A Good Name

It has been said “What’s in a name”. If you had to think about your name what comes to mind? A rough way to think about it is brand name. What brands do you trust and which are the ones that you don’t?

Lexham Survey of Theology God’s Metaphorical Names

scripture often employs metaphorical names for God in order to emphasize a certain aspect of his character or of his relationship with humanity. These names utilize imagery in a poetic fashion, relating God with something in the created world.

The Lord Himself values His name

The names of the Lord represent aspects of His character or attributes that He wants to reveal to us.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Jehovah/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 (

Here is one example of The Lord revealing part of His character to us. For more of a talk on this you can refer to The Akedah. The Lord tells Abraham to sacrifice his son and then the Lord provides another way. God did it for very specific reasons and to reveal another father who was going to sacrifice His son 2000 years later. Hosea 12:10 “I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, And used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.”

Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

The Lord does not want His name taken in vain and warns those who will.

When we respect the name of the king I believe that we are more respectable. There are many things that people can discern from the words that we speak. Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

People who don’t take the name of the Lord are often choosy about other words that come out of the mouth as well.

John 14:14 “If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”

Jesus will do anything that is asked in His name which means that He must approve of it. It is like ancient times when the kings seal was on something then you knew it was about the kings business.

It also means that only chosen representatives of the king are able to have this privilege

Many people who are not representatives of the king blame Him when things do not turn out the way that they want.

Some people blame say things in the “Name of God” and aren’t representatives

Any of these scenarios make people stumble and leave many confused.

John 15:16 KJV 1900

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

What about us? How should we value our own name?

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And loving favour rather than silver and gold.”

Ecclesiastes 7:1 “A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”

Our name is supposed to be better than things that are very costly.

What is the value of your name?

What is the price that you are willing to compromise your values and tarnish your name?

The day of death than the day of birth reflects the hopelessness that the preacher felt in the book of Ecclesiastes, but the truth of that statement is something to think about.

If we follow Jesus He will wipe away every tear and we will be with Him.

If we follow the Lord then we will of course have a good name

Romans 8:18 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Whatever the suffering is there is no comparison for the future glory that will be revealed

Whatever the pain whatever the discomfort hold on and stand fast in knowing that we belong to the Lord. The name of the Lord is something that we know has value. He keeps all of his promises. The Lord lays things out in scripture for our learning and we are encouraged to mimic our Lord. I encourage you to value your name as our Lord does.