THE COVENANT NAMES OF YAHWEH, AND THE NAME OF JESUS.

The encouragement and power of the Divine Names.

When the great God of love wanted to reveal Himself to His people, He not only manifested Himself to the prophets and people in power and glory by His mighty acts; He revealed Himself through His names. God's covenant names are a promise of what He will be to us, and the things that He will do for us. The invocation of the covenant names of God by faithful believers has brought into operation the gifts of the Holy Spirit; for this is included in His covenant relationship with His people. The name of Jesus includes all that is revealed in the covenant names of God, and it has been given to the children of God as an instrument of His power and love. To realise fully all that is conveyed to us in the name of Jesus, we need to consider the covenant names linked with His name. Our study is limited to a study of the covenant names of "Yahweh."

THE DIVINE NAME, THE TETRAGRAMMATON. GOD'S COVENANT NAME WITH ISRAEL

The sacred name of "Yahweh," or "Jehovah," depending on which form you prefer to use, comes from the Hebrew verb "to be," as Exod.3v14,15., states, "And God said to Moses, I AM THAT I AM, (Hebrew, EHYEH ASHER EHYEH), and He said, You shall say to the Israelites I AM has sent me to you v15----- This is my name for ever, and by this name I am to be remembered to all generations." Hebrew scholars have stated that "EHYEH ASHER EHYEH" means, "I AM WHO I AM, AND WHAT I AM: AND I WILL BE, WHAT I WILL BE." A Jewish Rabbi told me that the name "EHYEH ASHER EHYEH and its context means, "I will be with you ALL the time, in ALL situations." However, I think it means more; "I will be with you, at all times, and in all situations, to be what I am to you." God comes to make His abilities and love available to us. The name of "Jehovah" or "Yahweh," whichever way you prefer to pronounce it, encapsulates the meaning of the great name of God, "EHYEH ASHER EHYEH," "I AM THAT I AM," and manifests the eternal availability, of God's love and power. The name of Jesus has been given to us, and when we call on His name, He comes to give us what we need, His Name carries all the Divine love, power and presence of the covenant names of God. Exod.34v6,7.

ABRAHAM DID NOT HAVE THE NAME "YAHWEH" ON A COVENANT BASIS." Ex.6v2-4.

We know from Gen.22v14., that Abraham knew the name "Yahweh," for he called the name of the place where God provided a sacrificial ram by the name "Yahweh Jireh," but he could not invoke it on the basis of a covenant relationship, for we read in Ex.6v2-4.; "And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name YAHWEH was I not known unto them. And I have established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers." "Known," is "yada," which speaks of an experimental relationship, they did not have the right of covenant invocation of the Divine Name, until it was given to Moses under the covenant of the Law.

THE COVENANT NAMES OF "YAHWEH," REVEAL THE INNER NATURE OF GOD.

In Exod.33v18,19., when Moses asked to see the glory of God, God answered, "I will make ALL MY GOODNESS pass before you, and I WILL PROCLAIM THE NAME OF THE LORD before you. From Exod.34v5-8., we see the clear link between the name and the mercy, grace, longsuffering and abundant goodness and truth of God. The name reveals the inner nature of God, and invocation of the Divine Name makes all the inner glorious being and abilities of God available to us.

Putting the name of God on people in blessing and protection truly works.

God commanded Aaron to use the sacred Name to bless and protect the Israelites. The blessing in Numb.6v22-27., placed a hedge of protective Divine thorns about the people of God, the same kind of hedge that protected Job; Job.1v9,10.; it turned God's face towards them in blessing. Jesus manifested the sacred Name to His disciples, and kept them in the Name, and declared the Name to them, that Divine love might become part and parcel of their beings. John.17v6,12,26. All the people of Israel heard and could use that Divine name.

THE JEWS HID THE GREAT NAME OF GOD AWAY, AND WOULD NOT REPEAT IT.

