us, He sanctifies us. Simply said, He has called me and set me apart.

 

Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Our Healer

Exodus 15:26, So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

This is the story of the Israelites having no water in the desert. When they found water, it was bitter, God showed Moses wood and had him throw it into the water, and the water became drinkable. Here God showed himself as the one who supplies all of our needs. He specifically calls Himself the Lord who heals you. He also set out instructions for us. We need to remain righteous in His sight by obeying all his commands.

 

Jehovah Nissi – The Lord Our Banner

Exodus 17:8-16, While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, “Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand.” So, Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill.  As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So, Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So, his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi which means “the Lord is my banner”. He said, “They have raised their fist against the Lord’s throne, so now the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation.”

Moses raising his hands is the same as a soldier raising their country’s flag. They are fighting under that banner. The Israelites were fighting under Jehovah Nissi, under God’s protection. Remember, God is bigger than any enemy we come against!

 

Jehovah Raah – The Lord Our Shepherd

Psalms 23, The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

A shepherd is so many things to his flock. He is their protector, fighter, and guide. He provides everything they need and protects them from any evil. The shepherd has a strong bond with his flock. They know his voice and follow as he leads.

 

Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is our Peace

Judges 6:1317; 21-24 – “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me…. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom, which means “the Lord is peace”. The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.

Gideon is filled with many questions and many worries, and much fear. In verse 23, Gideon received a divine response to his questions, worries, and fear. “Peace be to you. Do not fear, you shall not die”. This gave him the confidence and courage to do what he needed to do. He built an altar and called it “Jehovah Shalom.” Even though we experience all these same things, we know that God is there with us.

 

Jehovah Jireh – the Lord Our Provider

Genesis 22:12-14, “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So, he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh which means “the Lord will provide”. To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

God provided a ram in the thicket for Abraham. Abraham made a choice to fully do as the Lord instructed. He said God, I have faith in you, and I know You are in control. Abraham was so focused on the task he was given that God had to call him a few times to get his attention.

God is omniscient, meaning He is all-knowing. He knows everything we are going through and going to go through. God is omnipresent, meaning that He is present everywhere. He is with us through everything. God is omnipotent, meaning He is maximal power, maximal greatness. He has all the power! No wonder there are so many names of God. The name God means so much to so many people. My favorite name for God is Jehovah Jireh, my PROVIDER! He has provided so much for me. He knew the exact details of every situation I was going to go through and provided everything I needed every time! Thank you, God! Be thankful in the storm! Be thankful in the uncertain! Be thankful for what God has done in the past! Be thankful for all you have! Keep going, keep trying, keep pushing, and keep pursuing God, and he will direct your path. Will you let him be all these things for you? Or are you going to hold on to it because you know better?