THE SACRED NAME
Vance
Ferrell
"In
order to strengthen our confidence in God, Christ teaches us to address
Him by a new name, a name entwined with the dearest associations of the
human heart. He gives us the privilege of calling the infinite God our
Father. This name, spoken to Him and of Him, is a sign of our love and
trust toward Him, and a pledge of His regard and relationship to us.
Spoken when asking His favor or blessing, it is as music in His ears.
That we might not think it presumption to call Him by this name, He has
repeated it again and again. He desires us to become familiar with the
appellation. "-Christ's Object Lessons, 141, 142.
"Then
press your petition to the Father in the name of Jesus. God will honor
that name."-Christ's Object Lessons, 147, 148.
"Let
us study the life and death of Christ. Let us do all in our power to
work out the plan of God. What tongue can tell, what pen unfold, the
mighty results of looking to Jesus and living His life? How few of those
claiming to be Christians have any real right to that sacred name.- The
Upward Look, 200.
"Heaven
is a clean and holy place. God is pure and holy. All who come into His
presence should take heed to His directions, and have the body and the
clothing in a pure, clean condition, thus showing respect to themselves
and to Him. The heart must also be sanctified. Those who do this will
not dishonor His sacred name by worshiping Him while their hearts are
polluted and their apparel is untidy."-Sons and Daughters of God,
173.
Contents
- God's
Name Is Sacred
- He
Has Many Names
- The
Name of God Should Be Hallowed
- The
Meaning of the Third Commandment
- When
Something Becomes Too Sacred
- When
a Word Becomes Too Sacred
- Character
Is the Issue
- The
Unknown Name
- Why
Speak an Ineffable Name?
- Believing
the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy
- Why
Not Use the Alternate Names?
- Some
Questions Discussed
- The
Ineffable Name
- The
Hebrew Language
- YHWH
in the Bible
- The
Meaning of Exodus 6:2-3
- The
Hebrew and Greek for "God" in the KJV
- The
Hebrew and Greek for "Lord" in the KJV
- The
Primary Names of God in the Old Testament
- The
Names of God and Christ in the KJV
- Additional
Quotations
THE
SACRED NAME-
Is
the name of God sacred? What are we told about this important subject?
We are thankful for the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. We can be sure
that we would find our answer in those writings. However, there are
historical facts, which should provide some useful help.
1
GOD'S NAME IS SACRED
Although
we may or may not believe the Sacred Name theory, we can very definitely
believe in the sacredness of the Creator's name. It is sacred for two
reasons:
First,
although no man's name is sacred, His name is different. The sheer
magnitude of all that our Creator is and all that He can do should
properly awe us into deep humility.
Second,
we are specifically told about that sacredness in His Word:
"May
14, 1851, I saw the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. As I beheld His
glory, the thought did not occur to me that I should ever be separated
from His presence. I saw a light coming from the glory that encircled
the Father, and as it approached near to me, my body trembled and shook
like a leaf. I thought that if it should come near me I would be struck
out of existence, but the light passed me. Then could I have some sense
of the great and terrible God with whom we have to do. I saw then what
faint views some have of the holiness of God, and how much they take His
holy and reverend name in vain, without realizing that it is God, the
great and terrible God, of whom they are speaking. While praying, many
use careless and irreverent expressions, which grieve the tender Spirit
of the Lord and cause their petitions to be shut out of heaven."
-Early Writings. 70.
"I
saw that God's name should be used with reverence and awe. The words God
Almighty are coupled together and used by some in prayer in a careless,
thoughtless manner, which is displeasing to Him. Such have no realizing
sense of God or the truth, or they would not speak so irreverently of
the great and dreadful God, who is soon to judge them in the last day.
Said the angel, 'Couple them not together; for fearful is His name:
Those who realize the greatness and majesty of God, will take His name
on their lips with holy awe. He dwelleth in light unapproachable; no man
can see Him and live. I saw that these things will have to be understood
and corrected before the church can prosper." -Early Writings, 122.
It
is clear that the name of our God is sacred. How should we relate to it?
In the above two passages we are told how this should be done: (1) We
should take it upon our lips when necessary, but not more often than
necessary. (2) We should both think and speak of it amid an attitude of
reverence. For this reason, the present writer tries not mention the
Creator's name any more than is necessary. And what is that name?
According to the above passage, when communicating to fellow human
beings in English that name is God.
2
HE HAS MANY NAMES
The
Wonderful One who made us has many names. He has, in Scripture, given us
a variety of names by which to speak of, and to,
Him.