The sacred name was made up of the Hebrew consonants; Yude-Ah-Vau-Ah, or in English, Y, H, W, H; the Hebrew Vau being pronounced as W. The Jews left out the vowels and hid away the sacred Name for fear that it would be misused. They should have let God defend His Name and let Him deal with those who used His name in vain. This has resulted in the Divine Name being largely unused; for though the Rabbis know the sacred Name, they will not repeat it, or write it down. So the Divine Name which was intended to be an instrument of power, blessing, and means of deliverance in the hands of ALL the people of God, has been hidden away and not used. What a tragedy! In the time of Moses all the people could hear Aaron pronounce the Divine Name, and were able to invoke it for themselves.

The Jews invented a replacement for the Divine name by taking the vowels a, o, a, from the Hebrew "Adhonay," which means "Lord," or "Master," and then inserted them into the sacred tetragammaton, Y, H, W, H; and so made YaHoVaH, or as we pronounce it Jehovah. Many have suggested other variations of the sacred Name. Some Third Century Manuscripts From Egypt have stated the Divine name was "Yabeh," or "Yahweh." Clement of Alexandria in the third century A.D. said it was pronounced "Yaoweh." Theodoret of Cyprus in the fourth century said the Samaritans pronounced it "Yabeh" or "Yahweh."

Many scholars believe that the Divine Name is "YaHWeH;" for from the often repeated exhortation to "Praise ye Yah," "Hallelujah," we know that the first part of the sacred name was "Yah." The second part of the Divine Name starts with the Hebrew letter "Vau," which is pronounced as a "W," and ends with "H;" so "Yahweh" could be the Divine Name. The Hebrew "Halelu-Yah," "Praise ye Yah," is not a single compound word in Hebrew, even though it has become a compound word in Greek and other languages. "Halelu-Yah," is derived from the abbreviated Divine name, "Yah;" and "halal;" to be bright, to shine, to praise, to celebrate, to glorify; it carries the thought of radiance and ebullience in praise and worship to God. The Greek "Allelouia," occurs in Rev.19v1,3,4,6.; where we see the saints and angels rejoicing that the kingdom of God has been set up, and that evil men and wicked angels have been judged and executed, and everlasting righteousness has been brought in, and prophecy fulfilled. Dan.9v24. Rev.10v7. Fifteen of the Psalms either begin or end with "Hallelujah," and Psalms 104 to 109 are called "the Great Hallel," and were sung mainly at the feasts of Passover and Tabernacles.

The use of "Yah" in the expression of praise "Hallelujah," reveals that God accepts "Yah," as an abbreviated form of the sacred name, not only in praise and worship, but also as a name to be called upon for our defence and provision, and as an instrument of power in invocation. The Divine name conveys even more than God's eternal nature and immutability, "He who was, and is, and is to come." Gen.21v33. Exod.3v13-16. 6v6. Ps.83v18. Is.12v2. 26v4 with Rev.1v8. Nor is God just "The Almighty," "Ho Pantocrator," Rev.4v8. 11v17. 15v3. 16v7,14. 19v15. 21v22. Through Jesus, the relationship has become a personal family matter, we are now the sons and daughters of God. Lk.11v2,13. 2Cor.6v18. Our Father is, "The Almighty I Am," and He will be to us what His covenant names say He is. "Yahweh," "The existing One," or as the French translate it, "The Eternal," will convey to us ALL HIS NAME IS, through the covenant blood of Jesus.

The Great I Am, the Eternal, the Self Existent One, He who has always been, and always will be, is our Father. Ps.90v2. "From everlasting to everlasting thou art God." Jesus said in Jn.8v58., "Truly, truly, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am;" the Jews fully understood that He was claiming to be "The Great I Am;" and tried to stone Him, Jesus miraculously hid Himself, and escaped from them. Jesus is, "That eternal life that was with the Father," 1Jn.1v2. "Ten zoen ten aionion," literally, "the life, the eternal." "Which was with the Father," is "en pros ton patera;" not "egeneto," "came into being," but "en and "pros," "facing," with the accusative of eternal intimate fellowship, exactly as in Jn.1v1., "en pros ton theon," face to face intimacy with God the Father in eternal love and fellowship. The Godhead have made an eternal covenant with us, to share all they are in eternal love and fellowship, with us. 1Jn.1v3,4. How unspeakably generous and kind they are!


THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME - JESUS - YESHUA.

The name "Jesus," is from the Greek "Iesous," which is derived from the Hebrew "Yeshua," the shortened form of the Hebrew "Yehoshua," the name "Joshua;" all of which mean, "Jehovah is salvation," or "salvation of Yahweh." Our Lord was named "Jesus," because He was going to "save His people from their sins." Mt.1v21. Lk.1v31. The Name which is above every name, at which every knee shall bow in heaven and earth, is said to be the Name of "Yahweh," in Is.45v22,23.; and this Scripture is said to be speaking of Jesus and the authority of His Name in Rom.14v10-12. and Phil.2v9-11.. The Divine covenant name that was given to Israel has been given back to us in the name of Jesus, with all its power and authority. These covenant names reveal to us what is included in the name of Jesus.


ALL THE COVENANT NAME OF YAHWEH ARE GIVEN TO US IN THE NAME OF JESUS.

1. YAHWEH ELOHIM. The Lord our God. Deut.6v4. etc. This manifests the Trinity, Gen.1v26. "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth. Elohim is plural, it is used to describe the plural evil Gods of the Canaanites, and the demon powers behind them. Exod.20v3. In order to try and deny this obvious reference to the Trinity, heretics, like "Jehovah's Witnesses," have tried to prove, but without any success, that "Elohim" is, "The plural of majesty."

2. YAHWEH ADONAI. Our Sovereign Lord. Gen.15v2,8. Often with "Lord of Hosts." Is.34v15. 10v23,24. 22v5,15. 28v22.

3. YAHWEH ROPHI. The Lord our Healer. Exod.15v26. Is.53v4. Mt.8v16,17.

4. YAHWEH JIREH. The Lord will provide, or equally correctly, The Lord will appear, or be seen. Gen.22v8-14. It was a place in Jerusalem, later called Moriah. God provided His Lamb in Jerusalem, on the cross at Golgotha. Mt.27v33. Mk.15v22. Jn.19v17.

5. YAHWEH NISSI. The Lord our Banner and Conqueror. Exod.17v15. The battle cry of Moses. B.C. 1491. The uplifted hands of Moses, and the invoked Divine Name, defeated the Amalekites, Moses built an alter to commemorate this victory.

6. YAHWEH TSABAOTH. The Lord of Hosts. 1Sam.1v3. This battle cry of the saints occurs 281 times in the Old Testament. Ps.46v7,11. Our Lord said He could CALL for "twelve legions of angels," in Mt.26v53.; it was part of His normal practice in His ministry to the multitudes. It seems Elisha also invoked the name of Yahweh for angelic help; "They that be with us are more than they that be with them." 2Kings.6v15-18. David beat Goliath by calling on the name of Yahweh. 1Sam.16v45.

7. YAHWEH SHALOM. The Lord our peace. An altar erected by Gideon about B.C. 1256. Judges.6v24. Gideon's act and expression of faith. It was also the Aaronic blessing on Israel; it brought physical, spiritual and material peace, blessing and well being. Numb.6v22-27. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you." Jn.14v27. He gives us the peace of Heaven.

