THE LIGHTHOUSE: SHINING GRATITUDE INTO A DARK WORLD

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Today, I am thankful to our Heavenly Father for:

G od centered

R eaders of this blog who

A ppreciate

T ransforming and

I nspirational

T eachings that

U nite

E ternally

S aved

D aughters who

A dore

Y H W H

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I am so thankful for our Holy GOD who allows you and me into relationship with Him.

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The Nelson Bible Dictionary gives us some great information about our Father Jehovah - YHWH:

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One of the most important names for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh, or Jehovah, from the verb "to be," meaning simply but profoundly, "I am who I am," and "I will be who I will be." The four-letter Hebrew word YHWH was the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Ex 3:14). This bush was a vivid symbol of the inexhaustible dynamism of God who burns like a fire with love and righteousness, yet remains the same and never diminishes. Some English translations of the Bible translate the word as Jehovah, while others use Yahweh.

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God is the author of life and salvation. His "I am" expresses the fact that He is the infinite and original personal God who is behind everything and to whom everything must finally be traced. This name, "I am who I am," signals the truth that nothing else defines who God is but God Himself. What He says and does is who He is. The inspired Scriptures are the infallible guide to understanding who God is by what He says about Himself and what He does. Yahweh is the all-powerful and sovereign God who alone defines Himself and establishes truth for His creatures and works for their salvation.

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Moses was called to proclaim deliverance to the people and was told by God, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you' " (Ex 3:14). In the deliverance of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt, God revealed a deeper significance to His name. But He had already disclosed Himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as Yahweh. Each of them had called on the name of the Lord (Yahweh) (Gen 12:8; 13:4; 26:25; Ex 3:15) as the God who protects and blesses. Yet Ex 6:3 shows that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know the fuller meaning of Yahweh, which was to be revealed to Moses and the Hebrew people in the Exodus experience.

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The divine name Yahweh is usually translated LORD in English versions of the Bible, because it became a practice in late Old Testament Judaism not to pronounce the sacred name YHWH, but to say instead "my LORD" (Adonai) - a practice still used today in the synagogue. When the vowels of Adonai were attached to the consonants YHWH in the medieval period, the word Jehovah resulted. Today, many Christians use the word Yahweh, the more original pronunciation, not hesitating to name the divine name since Jesus taught believers to speak in a familiar way to God.

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The following are other names in honor of the LORD in the Old Testament that stem from the basic name of Yahweh:

• Jehovah-jireh - This name is translated as "The-LORD-Will-Provide," commemorating the provision of the ram in place of Isaac for Abraham's sacrifice (Gen 22:14).
• Jehovah-nissi - This name means "The-LORD-Is-My-Banner," in honor of God's defeat of the Amalekites (Ex 17:15).Jehovah-shalom - This phrase means "The-LORD-Is-Peace," the name Gideon gave the altar which he built in Ophrah (Judg 6:24).
• Jehovah-shammah - This phrase expresses the truth that "The-LORD-Is-There," referring to the city which the prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision (Ezek 48:35).
• Jehovah-tsebaoth - This name, translated "The-LORD-of-hosts," was used in the days of David and the prophets, witnessing to God the Savior who is surrounded by His hosts of heavenly power (1 Sam 1:3).
• Jehovah Elohe Israel - This name means "LORD-God-of-Israel," and it appears in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Psalms.
• Other names similar to this are Netsah Israel, "The Strength of Israel" (1 Sam 15:29); and Abir Yisrael "The Mighty One of Israel" (Isa 1:24).
• (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c)1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)