Romeo asks that question as he contemplates Juliet’s bedroom from the back garden (what a creeper). He wants names to mean nothing, because Juliet’s a Capulet, making her part of an enemy clan to his (Montagues). But names end up meaning a lot – it’s part of what follows that ends with them both dead. Names do mean something, starting with the ultimate name – the name of God.
Sure, we give our children fairly random names, because we like the sound (Lemonjello, i.e., Lah-mon-jel-lo) or it’s a family name. But in most cultures, and certainly in the ancient world, names meant something. Authors have always used names as a clue to a character, like Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. Think what it means to have a sham life. She does.
But God’s name is the ultimate example. It is overflowing with significance and meaning. God told Moses his name was, I AM THAT I AM, which we translate from the Hebrew consonants as Yahweh (Jehovah), often indicated in the Bible as THE LORD. What’s going on here?
First, we can point out that it indicates his self-existence – he just is. He had no beginning and will have no end. He just exists.
Also, it points to his self-sufficiency. He needs no one and nothing to be complete or to exist. He just is. That doesn’t work until you factor in the Trinity. A solitary god would have to create in order to have objects for him to act on and with – a subject must have an object. But He has/had/will have Himself, as an object of His love and to fellowship with and to demonstrate concern and to communicate with. He is self—sufficient.
It also indicates His timelessness. He is not trapped in the flow of time – He just is. There is no past or future with God. If He had a past, there would be things that had passed beyond His grasp. If he had a future, there would be things he had not yet experienced. Both situations would leave Him less than complete, and thus not truly God. But as Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:59) He doesn’t say, “I was.” He is fully present in all times and in all places at once. Read Ephesians 3:14-19, and note that Paul puts in four dimensions – breadth and length and height and depth. I don’t think Paul lost track of what he was saying. A modern physicist would say time is the fourth dimension. God is infinite in all directions of space and time. Think about it - whatever you’re facing in your immediate or distant future, He is fully there right now, just as He is here right now.
God’s name also indicates his immutability, the fact he does not change. The writer of Hebrews points out, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) You and I are in a process of becoming, whether it be more mature or richer or poorer or just hungry. He is not becoming – He just is. He does not change. Every promise God gave you in His Word, including His redemption and justification and sanctification, is founded on His immutability. He said it, and He does not change. “God is not a man, that He should lie, neither the son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
Do you begin to understand why the scripture speaks so often of His name? Do you begin to understand why those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved? (Romans 10:13) Or why as many as receive Him, He gave the power to become the children of God, even to those who believe on His name? (John 1:12) Or why we are told, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are
safe”? (Proverbs 18:10) It’s because His name signifies all that He is. The name says it all. When you trust the Name, you’re accepting the person and nature and character of God. In the end, we all must say, “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
Some thoughts to consider:
What does your name mean? What significance might it have for you?
What does it mean to take the LORD’s name in vain? (hint: It means more than using it to swear.)
Why does God forbid that?
What other names of God can you think of? Which have a special meaning for you? Why?
Written By: Tim Barsuhn