8. YAHWEH SHAMMAH. The Lord is present, or there. Ezek.48v35. The promised future kingdom presence.

9. YAHWEH MEKADDISHKIM. The Lord our Sanctifier. Exod.31v13. Lev.20v8. 21v8. 22v9,16,32. Ezek.20v12. etc.

10. YAHWEH RA-AH or ROHI. The Lord my Shepherd. Ps.23v1.

11. YAHWEH TSIDKENU. God our Righteousness. Jer.23v6. 33v6. Christ's atonement justifies us. Rom.5v1,2. 1Jn.4v9,10.

12. YAHWEH HOSEENU. God our covenanted Creator. Ps.95v6. Heb.3 and 4. Praise and worship give victory over foes.

13. YAHWEH ELYON. The Lord Most High. Ps.7v17. Supreme in love and power, he reigns in perfect justice over all.

14. YAHWEH ELOHEENU. The Lord OUR God.Ps.99v5,8,9. OUR God of joyful fellowship and worship. Acts.1v14. 2v1.

15. YAHWEH ELOKEKA. The Lord THY God. Exod.20v2,5,7. The eternal God with whose name we encourage each other.

16. YAHWEH ELOHAY. The Lord MY God. Zech.14v5. MY eternal God of personal encouragement.

17. THE COVENANT NAMES OF YAHWEH THAT DAVID CALLED ON, AND PROVED. 2Sam.21v1-4, 14v22. Ps.18.

A. YAHWEH IS MY ROCK. v2. The God of my rock. v3. B. YAHWEH MY FORTRESS AND MY DELIVERER. v2.

C. YAHWEH MY SHIELD. v3. D. YAHWEH MY SALVATION. E. YAHWEH MY SAVIOUR, Thou savest me from violence.

F. YAHWEH who gave David victory over the giants and his other enemies. 2Sam.21v15-22. 22v1-3.

G. YAHWEH MY REFUGE, YAHWEH MY HIGH TOWER.


David proved that the Divine Name could be invoked at all times and in all situations; this was the reason for his victories. We see from 2Sam.22v1-3. 14v22. and Ps.18., that David took God at His Word and called upon, and proved, the Divine Name in defence and deliverance. Solomon realised the source of his father's victories, he had seen David prove the power of the invoked Covenant Names of God, and invoked and proved them personally for himself, he wrote in "Prov.18v10.; "The name of Yahweh is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and are safe. "Tower," is "migdol," "a great tower." The Covenant Names of God are weapons of power and love for the children of God to use, they are all available to us, and are included in the Name of Jesus. Invoke His Covenant Names at all times, into all your situations, and He will be there to be to you, what He is, and what His Names declare Him to be.


CALLING ON THE NAME OF YAHWEH.

Calling on the name of Yahweh was an Old Testament fact. The invocation of the name of God in blessing and protection is clearly seen in Numb.6v22-27. and Ps.20v1-4. We also read in Ps.50v14,15., "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay they vows unto the most High: and call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. However, Ps.50v16., makes it clear that the wicked cannot claim a covenant relationship with God. "But as for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me." Ps.55v16. "The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth." Ps.145v18. We see that Joel.2v32., "Whosoever shall call upon the name of Yahweh, (Jehovah) shall be saved;" is applied to calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament in Acts.2v21..

In the New Testament we see people calling on the name of Jesus and the Father. "And they kept on stoning Stephen as he was calling upon the Lord and saying, Lord Jesus receive my spirit." Acts.7v59. "And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on Thy name." Acts.9v14. "Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem." Acts.9v21. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?" Rom.10v14. "With all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord." 1Cor.1v2. "With them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2Tim.2v22. "If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." 1Pet.1v17.

We see, then, that invocation of the name of Jesus, and the Father, covers all areas of the Christian life from faith for salvation and forgiveness, to grace for dying for Christ. It covers all the areas mentioned in the covenant names of Jehovah.


AUTHORITY TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS, IS FROM HEAVEN, AND NOT FROM MEN.

Jesus gave His twelve apostles and the seventy evangelists, authority to act in His name and work mighty miracles. The initial surprise of the seventy at miracles happening through them in the name of Jesus is clearly seen. Lk.10v17. It is clear that our Lord sought the guidance of His Father over who was to be given authority to use His name, for he spent a night in prayer before he chose His apostles. Mt.10v1-8. Mk.3v13-19. Lk.6v12-19. Paul tells us in 1Cor.12v28., that God sets the ministries in the Church, not men; and in Eph.4v7-16., he tells us that people are given ministries, "to the measure of the gift of Christ."

