Why Study the Names of God?

And those who know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee
For Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee
Psalm 9:10-note

The great preacher C H Spurgeon commenting on Psalm 9:10 says we should be diligent to study God's Names because

"Ignorance is worst when it amounts to ignorance of God, and knowledge is best when it exercises itself upon the Name of God. This most excellent knowledge leads to the most excellent grace of faith. O, to learn more of the attributes and character of God. Unbelief, that hooting night bird, cannot live in the light of divine knowledge, it flies before the sun of God's great and gracious Name. If we read this verse literally, there is, no doubt, a glorious fulness of assurance in the names of God....By knowing His Name is also meant an experimental acquaintance with the attributes of God, which are every one of them anchors to hold the soul from drifting in seasons of peril. The Lord may hide His face for a season from His people, but He never has utterly, finally, really, or angrily forsaken them that seek Him. Let the poor seekers draw comfort from this fact, and let the finders rejoice yet more exceedingly, for what must be the Lord's faithfulness to those who find if He is so gracious to those who seek....The names of God inspire trust. JEHOVAH Jireh, Tsidkenu, Rophi, Shammah, Nissi, ELOHIM, SHADDAI, ADONAI, etc...."

Matthew Henry offers the following encouragements to motivate one to study the Names of God...

(1) The better God is known the more He is trusted. Those who know Him to be a God of infinite wisdom will trust Him further than they can see Him (Job 35:14); those who know Him to be a God of almighty power will trust Him when creature-confidences fail and they have nothing else to trust to (2Chr 20:12); and those who know Him to be a God of infinite grace and goodness will trust Him though he slay them, (Job 13:15). Those who know Him to be a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that, though the performance be deferred and intermediate providences seem to contradict it. Those who know Him to be the Father of spirits, and an everlasting Father, will trust Him with their souls as their main care and trust in Him at all times, even to the end.

(2.) The more God is trusted the more He is sought unto. If we trust God we shall seek Him by faithful and fervent prayer, and by a constant care to approve ourselves to Him in the whole course of our conversations.

(3.) God never did, nor ever will, disown or desert any that duly seek to Him and trust in Him. Though He afflict them, He will not leave them comfortless; though He seem to forsake them for a while, yet He will gather them with everlasting mercies. (Ps 9:10-note) We never trust a man till we know him. The mother of unbelief is ignorance of God, his faithfulness, mercy, and power. They that know thee, will trust in thee. This confirmed Paul, Abraham, Sarah, in the faith. "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." (2Ti 1:12-note). "He is faithful that promised," and "able also to perform." (Heb 10:23-note He 11:11-note, Ro 4:21-note)

James Montgomery Boice wrote...

The names of God are windows through which His character is seen. The names tell us that He is the Most High God, Possessor of Heaven and Earth (El Elyon), the Almighty God (El Shaddai), the Eternal, Unchanging God (El Olam), the Lord (Adonai), the God Who Is There (Jehovah Shammah), and much more. Since the names of God declare His attributes, we are not surprised that the unparalleled revelation of God's wisdom and grace in Abraham's near sacrifice of his son (in Genesis 22) brings with it another of God's names: Jehovah Jireh, which means "the Lord will provide." (Boice Expositional Commentary - An Expositional Commentary – Genesis, Volume 2: A New Beginning - Genesis 12-36).

Kenneth Hemphill gives a personal testimony to the power of the study of the Names of God in the introduction of his book on that subject...

This book has been a joy and a pilgrimage. I first preached a series on the names of God in 1990, while I was pastor at the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Virginia. The study and the messages had a profound and lasting impact on me. The response of the congregation greatly encouraged me as they testified to a new awareness of God's sufficiency for daily living. Soon alter I preached the series, I left First Norfolk to become the founding director of the Center for Church Growth under the auspices of the Home Mission and Sunday School Boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. (Now the North American Mission Board and Life Way Christian Resources, respectively.) After two years' service in that capacity, the Lord led me to Fort Worth, Texas, to assume the presidency of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The understanding I have gained of the character and nature of God has daily sustained me through this transitional period in my life. I have frequently been reminded of God's sufficiency as I have called to remembrance the various names of God....

Names are important because they area method of self-revelation...The way various names and titles are used speaks of relationships...Even though we assign great significance to names and titles today, they were far more important to the men and women of the ancient Near East during biblical times. For them, the very existence of a thing was tied up with the revelation of its name....The prophetic pathos in the naming of the children of Hosea cannot be overlooked. The first child was named Jezreel, which meant "God sows." The second child was Lo-Ruhamah, which meant "no more compassion." Finally, the third child was named Lo-Ammi which meant "not my people." When you read the prophetic Book of Hosea, you will see that the names of the children were pregnant with meaning concerning God's judgment upon His people.

The divine name was critic important in the ancient Near East. The one who knew the/divine name was able to invoke the presence and obtain help of deity.... Why do we need to study the names of God? What difference will it make in our personal walk with Him?...The first thing to remember is that God has commanded us to honor His name. Exodus 20:7 simply states: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."...Do you realize that when you are in Christ, you bear His name? Your behavior reflects upon Him....Another reason to study the names of God is simply because of the inherent greatness of His name (Psalm 8:1, Ps 48:10, Ps 75:1, Ps 76:1)...The Protection of the Name - A third important reason for us to know the names of God is found in Proverbs 18:10...In other words, God's name is like a fort that provides protection for the believer. Through this study, we will come to understand the significance of names like Jehovah Rophe or Jehovah Nissi. In each case, we will learn how understanding that name becomes a spir­itual fortress....

As we grow to understand he very nature and character of God we will find ourselves running to His name to find safety and strength. His name is like a strong tower! God's name stands for the manifestation of His presence in His revelation and His relation to His people. This can be one of the most exciting and encouraging studies that you have ever undertaken. It is essential to know God's name because we bear that I f name and we are commanded to live in such a way that will bring it honor. As we come to know the significance of each name, we will enhance the breadth of our ability to praise God and to live in His protection. (Hemphill, K. Names of God).

Spurgeon (Multiple sources - devotionals, sermons, etc) has the following quotes that relate to the study of the Names of God....

We are warranted in using all the various names of God, for each has its own beauty and majesty, and we must reverence each by its holy use as well as by abstaining from taking it in vain.

By the name is meant the revealed character and Word of God; we are not to worship “the unknown God,” but we should seek to know the covenant God of Jacob, who has been pleased to reveal his name and attributes to his people. The glorious power of God defended and preserved the Lord Jesus through the battle of his life and death, and exalted him above all his enemies. His warfare is now accomplished in his own proper person, but in his mystical body, the church, he is still beset with dangers; the name of the God of Israel is still the defense of the faithful.

We are to hallow the name of God, and we cannot do so if it slips from our memory.

Ignorance is worst when it amounts to ignorance of God, and knowledge is best when it exercises itself upon the name of God. This most excellent knowledge leads to the most excellent grace of faith. By knowing his name is also meant an experimental acquaintance with the attributes of God, which are anchors to hold the soul from drifting.

What a precious subject is the name of our God!

The name of God is, even in a literal sense, a fortress and high tower for all his people.

Daily Light on the Daily Path

They that know thy name will put their trust in thee. Psalm 9:10-note

This is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. — I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor. — O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

The mighty God, The everlasting Father. — I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The Prince of Peace. — He is our peace. — Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. — Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help. — As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

Jeremiah 23:6. Psalm 71:16. Isaiah 9:6. Jeremiah 10:23. Isaiah 9:6. 2Timothy 1:12. Isaiah 9:6. Ephesians 2:14. Romans 5:1. Proverbs 18:10. Isaiah 31:1. Isaiah 31:5.

“The people that do know their God
shall be strong, and do exploits.”
— Daniel 11:32b

“THE Lord is a Man of war, Jehovah is his Name.”

Those who enlist under His banner shall have a Commander who will train them for the conflict and give them both vigor and valor. The times of which Daniel wrote were of the very worst kind, and then it was promised that the people of God would come out in their best colors: they would be strong and stout to confront the powerful adversary. Oh, that we may know our God—His power, His faithfulness, His immutable love—and so may be ready to risk everything in His behalf. He is One whose character excites our enthusiasm and makes us willing to live and to die for Him. Oh, that we may know our God by familiar fellowship with Him; for then we shall become like Him and shall be prepared to stand up for truth and righteousness. He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man. If we dwell with Him, we shall catch the heroic spirit, and to us a world of enemies will be but as the drop of a bucket. A countless array of men, or even of devils, will seem as little to us as the nations are to God, and He counts them only as grasshoppers. Oh, to be valiant for truth in this day of falsehood" (Spurgeon in Faith's Checkbook)

The respected theologian Louis Berkhof helps us understand why the study of the Names of God is so important, noting first that...

