Why are the names of God important? Each name of God explains an aspect of God's character, who He is.
"Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
"Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:10
This is a promise! Knowing God's names affects how we pray, why we pray, when we pray.
Creator of the Universe= Elohim
"In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God (Elohim),
and they will be my people." Jeremiah 31:33
The Creator still is active creating, still knows His creation, knows what is going on. He knows us. He is as active today as he ever was.
"You have searched me, Lord (Elohim)
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain." Psalm 139:1-6
If we discount the value of a person, we are insulting God.
The Lord Almighty -- El Shaddai
"But his bow remained steady,
his strong arms stayed[a] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of your father’s God, who helps you,
because of the Almighty,[b] who blesses you
with blessings of the skies above,
blessings of the deep springs below,
blessings of the breast and womb.
26 Your father’s blessings are greater
than the blessings of the ancient mountains,
than[c] the bounty of the age-old hills.
Let all these rest on the head of Joseph,
on the brow of the prince among[d] his brothers." Genesis 49:24-26
El Rohi -- The Shepherd, El Sal'l -- God the Rock (all three are found in this Genesis passage)
Jehova Jireh -- God will provide
So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14
We trust He will provide in His time -- the perfect time. Right now I don't know the answer, but God will provide. Or, I am facing the worst possible scenerio, but God will come through. He will provide.
"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
This was God's ultimate provision!
Jesus is not historical. Jesus is current. He is alive.
God of Peace -- Jehova Shalom -- Yahweh is Peace
"So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites." Judges 6:24
God chooses to be peaceful.
"You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
4 Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Be careful now!
El kanna -- Jealous God.
God will not tolerate something between us and Him. God will not tolerate us serving him and another thing.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me," Exodus 20:5
14 Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Exodus 34:14
Judgment Day -- are you His or not? There is no halfway in this. You believe or don't.
YHWH -- Yahweh -- Jevoha
This name God gave Himself -- "I am that I am."
"Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress." Psalm 103:13
Abba Father -- Dad.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[a] And by him we cry, “Abba,[b] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:14-16