Hallowed Be Thy Name - Part 2470

"Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Stand up and bless the Lord your God for ever and ever: and blessed be Thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." (Nehemiah 9:5)

The question for this day is this -- who is the Lord our God that is, as the scriptures declare, forever and ever? What is His glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise? Certainly, we know that David the psalmist encourages us to praise the Name of the Lord -- as in continually blessing His holy name. For example, David writes, "Let them praise the Name of the LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory [is] above the earth and heaven."(Psalm 148:13)

We similarly understand that God is One Lord from the first commandment (repeated in both the old and the new testaments), which begins -- "Hear O Israel, the Lord thy God is One Lord!" (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)

The scriptures also tell us that God is the Lord of hosts. (I Kings 18:50) And that He is the Lord God of hosts. (I Kings 19:10, 14) "Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and His redeemer the Lord of hosts; "I AM the first, and I AM the last; and beside Me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)

"The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel ..." (I Chronicles 17:24)

"He is the Lord of hosts. (I Kings 18:50)

He is the Lord God of hosts. (I Kings 19:10, 14)

In other places, the Lord of hosts is the King of glory, the God of Jacob -- our refuge.

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah." (Psalm 24:10)

"The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." (Psalm 46:7)

And one cried unto another, and said, "Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." (Isaiah 6:3)

David also identifies God as the Lord, and the Lord as God.

"For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?" (Psalm 18:31)

One Lord God who loved us enough to become our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16)

In terms of His name?

From the old testament -- "And let Thy name be magnified for ever, saying, "The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of Thy servant David be established before Thee. For Thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to Thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath Thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto Thee." (II Samuel 7:27)

From the new testament -- the Name of JESUS -- "No other name under heaven whereby we MUST be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Indeed, Jesus is the one and only name that is above every other name, including the many names God used for Himself throughout the old testament!" (Philippians 2:9) He is the Great I Am. He is the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending.

Yes, He is! And when we know who He is -- His Name Jesus -- for He shall save His people from their sins, we can have a confidence in Him - the God who willingly, after His kindness and love, became our Saviour.

Stand in the offering plate.