"the name" stands for the whole manifestation of God in His relation to His people, or simply for the person, so that it becomes synonymous with God. This usage is due to the fact that in oriental thought a name was never regarded as a mere vocable (a word composed of various sounds or letters without regard to its meaning), but as an expression of the nature of the thing designated. To know the name of a person was to have power over him, and the names of the various gods were used in incantations to exercise power over them. In the most general sense of the word, then, the name of God is His self-revelation. It is a designation of Him, not as He exists in the depths of His divine Being, but as He reveals Himself especially in His relations to man. For us the one general name of God is split up into many names, expressive of the many-sided Being of God. It is only because God has revealed Himself in His name (nomen editum), that we can now designate Him by that name in various forms (nomina indita). The names of God are not of human invention, but of divine origin, though they are all borrowed from human language, and derived from human and earthly relations. They are anthropomorphic and mark a condescending approach of God to man.

The names of God constitute a difficulty for human thought. God is the Incomprehensible One, infinitely exalted above all that is temporal; but in His names He descends to all that is finite and becomes like unto man. On the one hand we cannot name Him, and on the other hand He has many names. How can this be explained? On what grounds are these names applied to the infinite and Incomprehensible God? It should be borne in mind that they are not of man's invention, and do not testify to his insight into the very Being of God. They are given by God Himself with the assurance that they contain in a measure a revelation of the Divine Being. This was made possible by the fact that the world and all its relations is and was meant to be a revelation of God. Because the Incomprehensible One revealed Himself in His creatures, it is possible for man to name Him after the fashion of a creature. In order to make Himself known to man, God had to condescend to the level of man, to accommodate Himself to the limited and finite human consciousness, and to speak in human language. If the naming of God with anthropomorphic (described or thought of as having a human form or human attributes) names involves a limitation of God, as some say, then this must be true to an even greater degree of the revelation of God in creation. Then the world does not reveal, but rather conceals, God; then man is not related to God, but simply forms an antithesis to Him; and then we are shut up to a hopeless agnosticism. From what was said about the name of God in general it follows that we can include under the names of God not only the appellatives by which He is indicated as an independent personal Being and by which He is addressed, but also the attributes of God; and then not merely the attributes of the Divine Being in general, but also those that qualify the separate Persons of the Trinity. Dr. Bavinck bases his division of the names of God on that broad conception of them, and distinguishes between nomina propria (proper names), nomina essentialia (essential names, or attributes), and nomina personalia (personal names, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). In the present chapter we limit ourselves to the discussion of the first class. (Systematic Theology - Louis Berkhof - go to page 47f)

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Marvin Rosenthal - in his article entitled ELOHIM writes the following comments about "name"...

William Shakespeare immortalized the question, “What’s in a name?”

Let’s attempt an answer.

The Apocrypha states, “A name endures while beauty wanes.”

A famous rabbi wrote, “No monument gives such glory as an unsullied name.”

A mother, once asked by a census taker how many children she had, responded, “Well, there’s Billy and Harry and Martha and. . . ” “Never mind the names,” he interrupted impatiently, “just give me the number.” The mother became indignant. “They haven’t got numbers, they’ve all got names!”

An unknown poet reasoned,

I know a life that is lost to God.
Bound down by the things of earth.
But I know a name, a name, a name
That can bring that soul new birth.

Alfred Lord Tennyson proclaimed, “I cannot love my Lord, and not His name.”

In ancient Israel, it was not unusual for a name to express some personal characteristic of the bearer of the name, and sometimes the hope, wish or prayer of the parents. Often the child, when grown, would consciously embody the significance of the name into his life. Occasionally a name was used to signify the collective qualities of the one bearing the name. This was particularly true with regard to the biblical names for God.

When the name of God attests His power to accomplish His Word, He swears by His great name to carry out His purposes (Jer. 44:26).

When the name of God expresses His being which is exhibited in creation and redemption, it is the name of God which is excellent in all the earth (Ps. 8:1). (Play this old song sung by children or this one by Marty Goetz on Psalm 8)

When the name of God announces His mighty presence, it is said, “. . . thy name is near. . . ” (Ps. 75:1).

When the name of God promises divine protection, it is announced, “. . . the name of the God of Jacob defend thee” (Ps. 20:1).

In the words of one writer, “The expression ‘name of God’ indicates the entire administration of God, by which He reveals Himself and His attributes to men.” (M. Unger) 

To speak of God’s name is to refer to all that God is, because all that God is is encompassed in His name.

In the Lord’s high priestly prayer to His Father, He uttered these words, “I have manifested thy name. . . ” (Jn. 17:6). By that He meant that in His life and teaching, He, the visible Son, had revealed what the invisible God was like. This is precisely what the beloved apostle said when he wrote, “No man hath seen God at any time; [however, in stark contrast] the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father [the place of intimacy], he hath declared him” (Jn. 1:18).

Similarly, the expression, “Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:19) means, Let every one that acknowledges Him to be all that His name implies forsake willful disobedience to Him.

When the Bible declares, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on his name” (Jn. 1:12), it is not suggesting that there is something inherently miraculous in the name “Jesus.” To believe in His name is to believe in all He is and all that He has done. If a man does not believe that Jesus is God in flesh – he does not believe in His name. If a man does not believe that Jesus willingly died on the cross for the sins of the world – he does not believe in His name. If a man does not believe that Jesus rose physically from the grave – he does not believe in His name. And it logically follows, therefore, that such a man is not a child of God.

Now here is a glorious promise of inestimable worth. Jesus said, “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Jn. 14:14). That promise does not mean that if a man petitions God for whatever he desires and then tacks on the phrase, in Jesus’ name, that somehow all requests will be granted. To pray in Jesus’ name means to pray in harmony with God’s character – to make petitions that bring glory to God, to request things that are unselfish and that are harmonious with His Word. The most effective prayers are those fervently voiced by men and women who know God – who know His Word and His way and pray for His will to be done. That’s prayer in His name.

Third in the list of the Ten Commandments is this familiar command, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. . . ” (Ex. 20:7). The normal interpretation suggests that this commandment prohibits cursing. But the commandment goes far beyond that singular concept.

To believe that God is something other than what He truly is is to take His name in vain. To deny His existence is to take His name in vain.
To deny His creative power is to take His name in vain.
To deny His holy standards for life is to take His name in vain.
To deny His redemptive work at Calvary is to take His name in vain.
To deny that He is coming again is to take His name in vain.

An unbelieving mother was grieving the accidental death of her son. With a momentary touch of bitterness, she asked the pastor who had come to comfort the sorrowing family, “Where was your God when my son died?” Softly and graciously the pastor responded, “The same place He was when His own Son died.”

To deny God’s love and mercy amid the adversities of life is to take His name in vain.

God’s name is the composite whole of His essence and character. For that reason, a pious Jew may be overheard to proclaim, “Barauch Ha Shem” – simply meaning, Blessed be the name, and thus encompassing all of the divine perfections.

But this God, whose name embodies all that He is and does, has also chosen to reveal certain of His characteristics through the progressive unveiling of a series of personal names.

And like the facets of a magnificent diamond that reflect the sun’s rays at noonday, these divine names reflect the brilliance and fire of the divine glory.

Practically speaking, an understanding of the significance of these truly exquisite names cannot but help to stir the soul, warm the heart and loose the tongue to sing His praises. There are three primary names for God: Elohim, meaning the strong, faithful One; Jehovah, meaning the self-existent One – the great I AM; and Adonai, meaning Sovereign, Master or Lord.

Sensing the great significance of each of these names, the translators of the Authorized King James Version of the Bible built in a simple key to aid the English reader.* Whenever the name for deity in the Old Testament is written “God” with a capital “G” and lower case “od” it is the Hebrew name Elohim. Whenever the name is written in all capital letters, whether “LORD” or “GOD” it is the Hebrew name Jehovah. And finally, whenever the name is written capital “L and lower case “ord,” it is the Hebrew name Adonai which is in view. Now see this once more:

God = Elohim – the strong, faithful One.
GOD or LORD = Jehovah – the self-existent One.
Lord = Adonai – the Sovereign, Master or Lord.

Knowing The Name Of God
Brian Bill 

Scripture: Psalm 75:1

Summary: Names are important to us because they often do more than just identify an individual; they can actually reveal who a person is, and what he or she is like.

