So – “what’s the big deal?” Some have asked this concerning the Name of the Almighty Creator. In their human reasoning, it seems inconsequential at best, and isn’t even “on their radar.”
So why do we, here at “GBSF” (Green Bay Sabbath Fellowship), and brethren at several other Assemblies around the world – albeit, yes – comparatively a “little flock” on this earth – insist on using only Yahweh’s (YHWH) true Name and not common titles for Him, such as “L-ord” or “G-d”? (These two titles specifically, are derived from the names of early false gods anyway).
What does the Bible have to say about it? Let’s begin with a few key verses;
Proverbs 30:4 “Who has gone up to the heavens and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is His Name, and what is His Son’s Name, If you know it?”
Isaiah 42:8 & 52:6 “I am , that is My Name, and My esteem I do not give to another, nor My praise to idols.”
“Therefore, My people shall know My Name, in that day, for I am the One who is speaking. See, it is I.”
John 17:11-12 (Yahshua speaking in prayer to the Father); “And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Set-apart Father, guard them in Your Name which You have given Me, so that they might be one, as We are. “When I was with them in the world, I was guarding them in Your Name which You have given Me, and I watched over them, and not one of them perished except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be filled.”
Revelation 14:1 “And I looked and saw a Lamb standing on Mount Tsiyon, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father’s Name written upon their foreheads.”
Surely, considering these scriptures alone, there is great importance to the Almighty Creator’s Name!
In the Bible, there are many more verses in which we are told to: Love, Bless, Call on, Publish, Sing to, Think on, Mention, Give thanks to, Magnify, Praise, Sacrifice offering to, Confess, Declare, Glorify Make known, Remember, Think on, Exalt, Trust in, Honor, Not despise and Acknowledge – The Name Yahweh / YHWH, and here are some references for these examples that you can look up yourself! (Psalms 145:21, 99:6, 34:3, 106:47, 5:11, 69:30 & 34-36, 116:13 & 17, 9:1-2), (1 Chronicles 16:9-10 & 2 Chronicles 2:1-6 & 6:24=25), (Exodus 3:15), (1 Kings 8:33 & 35=36), (2 Samuel 22:50), (Isaiah 12:2 & 4, 26:13 & 50:10), (Malachi 1:6 & 3:16), (Romans 9:17), (Hebrews 2:12) and (John 17:2).
So, why do so many deny His Name? Are they blind? Well, in a sense, yes, they are – until out Loving Father Yahweh decides to open their minds; “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.” (John 6:44; see also John 6:65). “But though He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Yeshayahu the prophet might be filled, which he spoke, “, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of been revealed?” Because of this they were unable to believe, because again Yeshayahu said: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, so that they should not see with their eyes and understand with their heart, and turn, [repent]and I should heal them.” (John 12:37-40). “In whom the mighty one of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so that the enlightening of the Good News of the esteem of Messiah, who is the likeness of Elohim, does not shine on them. For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Messiah the Master, and ourselves your servants for the sake of . For Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in the face of Messiah. And we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:4-7).
Now we’ve established the use of Yahweh’s Name – but what does the Bible say about not using other names? ie; “common titles” to refer to Him? Let’s take a look…“And I will set My face against that man and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane My holy Name.” (Leviticus 20:3)
“I am YHWH: that is my Name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith YHWH of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.” (Malachi 2:1-2) These are just a few examples, and you can find several more scriptures about this in your own Bible.
Lastly, what about the third Commandment? “You shall not take the name of YHWH your Elohim in vain, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7) Well, that word vain actually means “to bring to nothing.” When the Israelites were coming out of the Babylonian captivity in the 5th & 4th century BC, they wanted very much to try to really keep the commandments – so much so that they decided that the best way to keep this one was not to utter Yahweh’s Name at all! Eventually, this led to His Name being “brought to nothing” by being changed to “the L-RD” in almost all bibles! That certainly did bring it “to nothing” and cover it up for many years.
So, hopefully this short study will be a “jumping-off” point for you in learning more about the Almighty Creator Yahweh’s true Name. After all, we refer to one another by our names! Shouldn’t the Maker of the universe be afforded the same and so much more?! Shalom.