ACTION:  NICKNAMES
         Ask members to introduce themselves to each other and give one or two nicknames they may have had as a child or even   have today. Then ask them to explain what the nicknames meant.

INTRO: We will be studying the various names of God. Just as one's  nickname suggests something about the behavior and character of a person, so God's other names reveal much about His character and attributes.

ILL: The Westminster Confession says " Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him  forever". However we can only do this in proportion to how much we know Him. The knowledge of God is more important than the knowledge of anything else. Jesus prayer on our behalf just before He went to Calvary was that we may know God. John 17:3

ACTION: Read Phil. 3:10

QUESTION: What was the goal of Paul's life?

ACTION: Read Ps. 20:7

QUESTION: What are we told here?

           We are told to boast or have confidence in the name of the Lord. How can we do this if  we don't know Him. We must know someone well if we are to have confidence in him. In Biblical   times, a name represented a persons character. God's names represents his character, his  attributes, his nature. To know His names is to know Him.

ACTION: Read  Proverbs 18:10

QUESTION: What is this saying to you today?

           When we are faced with trouble, we are sometimes confused, afraid, panicked. We want    protection and safety. Often we run to the first thing we see for help. When you can't run away any longer where do you go for help? Do you turn to your protector,our strong tower, the One who stands with arms open wide, waiting for you to come to Him.

ACTION: Read  Isaiah 50:10

QUESTION: Where is the basis for our trust found, according to this Scripture?

CONCLUSION:  The study of the names of God will help you to know where to run and find help in time    of need. The Father wants you to know Him better, so that you might trust in the name of the Lord and rely on your God.  In the Bible, God is spoken of under different names. Each given with purpose, to show distinct virtues or characteristics of His nature. The order in which  the names of God appear show purpose and progression, and were designed to meet the developing spiritual life and needs of the children of God.

           I believe that God revealed His names for specific purposes at specific times in the lives of   Israel. And it is important to understand the historical development surrounding the revelation of    the name. As a byproduct of the study of the Names of God you will also receive quite a    thorough history lesson on the OT.

HALLOWED BE THY NAME
        How the Jew's Used God's name throughout history.

QUESTION:  Why should we study the names of God?

 1. A study of the Hebrew names of God is more than a study of His titles. It is also a history of Israel's view of God.

 2. The various names of God  represent a theology of God from the perspective of the Hebrew people.

 3. According to various Jewish encyclopedias, of all the names of God in the OT, the name JEHOVAH or Yahweh is God's
    distinctive personal name. The other names for God are actually titles, descriptions or reflections of His attributes.

 4. In the OT the Jew's believed that the name of God was equivalent to His divine presence or power.

QUESTION: In the OT, how and where was God present to His people?

             The name of the LORD (JEHOVAH) was especially connected with the altar or the Holy of Holies, because that was the localized presence of God in the world. Remember, the Shakinah Glory of God was present in the tabernacle.

 5. The name of Jehovah was so precious that the people were not even to take the name of false gods on their lips. If they did
     they would blaspheme the name of Jehovah by allowing both names to come out  of the same mouth.

ACTION: Read   Ex. 23:13;    Josh. 23:7

 6.  With the increased idolitry surrounding them, the rabbi's  wanted to reinforce their belief in  monotheism, so they recognized
      Jehovah as the only proper name of God.. Eventually the name  Jehovah became too holy to pronounce. The rabbi's
      referred to it as 'the name' '  'the distinguished name' or the Tetragrammaton (for the 4 letters, YHWH).

 7. Eventually, the name Jehovah was pronounced by the priests when blessing the people. Outside the temple they used the
     name Adonai. The name Jehovah was also said 10 times on Yom Kippur ( Day of Atonement ) by the High Priest so  the
     pronunciation would not be forgotten.

 8. Since the name of God was synonymous with holiness to profane the name was a terrible sin. Some rabbis believed that to
     profane the name of God was one of the sins for which there is no forgiveness.

 9. In writing the name Jehovah a scribe when he came to the name Jehovah would stop, take another quill to write only that
     name, then he would destroy the quill so no other word could be written with  the same quill.
 

THE THREE PRIMARY NAMES OF GOD

 1. Elohim             God                Gen. 1:1               Strong Creator
 2. Jehovah           LORD            Gen. 2:4               Self-existing one who reveals himself
 3. Adonai            LORD             Gen. 15:2             The master
 

THE THREE PRIMARY COMPOUND NAMES FOR GOD

 1. Jehovah Elohim         LORD God               Gen. 2:4
 2. Adonai Jehovah        LORD GOD              Gen. 15:2
 3. Adonai Elohim          LORD  God               Dan. 9:3
 

HALLOWING THE NAME TODAY

QUESTION:   What are  some  practical applications  from knowing the names of God.

 1. Cursing is prohibited. The 10 commandments prohibits a person from taking the name of the Lord in vain. When a person
     uses lightly the name of God, he is speaking lightly OF God.

 2. We are to seek God by  name. The bible clearly commands us to 'be still and know that I am God' Knowing  God's names
      is a good way to know God. It reveals to us the nature of His person and His  work.

QUESTION: How can knowing God's names be helpful and advantageous to our  lives ?

 1. Gaining knowledge of ourselves. The bible teaches us that we are created in the image of God. ( Gen. 1:27 ). Therefore the
      more we know about God, the more we learn about ourselves.

 2. Knowing God leads to eternal life.  ( John 17:3 ) It is impossible to know God without being saved. ( Acts. 4:12 )

QUESTION: How powerful is the name of God?       See Phil. 2:9-11

 1. Every knee shall bow to His name: saint and sinner, angel and demon, and even Satan himself.