During a job interview, a woman was asked to give her name. She replied, “My name is Lilly.” When the boss wanted to know why she was named after a flower, she told him, “My parents gave me that name because when I was born a lily fell on me from the sky.” A couple days later, the boss interviewed a man for the same job. He wasn’t much to look at and had a very rough appearance. The boss asked, “What’s your name?” He gave a crooked smile and said, “Piano.”

Names are important to us because they often do more than just identify an individual; they can actually reveal who a person is, and what he or she is like. God goes by many different names in the Bible. One commentator has counted over 63 found in Scripture. That seems like a lot but God is so awesome that the number of names we could use to describe Him is as endless as He is. These names provide us with at least two helpful truths.

They help us identify the one true God. The pagan nations worshipped false gods and so one reason God gave us His name is so we can know how He is different.

His names describe His character. When we study what He goes by, we will actually get to know what He is like.

While names are important in our culture, they were even more so in biblical times. Proverbs 22:1 tells us that a good name is more to be desired than great riches. Names didn’t just distinguish or label a person; they were often thought to reveal the very nature of an individual. For example, Nabal, whose name means “fool,” lived out what his name meant in 1 Samuel 25:25: “He is just like his name-his name is Fool, and folly goes with him.”

The term for name in the Old Testament means “individual mark” and communicated an individual’s essence. In the New Testament, the word for name comes from a verb that means “to know.” To know the name of God means to personally know His personality. During this new series, it’s my prayer that we will not just know who God is, but that we will actually get to know Him much more than we do right now.

As we begin our study, let me state four foundational principles:

1. These names are given by God, not thought up by people. God is not some abstract thought or nameless power. He is personal and knowable. And one of the ways His personality is known is through the giving of His names.
2. Each name of God reveals one of His qualities or characteristics. We’ll focus on one of these attributes each week, and like studying a multifaceted diamond, when we’re finished we’ll appreciate His beauty like never before.
3. These names were given to God’s people in order to help them through a moment of need. It’s my prayer that this series will not just be academic, but deeply personal and heart-changing so that you will call out to Him when you are in crisis or need. These names are like miniature portraits filled with promises, given by God as a gift to us so we can actually know Him.
4. Use these names when you call out to God in prayer. While we will learn the Hebrew names for God, I encourage you to also memorize the English attributes and then use these titles in your praise and in your prayer times. As we go through each name, ask yourself this question: “Do I know God in this way?”

I have chosen ten names for our study that I think will help each of us grow deeper in our knowledge of God:

1. God the Creator (Elohim)
2. God the Lord (Adonai)
3. God our Peace (Jehovah Shalom)
4. God our Provider (Jehovah Jireh)
5. God the Covenant Keeper (Yahweh)
6. God the Almighty (El Shaddai)
7. The God Who is There (Jehovah Shammah)
8. God the Healer (Jehovah Rapha)
9. God of Power (Jehovah Sabaoth)
10. God is my Banner (Jehovah Nissi)

Our study today will focus on the actual phrase, “Name of the Lord.” This is really a summary statement that refers to God’s whole character. As Judges 13:18 states, God’s name is “wonderful.” We’re going to look at what the Bible teaches about the recognition of His name, our response to His name, and then we’ll conclude with some results of knowing His name.

The Recognition of His Name

In his book called, “Awed to Heaven, Rooted to Earth,” Walter Brueggermann prays, “You are not the God we would have chosen.” In commenting on this statement, Michael Card writes: “That troubling prayer resonates in my heart. For the truth is, most often I would have chosen (and indeed do choose) a god other than Him. Most often, I would rather not learn the hard lessons the hard way. I would rather not have to worship in the wilderness, where God continuously calls me to find and be found by Him. I would rather God simply meet my expectations, fix my problems, heal my hurts, and be on His way. I want a God who is faithful to me in ways I understand and expect, who expresses faithfulness in the ways I choose” (Discipleship Journal, Jan/Feb, 2005, 25-29).

One of the most helpful correctives to our selfish desires and egocentric expressions of prayer is to focus on who God actually is, not necessarily who we want Him to be. Let’s begin by listing 6 statements that will help us grow in recognition of His wonderful name.

1. His name is good. Psalm 52:9: “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.” Friends, never forget this: God is good, even when bad things happen!

2. His name is great. 2 Samuel 7:25-26: “…Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever…” There is no greater name than the name of God.

3. His name is majestic. Psalm 8:1: “O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” This means that His name, which stands for all that He is, is excellent and famous in the earth. There is no one else like Him. He is omnipotent and incomparable. Exodus 15:11: “Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you--majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?”

4. His name is glorious. Psalm 115:1: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory…” The word “glory” encompasses all of His attributes. The word literally means, “heavy” and refers to the fact that God is weighty, or awesome. Sometimes we try to make a name for ourselves as we crave credit for what we’ve done. We need to remember that His name alone deserves the glory.

5. His name is holy. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray he told them to begin like this in Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” His name must be set apart because He is holy.

6. His name is near. God is high and holy and yet, amazingly, He is also close to us. Theologically speaking, He is both transcendent and He is immanent. Allow this truth to penetrate you. He is not distant, but has instead come close to each one of us so that we can get to know Him. Psalm 75:1: “We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for your Name is near; men tell of your wonderful deeds.” God is powerful and He is also personal.

Our Response to His Name

Once we recognize His name, we can’t help but respond to Him. Here are some ways from Scripture that we are to respond.

1. Praise His Name.

The number one reaction to recognizing His name is to break out into praise. The main reason we should focus on what He goes by is so we can give Him what He deserves. Daniel 2:20: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever…” Psalm 7:17: “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.” One of the clearest expressions of people praising the name of God is found in Psalm 113:1-3: “Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.”

Job models for us that we are to praise Him even when our lives are full of problems and our minds are mixed up with emotions. Listen to Job 1:21: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” Let’s see if we can apply this verse to the Tsunami disaster. Because Job knew the name of the Lord, he could praise Him even though a natural disaster had destroyed his ten children. Unbelievably, he was able to make an incredible statement of faith in Job 2:10: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Friend, the only way to praise God is to know His name. If you don’t know Him personally, you may end up cursing Him when troubles come. If you’d like to study more about how God’s sovereignty allowed this tsunami, we have printed copies available of John Piper’s article called, “Tsunami, Sovereignty, and Mercy” (I’ve included a link to this article in my 1/3/05 blog: Making Sense of the Tsunami).

2. Honor His Name.

God’s name is so weighty that we must do all we can to honor it. Leviticus 19:12: “Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.” We are to praise His name, not profane it. Someone told me recently about a meeting where an individual was using God’s name in vain with almost every other word. A Christian stood up and said, “God’s a close personal friend of mine and you must also know Him well because you sure use His name a lot!” The guy cleaned up his language in a hurry. We should tremble whenever we hear His name used in a way that does not honor Him, and we should make sure we are not throwing His name around lightly ourselves. This is serious business because one of the 10 Commandments says: “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name” (Exodus 20:7).

3. Call on His Name.

God desires for us to use His name as we call out to Him. Don’t hesitate to hearken to Him. As you read through the Book of Genesis, it doesn’t take long for people to call out to the Lord. We see this in Genesis 4:26: “At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD.” Has it been awhile since you’ve called out to Him in prayer?

4. Proclaim His Name.

When we praise, honor and call on His name, we can’t help but share His name with others. Don’t keep it to yourself. I talked to someone this week who told me that sometimes she is so filled with the joy of the Lord that she just has to tell others about Him. I encouraged her to let loose! Deuteronomy 32:3: “I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God!”

5. Trust His Name.

One of the best responses you can make to God is to decide to trust Him completely with your life. Is there something you’re holding back? Are you afraid to fully surrender because you don’t want to let go of some things? Perhaps you feel like the prophet did when he wrote in Isaiah 50:10: “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Sometimes God knocks out props in our life in order to get us to totally trust Him. Stop walking around in the dark and transfer your trust to Him right now. Psalm 9:10 says that if we know God in a real and personal way, we will trust Him: “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

6. Love His Name.

There are many things in life that we can love, but we are to love His name above all. Isaiah 56:6: “…to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him.” Can you honestly say that you love His name this morning? Do you love His name more than anything else? If not, what needs to change?

Results of Knowing His Name

We must first recognize His name and then respond accordingly. When we do, we can expect at least 10 results. I’ll go over these quickly.

1. Our hope will grow. Psalm 52:9: “I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good.” If you struggle with discouragement, determine to put your hope in His name. You won’t be disappointed.

2. Our joy will increase. Psalm 5:11: “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Once we know His name, we can’t help but be filled with joy. Conversely, if you aren’t very joyful it could be because you don’t really know Him.

