The Name of the Lord
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
We tried to think of all the names of God, the other night; and there are just too many….
Jesus, Jehovah, Christ, Adoni, Almighty , Shield, Banner, the God of all grace, the God of peace, the Branch, the Rock, my Shepherd, Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord will provide), the Lord of Hosts, the Way, the Light, the Truth, Counselor, Mediator, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, etc.
But the Name of God, given in scripture at a particular time, or for a particular situation…….is a promise, of what He will do in this situation.
Jehovah means the Eternal, Ever existing, Becoming One….the Eternal God becomes our need.
(In the Old Testament:
Jehovah is linked to many adjectives: Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord our banner), Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord that heals), Jehovah-Shammah (the Lord is there), etc.
And in the New Testament:
Jesus Christ says: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, I am the Light of the world, I am the bread of life, I am the door, I am the good Shepherd, etc.
Jehovah is Christ.)
An example of God, sharing His Name…..and Abraham running into it for safety:
Genesis 15:1 “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy Shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
This was said to Abram (Abraham) after a great battle with four kings, to rescue Lot, his nephew. (Genesis 14:9-15)
Lot had been taken captive from Sodom, when four powerful kings attacked a confederacy of kings, which included Sodom’s king.
The confederacy which included Sodom’s king, was beaten back,….the city had been sacked,…..and Lot had been taken.
When news came to Abraham, he gathered three hundred and eighteen of his trained men,……and went after them.
Abraham’s troop came upon them at night, where he divided his men into two groups….each coming on the opposite side.
They rescued Lot and the other captives, and the goods stolen….quite a large amount of it, and brought them back to a valley outside of Sodom.
There the king of Sodom went out to meet them, and told Abraham to take the goods (gold, silver, etc); and he, the king of Sodom, would take the people back.
But Abraham spoke out boldly here:
Genesis 14:22-24 “And Abram said unto the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth,
That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:
Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
“I will not take a thread or even a shoelace from you. The young men that went with me….they may take a portion….I will not speak for them; but as for me, I have sworn to the Lord, my God….the Most High God, that I will not take anything from you.”
The king of Sodom was a powerful man in those parts…..but God was Abraham’s portion…..His Word was Abraham’s guide.
Psalm 16:5 “The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: Thou maintainest my lot.”
Then….”after these things”:
God speaks to Abraham, telling him of a new way in which he could think about His Might, for himself….
God said, “I am thy Shield”
Abraham might be concerned about reprisals from the kings he had fought….but God would shield him.
(fourteen times the name Shield is used in Psalms)
Psalm 3:3 “But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”
God said, “I am thy exceeding great reward”
Abraham did not need gold or silver from the wicked king of Sodom….for God was His portion.
Paul writes about the riches of God for us:
Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His Ways past finding out!
Ephesians 1:7 “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, and forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,”
Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me whom am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”
Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”
He is all we need, and He promises to be what we need:
Proverbs 18:10 “The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
His Name not only protects….but lifts us up from the situation we are in, by faith,…..to see, what He sees…..He is a “strong tower”…..for His name show us what He is to us.
And the best thing we can do is….run into Him….and be safe.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 