The present writer prefers to especially use that one which is so very
personal, and so very sweet. We find it discussed in Matthew 5:6:
"After
this manner therefore pray ye: 'Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed
be Thy name.'"-Matthew 6:9.
In
this passage (and in Luke 11 :2), Jesus explains to all who would be His
disciples the name by which they should pray to their Maker: "Our
Father."
What
a most wonderful name! And how very accurate! He is such a very good
Father; He made us and continually provides us with countless blessings.
Lest you think that the first verse of the Lord's Prayer is a slip of
the tongue, Jesus repeats that name both before and after giving that
prayer to us, His disciples (see Matthew 6:6 and 6:14-15). Indeed, the
Ruler of the universe is called our "Father" 12 times in this
one chapter alone! Read it for yourself (Matthew 6).
In
fact, you will find that the appellation, "Father," is the
name given to Him 256 times in the New Testament! Throughout the four
Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation He is called our Father.
(He is called "the Father," "my Father," or
"our Father" in every one of the New Testament books, except 3
John.)
In
the Spirit of Prophecy, we also find very clear evidence that this is a
special name we may refer to Him by:
"In
calling God our father, we recognize all His children as our brethren. .
The infinite God. said Jesus, makes it your privilege to approach Him by
the name of Father: Understand all that this implies. No earthly parent
ever pleaded so earnestly with an erring child as He who made you pleads
with the transgressor. No human, loving interest ever followed the
impenitent with such tender invitations." Mount of Blessing, 105.
Read
the entire section in that book, beginning on page 103. This privilege
of calling Him "our Father," brings with it an accompanying responsibility:
"But
if you call God your Father you acknowledge yourselves His children, to
be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things, knowing that
His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As
children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His
work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to
recognize and honor your relation to your Father and to every member of
His family. You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will
tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred."-Mount of
Blessing, 105-106.
Which
people on earth would have a special right to speak of God as their
Father? It would be His commandment-keeping people! The worldlings who
refuse obedience to His law may acknowledge Him as "God," but
they are not revealing, by their lives, that they acknowledge Him as
their "Father." He may, indeed, be their true heavenly Father,
but, by their disobedience to the fourth commandment, are unwilling to
enter into that close relationship, as His sons and daughters, described
in Scripture.
Please
do not misunderstand: We are not here saying that "Father" is
the only name whereby the Creator must be spoken of or to. But it is a
special, personal name. Let no man tell you that only one of His
wonderful names may be used. He has many very meaningful names in
Scripture; we will discuss some of them later in this study. In
addition, when we speak of Him as "Father," we use His other
sacred names ("God," etc.) less frequently in our day-to-day
conversation.
3 THE
NAME OF GOD SHOULD BE HALLOWED
As
quoted in the Early Writings passages above, the name of God should only
be taken upon our lips with reverence. But we can become self-deceived
on this subject of treating His name sacredly. According to God's Word,
we should speak His name with deep reverence, and not use it more than
necessary.
In
view of that fact, it is a strange twist of principle to say that
"using His name sacredly" instead means to never speak His
name in its English translation, but only in Hebrew.
The
question is not whether God's name is sacred, but how are we to relate
to that sacredness. Here is what we are told in the Spirit of Prophecy
about what it means to sacredly regard the name of God:
"To
hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of
the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. 'Holy and reverend is His
name.' Psalm 111:9. We are never in any manner to treat lightly the
titles or appellations of the Deity. In prayer we enter the audience
chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe.
The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright
and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much
more should we, finite, sinful beings. come in a reverent manner before
the Lord, our Maker!"-Mount of Blessing, 106.
So
that is what it means to hallow the name of God!—It is the reverent
way we speak the name. But, as for the particular name, we are not
required to use a particular one of the many given in Scripture,
In addition, God's Word explains that "hallowing His name"
means more than just being reverent when we think, speak, and write it.
To treat the name of our Creator with genuine sacredness—also means to
live like Him! In entering into such reverence, we go beyond mere
words—to our way of life. It involves our very thoughts and actions.
"But
to hallow the name of the Lord means much more than this. We may, like
the Jews in Christ's day manifest the greatest outward reverence for
God. and yet profane His name continually. 'The name of the Lord' is
'merciful and gracious. long-suffering. and abundant in goodness and
truth, . . forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.' Exodus 34:5-7.
Of the church of Christ it is written. 'This is the name wherewith she
shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness: Jeremiah 33: 16. This name
is put upon every follower of Christ. It is the heritage of the child of
God. The family are called after the Father. The prophet Jeremiah, in
the time of Israel's sore distress and tribulation, prayed, 'We are
called by Thy name; leave us not:. Jeremiah 14:9.