3. Our worship will deepen. Nehemiah 1:11: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today…” When we grow in God, we will find incredible delight in worshipping Him, by the way we live, and by the way we commit ourselves to corporate worship every Sunday.

4. We will be fully satisfied. John Piper has stated it well: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Do you feel unsatisfied today? It may be because you don’t know God as well as you need to. If you’re trying to stuff yourself with things that can’t satisfy, you will be constantly needy. Get to know His name and your needs will be met. Ask God to make Isaiah 26:8 true in your life: “Your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

5. We will experience power. There’s power in the name of God, and He wants to unleash it in your life. Jeremiah 10:6: “No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.” He loves to show Himself strong when we are weak and He loves to demonstrate His power by accomplishing that which we think is impossible. David understood this truth when he came before a giant problem named Goliath. Listen to what he declared to the frightening Philistine in 1 Samuel 17:45: “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”

6. We will become wiser. All of us can stand to grow in wisdom. One of the byproducts of knowing the Name of God is increased wisdom. Micah 6:9: “…To fear your name is wisdom…”

7. We will receive help. Do you need any help today in a situation you’re facing? Take heart and meditate on Psalm 124:8: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Others may be able to provide assistance and counsel, but the help you really need is only found in the Name of the Lord.

8. We will be protected. When you’re in trouble, claim the promise of Psalm 91:14-15: “Because he loves me, says the LORD, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” God’s name is like a fort of protection for the believer. Run to Him for safety.

9. We will be granted forgiveness. Forgiveness comes through His name and His name alone. Psalm 25:11: “For the sake of your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.” Psalm 79:9 gives another aspect of this: “Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.” We can appeal to God for forgiveness because at His very nature, He is a forgiving Father.

10. We will be saved. Ultimately to call on the name of the Lord brings salvation. Psalm 116:4: “Then I called on the name of the LORD: ‘O LORD, save me!’” This is picked up by Peter in Acts 2:21 and Paul in Romans 10:13 when they quote from the prophet Joel: “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Have you ever called on Him for salvation? In John 17:3, Jesus expands our understanding in this regard when He prayed: “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” In order to be saved, you must know God and you must know Jesus Christ. Do you?

If you’re ready to begin a relationship with the God who knows your name, call out to Him right now. Tell Him that you’re a sinner and that you can’t save yourself. Repent from the way you’ve been living. And then ask Him to personally apply the work of Jesus on the Cross to your account, where His blood was shed for forgiveness of sins. Receive the free gift of eternal life and surrender to His name everyday. And then, confess with your lips that you now know Him. Proclaim His wonderful name to others and determine to know all you can about Him. To help you begin a relationship with the God who knows you and wants to make Himself known to you, you could pray something like this: “In the Name of Jesus, I come before you right now. I confess that I have been living for my own name. I am a sinner and I can’t save myself. I now turn away from the way I’ve been living and turn toward you in faith. I call out to your name for salvation. Save me from my sins. I believe that you died in my place and that your blood covers my sins. I gratefully receive the free gift of eternal life. And now I surrender to you. Your name is what matters, not my own. Do with me what you will for the rest of my life for I now belong to you. Amen.”

Knowing God or Knowing About God?

If you’re already a believer, let me ask you a question. Are you geared up to really know God, or are you content to just know a few facts about Him? I love what Charles Spurgeon wrote:

“No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God...But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity” (Quoted in the Introduction to “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer).

I came across a list of questions from Don Whitney which will help us as we consider how this year can be different from last year (for a list of all thirty-one questions, see this link).

• What’s one thing you can do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
• What’s the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
• What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
• In what spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
• What’s the most important way you will, by God’s grace, try to make this year different from last year?
• What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
• What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?
• What’s one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?
• What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year?
• In what one area of your life do you most need to change, and what will you do about it this year?

As I look at this list, it strikes me that I can make progress in all ten of these areas if I will go after knowing God like I never have before. Are you with me? Will you commit to be here for the next ten weeks and roll up your sleeves as we study the Scriptures together? If you have to miss a Sunday, will you download the message from our website and study it on your own (www.pontiacbible.org)? Let’s not take this lightly.

I love the book of Job. With all its pain and agony, it’s full of faith and hope. At the end of the book, after God recites a litany of His powerful acts, Job becomes literally speechless. When he’s finally able to formulate some words, isten to what he says in 42:5: “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Some of you are in the same place this morning. You’ve heard about God, but now you really want to see Him in His fullness.

Prayer of Commitment

As we close, I’d like you to stand and pray this prayer with me that originally appeared in A.W. Tozer’s book called, “The Knowledge of the Holy” (Page 18).

“O majesty unspeakable, my soul desires to behold Thee. I cry to Thee from the dust. Yet when I inquire after Thy name it is secret. Thou art hidden in the light which no man can approach unto. What Thou art cannot be thought or uttered, for Thy glory is beyond comprehension. Still, prophet and psalmist, apostle and saint have encouraged me to believe that I may in some measure know Thee. Therefore, I pray, whatever of Thyself Thou hast been pleased to disclose, help me to search out as treasure more precious than fine gold: for with Thee shall I live when the stars of the twilight are no more and the heavens have vanished away and only Thou remainest. Amen.”

A Simple Inductive Study
on Proverbs 18:10
What Does it Mean to be Safe in Jehovah's Name?

The Hebrew text of Proverbs 18:10 is translated in the NASB as...

The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower.

The righteous runs into it and is safe. (Margin note = "set on high")

Proverbs 18:10 in other translations reads as follows...

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong." (Amplified Version)

"The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted." Septuagint (Greek translation of Hebrew OT)

"The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high." (Net)

"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe." (New Living Translation)

"A tower of strength is the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high." (Young's Literal)

Observation...
Interrogation with 5W'S & H

1) What is in a name, especially the Names of God?

(Blessed be your name - song on youtube) (Another version) (Version by Matt Redman)

The Lord's name stands for His person, since it reflects His attributes, character and qualities. Here the name of God is Jehovah, His covenant Name by which He made Himself known to Israel. To know God in covenant is a strong tower.

Moses records his conversation with God where

"God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; and He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you." (Exodus 3:14) (Click here for more on this Name Jehovah)

Persons may confidently and safely take refuge in God's covenant Name which conveys an assurance of security to those who are in covenant with Him by grace through faith (see Question #4 below)

James Montgomery Boice writes that...

"the name of God" is a Semitic phrase for speaking of God's attributes. To be protected by the name is therefore to be protected by the One Who is sovereign, holy, all-knowing, wise, compassionate, and anything else that can properly be said of God. And there is more, for to be kept "in the name" is not merely to be kept by God, as if He were only some distant force that could be called in to defend us if that were necessary. It is rather that we are actually in Him, much like being in a fortress. Thus, His power and other attributes surround us constantly. (The Gospel of John)

Comment: The verse Boice is commenting on is in Jesus prayer to His Father for His disciples where He prays...

And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep (tereo in the present imperative) them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are. (John 17:11)

Matthew Poole explains that...

The name of the Lord, i.e. the Lord, as he hath revealed himself in his works, and especially in his word by his promises, and the declarations of his infinite perfections, and of his good will to his people.

J R Miller asks...

What are we to understand by the name of God? Among the ancient Jews there was one divine name which had peculiar sacredness. It was so holy that they never pronounced it in public. When they came to it in reading, they would pass over it in reverent silence, not daring to take it upon their lips. The Mohammedans, also, have a great reverence for the divine name. They will not tread upon a piece of paper, even the smallest torn fragment which they see lying upon the ground, but will reverently pick it up, saying, “It may contain the name of God.” In this there may be little more than superstition in the outward honor shown to the diving name. Ofttimes men with wicked heart will treat the written or spoken name of God with seeming reverence, bowing at its every mention, while in their own life they have no true regard for God. It is very evident that more than this is meant in this petition for the hollowing of God’s name. We must honor it in our heart and in our life.

In the Bible a name stands for the whole of the character of the person. Many scripture names have meanings in which are enshrined the qualities which belonged to the man. Even among us a name comes to stand for all there is in the person’s life and character. A little child is born without a name, and when a name is given to it it means nothing as yet, for the child has no biography, no character, no personality, has done nothing to individualize itself. But as the days and years go on, and the child grows into manhood, everything he does and all that he is are gathered into his name, until by and by the name has a meaning wherever the man is known; is, as it were, a composite photograph made up of all the phases and aspects of his life. Any man’s name when spoken in the ears of his friends conveys to them a conception of his personality, his character, his disposition, his whole story; all that his is is enshrined in his name. There are certain names in every community that by reason of the noble life which the persons live, or the great or good things they have done, mean a great deal, standing for honor, for patriotism, for heroism, for philanthropy, for beneficence, for religion.

