Chapter One
Lord
The Name
The Hebrew name Yahweh (yah-WEH) occurs more than
6,800 times in the Old Testament. It appears in every
book but Esther, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs. Yahweh,
translated "LORD" in many Bibles, is the name that is
most closely linked to God's redeeming acts in the history
of his chosen people. We know who God is because of
how he has acted on behalf of his people. When you pray
to Yahweh this Christmas season, remember that he is the
same God who draws near to save you from sin's tyranny
just as he saved his people from their bondage in Egypt.
The Greek word Kyrios, translated "Lord" in the New
Testament, could also at times be translated as "Yahweh."
As you bow your head this week in prayer before Jesus,
who is the sovereign Lord, remember that you are placing
your life-the worst of your disappointments, the most
protracted of your struggles, the wildest of your dreams-squarely
in his hands. Knowing Jesus as Lord will lead you
to a deeper experience of his presence and his power.
Key Scriptures
God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what
you are to say to the Israelites: `I am has sent me to
you.'"
God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, `The
Lord [Yahweh], the God of your fathers-the God of
Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-has
sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by
which I am to be remembered from generation to generation."Exodus 3:14-15
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every
name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11
Monday
God Reveals His Name
The Scripture Reading
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro
his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the
flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb,
the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord
appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush.
Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not
burn up. So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this
strange sight-why the bush does not burn up."
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to
look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses!
Moses!" .
Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look
at God.
The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my
people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because
of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their
suffering. So I have come down to rescue them
"I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people
the Israelites out of Egypt."
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go
to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be
the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When
you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship
God on this mountain."
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites
and say to them, `The God of your fathers has sent me
to you,' and they ask me, `What is his name?' Then
what shall I tell them?"
God said to Moses, "I am who I am. This is what
you are to say to the Israelites: `I am has sent me to
you.'" .
"The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you
and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to
him, `The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with
us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to
offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.' But I know that
the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty
hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and
strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will
perform among them. After that, he will let you go."
Exodus 3:1-4, 6-8, 10-14, 18-20
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born
to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something
to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death-even death on
a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every
name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:5-11
Prayer
Lord, you are the same, yesterday, today, and forever-a
God who listens to the cries of his people and
who delivers us from our enemies. Thank you not only
for delivering your people from bondage in Egypt but
for delivering your people today from the deepest of
all bondages-from our slavery to sin and death. We
know you now not only as our mighty God but as our
humble Lord, the One who became like us so that we
could become like you.
Understanding the Name
As the sacred, personal name of Israel's God, the Hebrew
name Yahweh was eventually spoken aloud only by priests
worshiping in the Jerusalem temple. After the destruction
of the temple in A.D. 70, the name was not pronounced at
all. Instead, Adonay was substituted for Yahweh whenever
it appeared in the biblical text. Because of this, the correct
pronunciation of this name was eventually lost, and older
translations of the Bible incorrectly translated the name
as Jehovah. Modern English editions of the Bible usually
translate Adonay as "Lord" and Yahweh as "Lord."
Unfortunately, the translation "Lord," which is a
title rather than a name, obscures the personal nature of
this name for God. Though the meaning of Yahweh is
disputed, the mysterious self-description in Exodus 3:14,
"I am who I am," may convey the sense not only that
God is self-existent but that he is always present with his
people. Yahweh is not a God who is remote or aloof but
One who is always near, intervening in history on behalf
of his people. The knowledge of God's proper name
implies a covenant relationship. God's covenant name
is closely associated with his saving acts in Exodus. The
name Yahweh evokes images of God's saving power in the
lives of his people.
Christianity's earliest confession of faith consisted of
three short but incredibly powerful words: "Jesus is Lord!"
The Greek word Kyrios (KU-ree-os) is used in the New
Testament to refer to an owner, emperor, king, father, husband,
or master. In addition to translating the Hebrew
name Yahweh, it can also translate two Hebrew titles of
God: Adonay and Elohim.
When people addressed Jesus as Kyrios or "Lord" in
the Gospels, they were often simply showing respect to
him as a rabbi or teacher, addressing him as "sir" rather
than acknowledging him as God. But after his death and
resurrection, the title "Lord" began to be widely used by
believers.
Remember the apostle Thomas, who at first doubted
accounts of Christ's resurrection? When Jesus appeared
to him after his death, Thomas instinctively responded
with a confession of faith: "My Lord and my God!" (John
20:28). Over time, the title Kyrios began to take on the
characteristics of a name. As such, it clearly identified Jesus
with Yahweh, the covenant name of God in the Hebrew
Scriptures. Of the 717 passages in which Kyrios occurs
in the New Testament, the majority are found in Luke's
Gospel, the Acts of the Apostles, and Paul's writings.
Reflecting on the Name
Look at Exodus 3:1-20
* What does this passage reveal about what was in the
heart of God in regard to his people?
* Moses' reluctance is not hard to understand. Describe
a time when you were similarly reluctant to do something
you thought God was calling you to do.
* Why do you think Moses asked God to reveal his
name?
Look at Philippians 2:5-11
* How does God's idea of greatness differ from the usual
definition?
* How have you experienced Jesus being Lord in your
life?
(Continues.)