"This
name is hallowed by the angels of heaven. by the inhabitants of unfallen
worlds. When you pray. 'Hallowed be Thy name: you ask that it may be
hallowed in this world. hallowed in you. God has acknowledged you before
men and angels as His child; pray that you may do no dishonor to the
'worthy name by which ye are called: James 2:7. God sends you into the
world as His representative. In every act of life you are to make
manifest the name of God. This petition calls upon you to possess His
character. You cannot hallow His name. you cannot represent Him to the
world, unless in life and character you represent the very life and
character of God. This you can do only through the acceptance of the
grace and righteousness of Christ." -Mount of Blessing. 106-107.
4
THE MEANING OF THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
"Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will
not hold Him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." -Exodus 20:7.
"But,"
someone will say, "does not the third commandment require us to use
the Hebrew name for 'God"'?
Our
heavenly Father, in His Inspired Word, has told us exactly what the
third commandment requires us to do:
"This
commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, but it
forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner, without
regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless mention of God in
common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the
frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him. 'Holy
and reverend is His name: Psalm 111:9. All should meditate upon His
majesty, His purity and holiness, that the heart may be impressed with a
sense of His exalted character; and His holy name should be uttered with
reverence and solemnity." -Patriarchs and Prophets, 306-307.
We
are not commanded—anywhere in the Spirit of Prophecy—to only use the
original Hebrew form of one name—or any name—of our Creator. And,
according to the theory, we are told that, whatever our native language,
we must use only one name, and not the many others given us by our Maker
in the Bible. Instead, the focus is on our conduct and "the
thoughtless repetition of His name." From the above quotation we
see that unnecessary repetitions of His holy name should not be done by
us His children. To do so in some contexts can border on a species of
swearing. We are His children and we are indeed to acknowledge ourselves
as His children and servants. But reverence for His awesome majesty,
power, and sovereignty will lead us not to speak His name more than
necessary.
5
WHEN SOMETHING BECOMES TOO SACRED
Man
has a tendency to worship objects instead of his Maker. We should not
concretize something and place it before our attention so thoroughly
that it stands in the place of God. To prevent us from doing that, we
were given the second commandment. Is it possible that we may be making
such an "image" and "likeness," when we insist that
only one word, pronounced in only a certain way, can be used in
reference to our Creator-and then we look upon those who do so as
worshipers of a false god? When a word becomes more sacred than
Christian experience and our likeness to God, then we may be worshiping
the word instead of the One Whom it is supposed to represent. We tend to
worship objects.
The
story of Nehushtan is a powerful example of this. The brazen serpent
represented Christ, and was given to the Israelites in the wilderness as
an object lesson. We all know the story, as given in Numbers 21. Few
things in the Old Testament provided His people with a more solemn
clarification of the sacrifice of Christ. Yet it was God that ought to
be venerated, not the brazen serpent.
That
brazen form was treasured by the people and, in later centuries, became
an object of worship. They took something good and, by making it the
center of their religious life and worship, transformed it into a
hindrance to right living and true worship.
"He
removed the high places. and brake the images. and cut down the groves.
and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for unto
those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called
it Nehushtan."-2 Kings 18:4.
The
brazen serpent was given to the Israelites to teach them a most
important lesson about the work of God for mankind. But. many centuries
later, they began venerating the object! In response, good king Hezekiah
called it what it was: Nehushtan—just "a piece of brass."
We
today can do the same thing to one of His names. It may indeed represent
our Maker and point us to Him. But we dare not transform the name itself
into the seat of worship. Each of God's names in the Bible has a special
meaning. We value each one, as we value all the others. But we are not
to single out one of those names to the exclusion of all the
others—and declare that it is the only one which can be used. No one
in Bible times did that! Nether did Ellen White! All the Inspired
prophets used a variety of names when speaking to or about their
Creator.
In
the original Hebrew, one of the names of God was YHWH. Like all the
other names and appellations of our Maker, it was special. But we are
not to cast out the others, and use that one name exclusively. Nowhere
are we given such an example in the Inspired Writings. Nowhere are we
told that we must only use it in its original Hebrew form.
Is
there not a danger that some of us today may make a nehushtan of a
word? Are we safe in going beyond Scripture, and denouncing those who
believe in "God" and "Jesus Christ" as apostates and
the Antichrist? Think about it.
CONTINUE
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