The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
I Samuel 17:45
The Name of the Lord was David’s strength. According to the Bible a Name reveals character and attributes of a person. Adam gave names to animals and birds as he looked at them and perceived their nature. He gave name to his helpmate also. Man experienced the attributes of God and he expressed his relationship with God through the names he called God. Abraham met God in His glory and set out from his home in Ur to reach the place where God was leading him to. God introduced Himself as El Shaddai, the Almighty. He called God Adonai, the master as He was his Shield and his Exceedingly great reward. At mount Moriah Abraham called Him Jehovah Jireh as God provided a lamb to sacrifice in place of his son Isaac.
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
Genesis 22:13-14
Moses wondered how he could identify the Lord before the Israelites.
Moses asked the Lord, what he could call Him and what should he tell the people about who was sending him. The Lord answered ” I am that I am”, the One who is always there. The self Existent. When the Lord brought victory for Israelites over the Amakekites, Moses called Him Jehovah Nissi, the Banner.
For Gideon He was Jehovah Shalom.
Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace.
Judges 6:23-24 NKJV
All these experiences and encounters brought several names to the Lord. David was shepherd and he knew how well the shepherd cares for his sheep and he knew God as his Shepherd. David was a man according to God’s own heart and Jesus introduced Himself to His own people as the Good Shepherd. Israelites were herdsmen and it was their livelihood. God chose them as the special people and He wanted to be their shepherd. God deals with people according to their situations and requirements.
In the Gospel of John Jesus explains the “Great I Am” through seven different anlalogies. In the Old Testament man gives expressions to his comprehension of God. But in the New testament Jesus Himself gives His personal attributes through seven I AM s
- And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
John 6:35 NKJV
2.Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV
3.Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:7 NKJV
4.“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 NKJV
5.Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 11:25 NKJV
6.Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 - 7.Jesus said “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:1, 4
All these analogies are to be perceived in the right spirit and truth. May the Lord Almighty grant us wisdom to know Jesus, Son of God, so that we would proclaim vehemently, with Apostle Thomas “My Lord and My God”.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus. Thank you for the grace you have showered on us. Help us to remain in your love and blessings. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.
Sol. Salomi Kurian