Authority in Christ's Church comes from Heaven and not from men. Mt.21v23-27. Lk.20v1-8. This authority from God inevitably presents a challenge to the authority of the religious kingdoms that men build out of God's past revivals. The religious leaders of Israel immediately went to challenge John as soon as his ministry started, they rudely asked him, "Su tis ei," "Thou, who art thou?" Or in the language of today, "Who do you think you are?" John's humble reply caused them to ask, "Tis ei," "Who are you?" John.1v19,22. In Jn.8v25. Jesus was approached and asked in the same critical way, "Su tis ei," "You, who are you." There is an inevitable conflict between those who have authority from Heaven and those who rely on authority from men. The kingdoms of men feel threatened by those who have authority from Heaven, because it exposes their lack of spiritual qualifications and Divine gifting and ministry. The kingdoms of men are self-perpetuating, they soon have enough machinery to continue without God, and this pleases the carnal mind.


TAKE THE NAME OF JESUS WITH YOU. By Mrs L. Baxter.

1. Take the Name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe:
    It will joy and comfort give you. Take it then where're you go.

Chorus. Precious Name, oh how sweet! Hope of earth and joy of heaven. Repeat.

2. Take the Name of Jesus ever, As a shield from every snare;
    If temptations round you gather, Breathe that holy name in prayer.

3. Oh, the precious Name of Jesus! How it thrills our souls with joy,
    When His loving arms receive us, And His songs our tongues employ!

4. At the Name of Jesus bowing, Falling prostrate at His feet;
    King of kings in heaven we'll crown Him, When our journey is complete.


THE AUTHORITY TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS IS SUSTAINED BY INTERCESSION.

Christians receive ministries from our Lord by Divine gifting, but they sustain them through communion with God, and by prayer and intercession. The apostles had been given authority to cast out Devils, but they could not cast the demon out of the boy in Mk.9v14-29., because they had neglected prayer and fasting. New Testament intercession is based on, and results in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is based on the operation of God's power, not just in saying prayers. The explosion of ministries of healing in the New Testament was a result of prayer, intercession and communion with God; this sustained the authority that had been given to the disciples to use of the name of Jesus

The Holy Spirit is the director of intercession. It is only as He aids us that we can pray aright, the human intellect is not sufficient for the task. Paul, after being a Christian for over 20 years, said, "We know not how to pray as is necessary." Rom.8v26. In 1Cor.14v14-18., Paul gives us the secret of his own powerful manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit; he prayed with his understanding, and prayed with his spirit, that is with the gift of tongues. Paul thanked God that he prayed in tongues more than the verbose Corinthians. Paul edified himself spiritually with the gift of tongues, and this enabled him to powerfully manifest the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, and to use the name of Jesus with authority.

Our Lord's advice on prayer in Lk.11v1-13., shows the principles which guided His life of prayer, He let nothing stop Him from praying through for the ministry that would meet the needs of the people, and give them heavenly bread. In Lk.11v8., our Lord uses "anaideia," Strong 335, to speak of a similar kind of importunity and urgent persistence that is revealed in the word "pawgah," which is used for intercession in the Old Testament. "Anaideia," is derived from "aidos," which speaks of shamefacedness, bashfulness, modesty and reverence; but with the negative particle "aneu," which means, "without," the meaning is reversed, and gives the thought of "without shame, importunity and shameless persistence." By using the word "anaideia," Christ reveals the determined persistence that had characterised the whole of His prayer life, and which had been the source of His wonderful ministry.