So the name of God includes all that God is and all that he has done, that is, all the revelations which have been made to us of him. When we speak His name there arises before our mind a vision which gathers in itself all that we know about God — all our thoughts of him, our impressions of him, our experiences of His goodness, His mercy, His help. When we mention the name of Jesus Christ, the whole story of His life is suggested to us, — His condescension, His beautiful character, His gentleness, His works of power, His teaching — above all , His atoning death, and then His resurrection and ascension. Thus the name of God stands for God himself, all that God is. In this petition we pray, therefore, not merely for the formal honoring of a name, but for the honoring of God himself in the revelations of him which have been made in the world.

Of course we cannot add a particle to the essential glory of God’s name. Nothing we could do would make His character any more glorious. We cannot add to the sun’s brightness by lighting candles and lamps on the earth; nor can we, by anything we may say or do, make God any more glorious than he is in His essential character. (from The Hollowed Name)

2) What is the implied comparison?

The Name of Jehovah is pictured as if it were a strong tower (see discussion of metaphor) because the reader can more easily understand the value of a strong tower. The metaphor “strong tower” indicates that God is a secure refuge. This picture helps us understand the value of knowing and living in the light of the truth of God's Names of which there are many in Scripture. The Septuagint drops the metaphor of a tower and simply states God's Name is "of great strength" which is not quite as easy to understand as is a "strong tower" (a tower is easier to "run into" than a Name) In either case one can readily discern the great value of meditating on the glorious Names of God.

Adam Clarke writes that...

The name of the Lord may be taken for the Lord himself; He is a strong tower, a refuge, and place of complete safety, to all that trust in Him. What a strong fortress is to the besieged, the like is God to His persecuted, tempted, afflicted followers.

3) What does a "tower" picture? (Strong Tower song on youtube)

Webster defines a "tower" as

"a building, either round or square, raised to a considerable elevation and consisting of several stories. When towers are erected with other buildings, as they usually are, they rise above the main edifice. They are generally flat on the top, and thus differ from steeples or spires. Before the invention of guns, places were fortified with towers and attacked with movable towers mounted on wheels, which placed the besiegers on a level with the walls."

Another source adds that it is

"a towering citadel, a fortress, one that provides support or protection, a bulwark."

Erdman's Dictionary defines "tower" as...

A defensive structure either built into a city wall or located on a hill as a watchtower. Towers (Heb. migdāl) were built into city walls at strategic positions such as corners, city gates, and vulnerable locations. Massive towers built as part of the city gate structure (e.g., Megiddo, Samaria, Hazor, Dan, Beer-sheba, Timnah) increased defense capabilities at a city’s most vulnerable location. Towers, built into the walls at intervals to increase defense capabilities, usually jutted out beyond the city wall giving defenders a clear view of the wall’s foundation and anyone attempting to breech the wall. This type of tower is typically taller than the adjoining city wall."

The image of a "tower" or "citadel" reminds us that as believers we are aliens and strangers in this world and are in a very real struggle every day for the rest of our life until we see Jesus face to face. In the meantime, we need to remember that when the battle wages fierce against us, we have an ever present towering citadel, our Jehovah God, wherein we can run and be safe, though the battle continues all around us! God’s almighty providence is the surest and strongest defense against all enemies of whatever kind.

J Vernon McGee writes that...

The name of Jehovah is also the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is called Jesus because He saves His people from their sins. And He is called Christ because He is the Anointed One. He is the Lord of our life and our salvation. The Lord is a strong tower. You can run into it and be completely safe. This is a verse that many have used in speaking to children, and I have used it myself and found it very effective. It speaks of security and reminds us that no one can pluck us out of His hands. What a beautiful picture this is! (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson or Logos) (Or listen to an Mp3 )

The Bible Illustrator has this note on ancient towers...

Strong towers were a greater security in a bygone age than they are now. Castles were looked upon as being very difficult places for attack; and ancient troops would rather fight a hundred battles than endure a single siege. He who owned a strong tower felt, however potent might be his adversary, his walls and bulwarks would be his sure salvation.

The Pulpit Commentary adds that "strong tower"...

"...suggest to us an image of a disturbed country with a massive fortified tower standing in its midst, ready to serve as a refuge for the peasants, who till the fields when all is peaceful, but who flee to the tower for shelter when they see the enemy scouring over the plain. The baronial castles of England served the same purpose when our own country was suffering from the ravages of war. In the dangers of life the Name of the Lord is a similar refuge for his people."

What is the dramatic contrast to the Lord as our strong tower? See the immediate context...

Proverbs 18:11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.

Comment: Note although verse 11 does not begin with a contrast word like "but", it is clearly a contrast to the truth of Pr 18:10. The rich man imagines that his wealth ("the shaky tower of the god mammon") can protect him from harm as a high city wall used to protect from enemy troops, but the rich man is dead wrong. The danger of wealth is that it gives its possessor the illusion of greater security than it actually provides. Money simply cannot shield people from many problems and provides no hope for the greatest problem of all, the deadness of one's spirit because of sin.

All of us tend to have our "fortified cities." For some, it may be an advanced college degree with its ticket to a guaranteed position; for others, an insurance policy or a financial nest egg for retirement years. For our nation, it is a superior arsenal of weapons. Anything other than God Himself that we tend to trust in becomes our fortified city with its imagined unscalable walls.

Alexander Maclaren has a lengthy note contrasting Pr 18:10 and Pr 18:11.

We have here the "strong tower" and the "strong city;" the man lifted up above danger on the battlements of the one, and the man fancying himself to be high above it (and only fancying himself) in the imaginary safety of the other.

I. Consider first the two fortresses.

One need only name them side by side to feel the full force of the intended contrast. On the one hand the name of the Lord, with all its depths and glories, with its blaze of lustrous purity and infinitudes of inexhaustible power; and on the other "the rich man's wealth."

(1) The name of the Lord, of course, is the biblical expression for the whole character of God, as He has made it known to us, or, in other words, for God Himself, as He has been pleased to reveal Himself to mankind. His name proclaims Him to be self-existent, and, as self-existent, eternal; and as eternal, changeless; and as self-existent, eternal, changeless, infinite in all the qualities by which He makes Himself known. But far beyond the sweep of that great name, Jehovah, is the knowledge of God's deepest heart and character, which we learn in Him who said, "I have declared Thy name unto My brethren, and will declare it." The name that is the strong tower is the name. "My Father!" A Father of infinite tenderness, and wisdom, and power.

(2) Look at the other fortress: "The rich man's wealth." Of course we have not to deal here only with wealth in the shape of money, but all external and material goods; the whole mass of the things seen and temporal are gathered together here in this phrase. Men use their imaginations in very strange fashion, and make, or fancy they make, for themselves out of the things of the present life a defence and a strength. Like some poor lunatic, out upon a moor, that fancies himself ensconced in a castle; like some barbarous tribes behind their stockades, or crowding at the back of a little turf wall, fancying themselves perfectly secure and defended,—so do men deal with these outward things that are given them for another purpose altogether; they make of them defences and fortresses. Of all delusions that can beset you in your course, none will work more disastrously than the notion that the summum bonum, the shield and the stay of a man, is the abundance of the things that he possesses.

II. Consider next how to get into the true refuge.

How does a man make this world his defence? By trusting to it. He that says to the fine gold, "Thou art my confidence," has made it his fortress; and that is how you will make God your fortress—by trusting to Him.

III. We have, lastly, what comes of sheltering in these two refuges.

(1) As to the former of them, as one of the old Puritan commentators has it, "The tower is so deep that no pioneer can undermine it, so thick that no cannon can breach it, so high that no ladder can scale it." "The righteous runneth into it and is perched up there."

(2) I say little about the other side. The world can do a great deal for us. It can keep the rifle bullets from us. But, ah! when the big siege guns get into position and begin to play; when the great trials that every-life must have, sooner or later, come to open fire at us; then the defence that anything in this outer world can give comes rattling about our ears very quickly. It is like the pasteboard helmet, which looked as good as if it had been steel, and did admirably as long as no sword struck it. (A. Maclaren, A Year's Ministry, 1st series, p. 301) (From "The Sermon Bible")

4) Who "benefits" from the truth of Proverbs 18:10?

The righteous man or woman or as the Amplified version reads "the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God]".

"Righteous" is the Hebrew adjective saddiyq/tsaddiyq which is an adjective meaning just, righteous. The root basically indicates that there is conformity to an ethical or moral standard. That standard could be "man" but the only standard acceptable to God is Himself. For practical purposes, one can say that righteousness is all that God is, all that God commands, all that God demands, all that God approves, and ultimately all that God provides in Christ.

And how does man conform to this "impossible" standard?

Paul summarized it in the introduction to his magnum opus, the epistle to the Romans writing that he was

"not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power (dunamis = inherent power, God's power present in the message independent of the one who speaks it) of God for salvation (deliverance, rescue from penalty [eternal death] and power of sin) to everyone who believes (mental = mind understands the gospel and truth about Christ; emotional = embraces the truthfulness of those facts with sorrow over sin and joy over God’s mercy and grace and volitional = sinner submits will to Christ and trusts in Him alone as the only hope of salvation. Genuine faith produces authentic obedience), to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God (better translated “righteousness from God”) is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written (Hab 2:4 the gospel is in the Old Testament and has always been God's way of declaring sinners righteous as stated in Galatians 3:8), "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." (Romans 1:16, 17-note)

"But now (not a time reference, but a change in flow of argument) apart from the Law (entirely independent of obedience to any law) the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets (the gospel was present in the OT - it was foretold in types and shadows of sacrificial system requiring the shedding of blood for atonement and it was foretold by direct prophecies), even the righteousness of God through faith (utter reliance on the living Lord Jesus Christ as one’s only Savior from sin and one’s only hope for heaven) in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned (all are born in Adam, inherit his propensity to sin and therefore commit sins) and fall short of the glory of God, being justified (declared righteous - pardoned from guilt and penalty of sin receiving imputation of Christ’s righteousness on one's "account", providing the righteousness sinners need to be accepted by God) as a gift by His grace through the redemption (click here for Greek word apolutrosis; see also How to do Greek Word Study) which is in Christ Jesus...For we maintain that a man is justified (declared righteous) by faith apart from works of the Law." (Romans 3:21-24-note; Ro 3:28-note)

"What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS...Is this blessing then upon the circumcised, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS RECKONED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." (Romans 4:1, 2, 3-note; Ro 4:9- note)

From the passages clearly a man or woman is declared to be righteous the moment they place their faith and trust in the gospel of Jesus Christ, Old Testament saints doing so by believing the promises of the coming Messiah and New Testament saints by looking back in faith to the finished work of Christ on the Cross.

I would agree with the Amplified translation that it is the one who is "consistently" righteous who can run into the strong tower of Jehovah. In other words, it is not only the one who had been (past tense) declared righteous (Justified) upon the exercise of faith but the one who is living daily in the power God provides to live a righteous life (Sanctification).

5) What action does the righteous man or woman need to carry out?

There is no safety in looking at the "strong tower". It is necessary to flee to God in order to be protected by Him.

The passage says they must "run". It does not say they are to amble or to stroll or to walk in a leisurely or idle manner but that they are to run. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary gives us the picture stating that to run is

"to go faster than a walk; specifically : to go steadily by springing steps so that both feet leave the ground for an instant in each step...to go without restraint...to go rapidly or hurriedly...to go in urgency or distress...to contend in a race."

The Hebrew verb (rus/ruwts) means to make haste, to travel or to journey by moving one’s legs more rapidly than in walking and in some contexts it conveys the idea of a sense of urgency or a need to hurry.

Lane comments that...

"...the illustration not only indicates what the Lord is, but that we have a responsibility if we are to avail ourselves of His ministry. A city’s fortress is not where people live and work, but there for refuge in emergencies, so that the citizens can run to it and be safe. Thus there is no automatic security in having wisdom and being righteous — we have to exercise them. The running describes faith and prayer, which give direct access to God who responds by warding off the danger. Safe is literally ‘lifted high’, as if one who trusts God is not only behind thick walls, but above the range of the enemy’s weapons." (Lane, E. Focus on the Bible: Proverbs) (Bolding added)

C H Spurgeon comments that the righteous run and

"...do not stop to make any preparation. And the running implies that they have nothing to carry; and that fear quickens them. When a man enters a castle, he is safe because of the impregnability of the castle, not because of the way in which he entered into the castle."

How can we "run" into the Name of Jehovah?

Clearly this is not literal running (although that may be what we feel like doing when trouble knocks). The metaphor of “running” into the strong tower refers to a whole-hearted and unwavering trust in God’s Name and His willingness and ability to provide protection. It is only by faith that we can go to an invisible God.

Warren Wiersbe writes that...

If you want to know how strong His name is, study the names of God in the Old Testament and the "I AM" statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. But be sure to imitate the psalmist and make it your practice to trust and honor His name in every aspect of life (v. 56, NIV), not just during emergencies..."The name of the Lord" in Pr 18:10 signifies all the glorious attributes of the Lord. Because of who He is and what He is, those who trust Him don't have to worry—because He is always their refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1).

H A Ironside writes that...

The name of Jehovah stands for the Lord Himself. To run into it, as into a strong tower, is to confide in Him in the time of trouble. This is the blessed privilege of every true saint. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [i.e., garrison] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Php 4:6-note; Php 4:7-note). All that perplexes and oppresses the human spirit can be poured into God's ear. Then the soul can leave all burdens with Him and can confide in His love. Thus the heart will be at peace, protected as in a garrisoned tower, however the enemy may rage. See a lovely picture of this in the tower of Thebez (Judges 9:50, 51, 52, 53 54, 55, 56, 57)....

Abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, all His people are protected from the power of the enemy.

The Biblical Illustrator adds the following thought on how we run into the Name of Jehovah...

The righteous “runneth into the name” by the exercise of fervent prayer. Praying is the immediate and direct means of imploring the Divine assistance and protection. Faith is the habitual principle, and prayer is the actual application of it. Though God knows all our wants perfectly, He requires that we implore His assistance by prayer. And prayer is the natural remedy to which all are ready to fly in extremity.

In Paul's last known communication, he explained to Timothy that because he was a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the gospel, he had experienced suffering. But he quickly added that he was not ashamed for (and I loosely paraphrase) he had "run" into the strong tower of the LORD, writing...

"for I know Whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." (2Ti 1:12-note)

Paul expressed an unshaken confidence in the LORD's ability to do what he trusted Him to do. He not only knew the truth about the LORD (the Strong Tower) but he had become firmly convinced of this truth. There is practical difference between knowing truth of God's Names and being convinced of the truth.

The difference is that we hold the former
While the latter holds us!

Until the Word of Truth (the Name of God), becomes not just something we hold, but rather something which holds us, then we will likely not fully experience all that is available in the strong tower when the winds of adversity begin to blow.

How can we be as "convinced" as Paul was?

We must first know the truth about God's Name and then we must obediently "traffic in that truth" by faith not by sight. Like Peter (at least momentarily), we need to look at Jesus rather than at the threatening waves in our life. God will give us ample practical exercises to work out this truth, so that we can one day say as Paul did...

"Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11, 12, 13-note)

Paul had learned the secret of the strong tower of Jehovah and we can do the same beloved.

6) What does it mean to be "safe" in the Name of the LORD?

Safe (7682) (Hebrew = sagab) and is used 20 times in the NAS (Deut. 2:36; Job 5:11; 36:22; Ps. 20:1; 59:1; 69:29; 91:14; 107:41; 139:6; 148:13; Prov. 18:10, 11; 29:25; Isa. 2:11, 17; 9:11; 12:4; 26:5; 30:13; 33:5) and is translated in the NAS as "exalted, 7; high, 4; lifted, 1; raises, 1; safe, 1; securely on high, 1; set him securely on high, 1; set me securely on high, 2; set you securely on high, 1; sets the securely, 1; unassailable, 1."

With this definition we can "amplify" the meaning of Proverbs 18:10 as follows

The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe or set securely on high above the difficult circumstances, afflictions, persecutions, etc. The circumstances may still be present (and in my experience often are) but one's perspective is altered as the one in the strong tower of Jehovah views those circumstances from "above the fray" even though still surrounded by it. Where do you run when trouble comes? Who do you go to seek respite and comfort? The righteous run to the Name of the LORD. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble, to those who are willing to run to Him and to cry to Him. The safety and security of the righteous is dependent on the trustworthiness of God’s Names, which are but a reflection of His righteous, unchangeable character. Ultimately only Jehovah (His Name) is the real source of safety and security.

One wonders if being set securely on high has any parallel with our position in Christ, a truth Paul explained to the saints at Ephesus stating that God has "and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus" (Ep 2:6-note)

Another parallel thought is Paul's instruction to the saints at Colossae reminding them "you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3:1, 2, 3-notes Col 3:1; 3:2; 3:3) These are profound truths worth taking time to ponder and meditate upon (or click here).