In Ps.69v7-11,20,21., "the zeal of Thy house hath eaten me up," is speaking of Christ's zeal for prayer; His weeping, fasting and praying at Nazareth, and it cost Him great reproach. Jesus, who had lived a life of prayer, was angry at the religious leaders of Israel, who had made God's house of prayer, a den of robbers where people were fleeced of their finances. Jn.2v13-17. Mt.21v12-15. Mk.11v15-18. Lk.19v45-48. Such Scriptures as these, and Is.53v12. and 59v16,17., give great light on the intercessions of our Lord. In His earthly life He was the intercessor without equal, and He still is the incomparable intercessor, for "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." Heb.7v25. Let us enter into the victories that His death and intercessions have won for us; and use all the power and authority that are in the wonderful name of Jesus. True Christians rejoice in the revelation of God's character and promises which are revealed to us in His covenant Names, all of which are given to us in the Name of Jesus.

INVOCATION OF THE DIVINE NAMES FOR FALSE PURPOSES IS FORBIDDEN.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless (and unpunished) that taketh His name in vain." Exod.20v7. Deut.5v11. In both Scriptures "vain," is the Hebrew noun "shav;," 7723, which means:-

1. Evil which is committed, and a desolating evil and calamity which anyone suffers. Both meanings are found in Job.15v31., 'let him not trust in evil (wickedness): he is deceived, for evil (calamity) will be his reward.'

2. Falsehood, a lie, a false report, false witness.

3. Emptiness, vanity, nothingness.

The word "take," is "nasa," which means, "to take up, bear, carry, lift up." Moses lifted up the Great Name like a sacred banner or standard for noble purposes, when Israel defeated Amalek in Exod.17v10-16.; in Jehovah Nissi, "nissi" is from the same root as "nasa." Thou shalt not lift up the name of the Lord for destructive or evil purposes. This lifting up and misuse of God's names has certainly occurred. Many occultists have used the names of God in their evil invocations, and in their magic circles; using God's name for evil like this is forbidden by God and puts the occultists under the control of demons, instead of under the protection of God. Deut.18v10-22. This misuse of the name could also speak of "vain repetitions" in prayer, Mt.6v7.: or to swearing falsely in the name of God, to deceive people in commercial transactions, which our Lord castigates in Mt.23v21,22.. Those who use God's name as a swear word will have to answer for it. It is important to realise that no one will get away with using and invoking God's name for evil, false or wrong purposes.

N.B. HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS IN SCRIPTURE GIVE VITAL DOCTRINAL INFORMATION.

We learn best about the theology of prayer and the theology about the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit by seeing their operation through men of God in the Scriptures. The full extent of the authority of the invocation of the names of God and the name of Jesus is seen in the lives of those who have called upon them in the Scriptures.

Some Christian teachers, in order to ignore and manipulate the plain truth of the Scriptures on the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit, which is revealed in the historical parts of Scripture, foolishly argue that the historical accounts in Scripture cannot be used as a basis for doctrine on the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. This approach is obviously wrong, because the historical parts of the Scripture show the outworkings of Divine truth. They reveal God's desires by His acts. Christ's life and acts, and His sufferings and death, have revealed God's love and redemptive purposes for men, far better than any doctrinal statement could ever have done. Are we to lay aside the historical accounts of Christ's life and actions as having no doctrinal importance? All true Christians will deny such a dangerous and pernicious theory. The facts about our Lord's life, death and resurrection are best entered into and understood by reading the actual events in the Gospels. Paul informs us in 1Cor.10v1-15., that God has instructed His people through history and taught vital doctrine by this means. Paul also tells us in 2Tim.3v15,16., that, "All Scripture is profitable for doctrine." Indeed, in many cases, it is only through the insight revealed by the historical passages that we can have the correct interpretation of Scriptural truth. Such things as water baptism, demon exorcism, the baptism and gifts of the Spirit, and even the Lord's Supper, can only be properly understood from the historical portions of Scripture. Indeed, the epistles deal mainly with practical historical problems in the churches, not just with theoretical problems. Some of our most valuable doctrines for living, preaching, and praying, are found in the historical parts of Scripture. The mighty power that is available to us through the invocation of the names of God, and the name of Jesus, is best seen in the lives of those who invoked them in power. Let us take the Divine names that have been given to us in the name of Jesus, and use them as instruments of power for the glory of God, and for ministration to the needy.