The Preacher's Commentary has the following comment on Proverbs 18:10...

Safety in danger is what He offers as well as deliverance in battle. His very “name,” that is, His person revered for majesty, power, and truth, is like the “strong tower” of a fort. Those who are loyal to His will and ways (“the righteous”) eagerly “run” to that name and find themselves as “safe” as though they were surrounded by high, insurmountable walls. This metaphor for dependence on God is colorful indeed in the context of a tiny land, always vulnerable not only to threat of major powers from the valleys of the Nile or the Tigris-Euphrates but also to opportunistic neighbors like Edomites and Philistines. A secure refuge in times of assault was indispensable. Whatever attack life hurled at them could not threaten the strong name of the everlasting Lord. Confidence in God was never misplaced." (Hubbard, D. A., & Ogilvie, L. J. The Preacher's Commentary Series, Volume 15 : Page 242. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson)

The Pulpit Commentary adds that

The Name of the Lord signifies all that God is in Himself — His attributes, His love, mercy, power, knowledge; which allow man to regard Him as a sure Refuge. “Thou hast been a Shelter for me,” says the psalmist (Psalm 61:3), “and a strong Tower from the enemy.” The words bring before us a picture of a capitol, or central fortress, in which, at times of danger, the surrounding population could take refuge. Into this Name we Christians are baptized; and trusting in it, and doing the duties to which our profession calls, with faith and prayer, we are safe in the storms of life and the attacks of spiritual enemies.

C H Spurgeon comments...

The believer in his high days {and they ought to be every day) is like an eagle perched aloft on a towering crag. Yonder is a hunter down below, who would fain strike the royal bird; he has his rifle with him, but his rifle would not reach one-third of the way. So the royal bird looks down upon him in quiet contempt, not intending even to take the trouble to stretch one of his wings, for he is quite safe, he is up aloft. Such is the faithful Christian’s state before God.

We can also glean some insights by reading Proverbs 18:10 in context:

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe.

11 A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his own imagination.

Solomon clearly meant these juxtaposed verses to bring out a contrast and he even used some of the same Hebrew words (strong = oz // safe = high = sagab) to highlight the contrast. The righteous man's strength is found in God. The ungodly man's strength in wealth. The righteous man is safe in God's strong tower. The ungodly man imagines he is safe enclosed by a high, secure wall of wealth.

Lane comments on the contrast writing that...

"The rich man feels he is more secure than ‘the righteous’... ‘The name of the Lord’ is only words but he has tangible money and goods. ‘The righteous’ has ‘a strong tower’ but the rich has a whole fortified city. ‘The righteous’ is placed in a room at the top of the tower which will have steps up to it and which an enemy can climb, but the rich is behind an unscalable wall. True as all this is, the security of it is something they imagine. He might accuse ‘the righteous’ of living in an unreal world, trusting a God he can’t see, hear or touch, while the rich has visible money and solid city walls. In fact, money, goods and fortifications are vulnerable commodities (Mt 6:19). Even if he retains them throughout his life they won’t keep him from death and the judgment of God (Luke 12:19, 20, 21). On the other hand, God is eternal and faith which rests on him is for ever (Isaiah 26:4)." (Lane, E. Focus on the Bible: Proverbs)

If we are honest, each of us would admit that we have our "strong cities" that we tend to trust in rather than choosing to run first into the strong tower of God's Name. When we place our trust in anything other than God's Name (and all it entails), that which we trust becomes to us our "strong city" which may seem "real" but is in fact imaginary. Solomon is not saying we are to disregard the usual means of supply God has provided. It means we must not trust in them in place of trusting in God. A mark of Christian maturity is to continually trust the Lord in the minutiae of daily life. If we learn to trust God in the minor adversities, we will be better prepared to trust Him in the major ones. But whether the difficulty is major or minor, we must choose to trust God. God will not force us to run into His strong tower, but He will allow circumstances that encourage us to cease relying on our "strong cities" (whatever they might be) and choose to run into His strong tower! Beloved, the more you know God's Name, the more you will trust and believe Him.

Click here for more detailed discussion of the comparison of these two verses, Proverbs 18:10-11 by Alexander Maclaren: "Two Defenses: Real or Imaginary"

What is the contrast in these two verses?

A "strong tower" is a direct contrast with a "strong city", the former a metaphor for the name of the LORD, the latter a metaphor for personal wealth.

Below are some of the other uses of the Hebrew verb sagab to help understand the meaning of the Hebrew verb sagab.

Moses records that

From Aroer which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon and from the city which is in the valley, even to Gilead, there was no city that was too high (sagab) for us; the LORD our God delivered all over to us. (Deuteronomy 2:36)

In Job we read that God...

sets on high those who are lowly (humble), and those who mourn are lifted (sagab) to safety (Hebrew = yesha' = deliverance, protection that produces freedom from present danger) (Job 5:11)

Insights into Meaning of "Sagab"
From the Psalms

Psalm 20:1

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble (Hebrew = tsarah meaning anything narrow or confining = a situation or a time of extreme discomfort with focus on the emotional pain of the distress; Lxx = thlipsis = originally meant crushing beneath a weight)! May the Name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high (sagab)!

The “Name” speaks of both the authority and the presence of the person. “The name of the God of Jacob” refers to the God of the patriarch whose family was delivered from Egypt. The KJV translates "sagab" as "defend". The request that God “defend” literally means “to set on high” and so to place in a defensible position against enemies as the "God of Jacob" did for Israel in the Exodus. This is a great passage for we all at one time or another need the Lord’s protection in the “day of trouble.”

Spurgeon commenting on this verse writes that

The Name of the God of Jacob defend thee; or, as some read it, "set thee in a high place." By the Name is meant the revealed character and Word of God; we are not to worship "the unknown God," but we should seek to know the covenant God of Jacob, Who has been pleased to reveal His Name and attributes to His people. There may be much in a royal name, or a learned name, or a venerable name, but it will be a theme for heavenly scholarship to discover all that is contained in the Divine Name. The glorious power of God defended and preserved the Lord Jesus through the battle of His life and death, and exalted Him above all His enemies. His warfare is now accomplished in His own proper person, but in His mystical body, the church, He is still beset with dangers, and only the eternal arm of our God in covenant can defend the soldiers of the cross, and set them on high out of the reach of their foes. The day of trouble is not over, the pleading Saviour is not silent, and the Name of the God of Israel is still the defence of the faithful. The Name, God of Jacob, is suggestive; Jacob had his day of trouble, he wrestled, was heard, was defended, and in due time was set on high, and his God is our God still, the same God to all his "wrestling Jacobs". The whole verse is a very fitting benediction to be pronounced by a gracious heart over a child, a friend, or a minister, in prospect of trial; it includes both temporal and spiritual protection, and directs the mind to the great source of all good. How delightful to believe that our heavenly Father has pronounced it upon our favoured heads! (Bolding added)

Psalm 20 refers to God's Name two other times:

Psalm 20:5

We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions

Psalm 20:7

Some boast in chariots, and some in horses but we will boast (KJV translates it "remember". The Hebrew verb zakar conveys basic idea of mentioning or recalling something, in this case God's Name, either silently, out loud or by means of a memorial sign. It means to remember, to think about, to think on [sounds somewhat like meditating on His Name]. Do you from time to time, take a moment and recall His Name, taking a mental inventory of what that name signifies? It is a healthy practice to acquire.) in the Name of the Lord, our God. (Comment: Once again, as in Pr 18:10, 11, we see a striking contrast between God's provision [His Name] and man's provision [chariots, horses] for victory.)

Williams has summarized the significance of the 3 references to God's Name in Psalm 20 as

The Defending Name
The Displayed Name
The Delivering Name

Warren Wiersbe commenting on Psalm 20 adds the following practical thought...

David wrote, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7). The big question is, What are you trusting today? Everybody trusts in or believes in something. Some people trust in their money or credit cards. Some trust in their strength or expertise or experience. Psalm 20:1 and Psalm 20:2 say, "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you; may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion."

The Christian trusts in the Lord, and he exemplifies this trust by praying. When we are in trouble, what we do to solve our problems and turn our trouble into triumph is evidence of what or whom we're trusting. When the day of trouble arrives, some people reach for their checkbooks. They think money will solve their problems. Others reach for the telephone. They look to friends to solve their problems. While "some trust in chariots, and some in horses," Christians remember the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:7).

Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and we should not be afraid to let people know about it. "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners!" (Psalm 20:5). In other words, we do not hesitate to wave the banner of faith because He will not fail us. God's name is good. "The name of the God of Jacob defend you" (Psalm 20:1). Take time to trust the Lord. Roll your burden on Him. Get your strength from Him. Wave your banner in the name of the Lord, and He will turn your burden into a blessing. Where do you place your trust? Whereas wealth and others fail you, Jesus never fails. Take whatever burden you are carrying today and give it to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will work on your behalf. (in his devotional on the Psalms which I highly recommend entitled Prayer, praise & promises).

Psalm 59:1

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Set me securely on high (sagab) away from those who rise up against me.

Spurgeon comments: Deliver me from mine enemies, O my God. They were all round the house with the warrant of authority, and a force equal to the carrying of it out. He was to be taken dead or alive, well or ill, and carried to the slaughter. No prowess could avail him to break the cordon of armed men, neither could any eloquence stay the hand of his bloody persecutor. He was taken like a bird in a net, and no friend was near to set him free. Unlike the famous starling, he did not cry, "I cannot get out," but his faith uttered quite another note. Unbelief would have suggested that prayer was a waste of breath, but not so thought the good man, for he makes it his sole resort. He cries for deliverance and leaves ways and means with his God.

Defend me from them that rise up against me. Saul was a king, and therefore sat in high places, and used all his authority to crush David; the persecuted one therefore beseeches the Lord to set him on high also, only in another sense. He asks to be lifted up, as into a lofty tower, beyond the reach of his adversary. Note how he sets the title, My God, over against the word, mine enemies. This is the right method of effectually catching and quenching the fiery darts of the enemy upon the shield of faith. God is our God, and therefore deliverance and defence are ours.

In this use and the following psalm, the psalmist offers up a specific petition to be placed above the enemies, affliction and pain.

Psalm 69:29

I am afflicted and in pain. May Your salvation, O God, set me securely on high (sagab).

Spurgeon comments: How fully has this been answered in our great Master’s case, for he not only escaped his foes personally, but he had become the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and this continues to glorify him more and more. O poor and sorrowful ones, lift up your heads, for as with your Lord so will it be with you. You are trodden down today, but you will ride upon the high places of the earth ere long, and even now you are raised up together, and made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 91:14

Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high (sagab), because he has known My name.

Spurgeon comments: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. The man has known the attributes of God so as to trust in him, and then by experience has arrived at a yet deeper knowledge, this shall be regarded by the Lord as a pledge of his grace, and he will set the owner of it above danger or fear, where he shall dwell in peace and joy. None abide in intimate fellowship with God unless they possess a warm affection towards God, and an intelligent trust in him; these gifts of grace are precious in Jehovah's eyes, and wherever he sees them he smiles upon them. How elevated is the standing which the Lord gives to the believer. We ought to covet it right earnestly. If we climb on high it may be dangerous, but if God sets us there it is glorious.

Psalm 107:41

But He sets the needy securely on high (sagab) away from affliction, And makes his families like a flock.

As you read these other uses of sagab you can begin to discern what it means to be safe in Proverbs 18:10.

As noted the definition of Sagab indicates this verb is often associated with the picture of "height" and in fact is sometimes even translated "exalted" (Ps 148:13).

The idea of Sagab is to be to make lofty and inaccessible and therefore by figurative extension it means to make safe, strong, secure -- the picture of one who is placed securely on high.

Doesn't this simple Hebrew Word Study give added insights into how the Name of the LORD is our Strong Tower where we can be SAFE?

As an aside, another rich resource is Torrey's Topic on "Protection" which has an entire page of encouraging Scriptures on the protecting hand of Jehovah.

If you are anxious or fearful, run to the truth in His Eternal Pure Tested Word and rest secure in His omnipotent hand of protection. (Click here for Biblical insights into How to Handle Fear)

Remember that God Himself has given you His word in His covenant promise that

I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU (He 13:5-note - Read Spurgeon's note Spurgeon's 2nd note)

One Scripture Torrey lists that is especially relevant to the study of the Name of God is is this wonderful prayer in Psalm 5:11-note):

Psalm 5:11:

But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad (joyful). Let them ever sing for joy and may Thee shelter them, that those who love Your NAME may exult (Hebrew = jump for joy, rejoice) in You.

Spurgeon comments on Psalm 5:11...

Joy is the privilege of the believer. When sinners are destroyed our rejoicing shall be full. They laugh first and weep ever after; we weep now, but shall rejoice eternally. When they howl we shall shout, and as they must groan for ever, so shall we ever shout for joy. This holy bliss of ours has a firm foundation, for, O Lord, we are joyful in thee. The eternal God is the well spring of our bliss. We love God, and therefore we delight in him. Our heart is at ease in our God. We fare sumptuously every day because we feed on him. We have music in the house, music in the heart, and music in heaven, for the Lord Jehovah is our strength and our song; he also is become our salvation." (Treasury of David):

Wiersbe adds that...

Joy comes from trusting in and loving the Lord. This kind of joy comes from God's work on the inside, not from circumstances on the outside. (Prayer, Praise and Promises)

For some additional insight into the power of the LORD's Name when you are walking through the "dark night of the soul" carefully observe the truths (especially the verbs) in Isaiah 50:10

Isaiah 50:10...

Who is among you that fears the LORD (Jehovah), that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him TRUST in the Name of the LORD and RELY on his God. (Elohim)

When one finds themselves in the darkness what are Isaiah's two exhortations?

(1) First, trust in the Name Jehovah Who is the great I Am...the One to Whom we are bound by everlasting covenant and Who is "I Am...I Am anything and everything you will ever need, even in the darkness."

(2) Secondly, if we truly "trust" the Name Jehovah, we will manifest that trust by "relying" on Him.

What does it mean to "RELY" on God?

RELY in Isaiah 50:10 is the Hebrew word sha'an which is elsewhere translated as "steadfast" (see Isa 26:3).

One of the most profitable ways to gain insight into the meaning of a word in both the Old and New Testaments is to observe the other Scriptural occurrences of that same Greek or Hebrew word (in context). (Click here for discussion of how to do a Greek Word Study on the Web)

Let's do a simple study on sha'an to provide an example of a "technique" that you can easily apply to study any word in Scripture.

First, you must have access to Strong's definitions so go to our "Reference Search" page and enter your verse in "Verse Look Up" at the top of the page (be sure you are using "NAS with Strong's Numbers").

Enter "Isa 50:10" and you retrieve the verse as show directly above where every underlined word links to the corresponding Strong's definition.

Now click on "RELY" (Hebrew sha'an) and note that after a brief definition there is a section entitled "Verse Count" which lists the 22 uses of sha'an in Scripture (see below).

Clicking each use will bring up the verse with the English word highlighted. To save time I've observed all 22 uses and found the uses in Green to be those that have the most potential for additional insights (but check out all of the uses if you have time).

Hebrew Word Sha'an Verse Count
KJV		NAS
	Genesis 1 Numbers 1 Judges 1 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 4 Job 2 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 4 Ezekiel 1 Micah 1		Genesis 1 Numbers 1 Judges 1 2 Samuel 1 2 Kings 3 2 Chronicles 4 Job 2 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 4 Ezekiel 1 Micah 1
Sha'an - 20 verses - Ge 18:4; Nu 21:15; Jdg 16:26; 2Sa 1:6; 2Ki 5:18; 7:2, 17; 2Chr 13:18; 14:11; 16:7, 8; Job 8:15; 24:23; Pr 3:5; Is 10:20; 30:12; 31:1; 50:10; Ezek 29:7; Mic 3:11

Now let's work our way through the list -- can you glean any insight from the use of sha'an in Ge 18:4 (translated "rest")?

What do you glean from the use in Proverbs 3:5 ("lean")?

Are there any additional insights from Isaiah 31:1 ("rely")?

Finally, observe Judges 16:26 for the literal meaning of sha'an (lean).

Judges 16:26

Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, "Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may LEAN against them."

Does this literal picture give you any added sense of what Isaiah is instructing us to do when we are walking in darkness (spiritually)?

What an incredible picture of placing one's weight and one's burden totally upon God, our Elohim, leaning on the Everlasting arms of the Omnipotent One. This truth can "enlighten" our minds spiritually, no matter how "dark" are our present circumstances! (see also Peace - Shalom)

What a perspective this great truth about "relying on God" gives to the hymn Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. Note especially the chorus "safe & secure from all alarms". (click below to play midi hymn & worship Him).

All of us at one time must walk in darkness where there is no light. We are all either in the midst of a fiery trial, just coming out of one or just about to go into one, so the question for application is...

"WHO ARE YOU LEANING ON TODAY?

...His everlasting arms?
OR
...your own understanding?"