What A Name

Name of God

Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.”

Importance of Name:

serves as a fundamental tool for identification and individualization, distinguishing one person from another.

It also plays a crucial role in shaping identity, connecting individuals to their culture, family history, and personal values

A name is the most basic way to identify and address someone, allowing for clear communication and interaction

Names are deeply intertwined with our sense of self, shaping how we see ourselves and how others perceive us

A name is often the first part of a person’s identity. It gives a sense of individuality and selfhood.

It can influence how people see themselves and how others treat them (this is known as the “name-letter effect” in psychology

Names often carry cultural and family history, linking individuals to their heritage and lineage.

In some contexts, names are associated with authority, while in others, they represent intimacy and personal connection.

Pope Change their name when selected: symbolic act - reflects spiritual rebirth, humility and continuity with the Church’s history

Spiritual transformation - new mission or identity; leaving behind personal identity in favor of serving as the spiritual leader

Tradition - 6th century with Pope John II (Mercurius) thought having a pagan name was no good

Pope chose names - reflects who they admire/what priorities they want to emphasize

Pope Francis - St Francis of Assisi - focus humility, poverty and care for the marginalized - This choice highlighted Francis' focus on social justice, environmental stewardship, and interfaith dialogue.

Pope John Paul II - honored immediate predecessor, John Paul I - continuity and stability

God change a name - establish a new identity

Abram - high father —> Abraham = father of multitude

Sarai = my princess to Sarah = mother of nations

Jacob = supplanter; Israel = God strives

Simon = God has heard to Peter = Rock

Name of the Lord = Manifested perfections - Psalm 8:1 “O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”

The Name (Ha-Shem, in Hebrew) stands for Jehovah Himself. He is the place of refuge, of shelter, protection and safety for all who in faith turn to Him. In Him is our peace and safety. The Hebrew meaning of “is safe” is “set on high.” Even so if we flee to Him and become His, we are exalted in Him, seated in Christ in heavenly places

name of the Lord” is here equivalent to the person of the Lord

Name (08034) (shem/šēm) is a masculine noun occurring over 864x in the OT (90x in plural) and describes the word or combination of words by which something or someone is called and by means of which it or they can be distinguished or identified. It is a word or term by which a person, place or thing is commonly and distinctively known. Name is a designation that sets a person, place or thing apart from another.

In Bible times a person’s name stood for the person. The name stood for the character and characteristics or "attributes", if you will, of that person.

“name” is that which (1) reveals the true nature of its bearer (1 Samuel 25:25 ““Please do not let my lord pay attention to this worthless man, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name and folly is with him; but I your maidservant did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.” ),

so that to know the name is to know the person (Psalm 9:10 “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” ), or

(2) designates the relationship that exists between entities, especially between God and His people (2 Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ; Isaiah 43:6f ““I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”” ).

Personal names (and even place names) were formed from words that had their own meanings. Thus, the people of the Bible were very conscious of the meaning of names. They believed there was a vital connection between the name and the person it identified. A name somehow represented the nature of the person. This means that the naming of a baby was very important in the Bible. In choosing a name, the parents could reflect the circumstances of the child’s birth, their own feelings, their gratitude to God, their hopes and prayers for the child, and their commitment of the child to God. The name Isaac reflected the “laughter” of his mother at his birth (Ge 21:6). Esau was named “hairy” because of his appearance. Jacob was named “supplanter” because he grasped his brother Esau’s heel (Ge 25:25–26). Moses received his name because he was drawn out of the water: “So she called his name Moses, saying, ‘Because I drew him out of the water’ ” (Ex. 2:10). A popular custom of Bible times was to compose names by using the shortened forms of the divine name El or Ya (Je) as the beginning or ending syllable. Examples of this practice are Elisha, which means “God is salvation”; Daniel, “God is my judge”; Jehoiakim, “the Lord has established”; and Isaiah, “the Lord is salvation.” (Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

GOD'S SHEM (NAME) AND WORSHIP

God's Name is frequently invoked in association with various aspects of worship…

“Praise the Name of the LORD” (Psalm 113:1 “Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord.” ; 135:1; cf. Psalm 148:5 “Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created.” , 13; Joel 2:26);

“To give thanks to the Name of the LORD” (Ps 122:4; cf. Psalm 54:7 “For He has delivered me from all trouble, And my eye has looked with satisfaction upon my enemies.” ; 138:2; 140:14; 142:8),

To give thanks to His holy Name ” (Ps 106:47; 1Chr 16:35)

“Let them give thanks (to) your great and terrible Name , for it is holy” (Psalm 99:3 “Let them praise Your great and awesome name; Holy is He.” );“(They) will fear the Name of the LORD” (Isa 59:19)

“Let him trust in the Name of the LORD” (Isaiah 50:10 “Who is among you that fears the Lord, That obeys the voice of His servant, That walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.” ; cf. Zeph 3:12)

“We trust in His holy Name ” (Psalm 33:21 “For our heart rejoices in Him, Because we trust in His holy name.” );

“To love the Name of the LORD” (Isaiah 56:6 ““Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, To be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath And holds fast My covenant;” ).

“Glorify the LORD…the Name of the LORD” (Isaiah 24:15 “Therefore glorify the Lord in the east, The name of the Lord, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea.” ).

“Great is Your Name in might” (Jeremiah 10:6 “There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might.” )

THE NAME OF GOD:

THREE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES

As you study the Names of God in Scripture, keep in mind the following three principles:

(1) God's Names are His "Self" Revelation to men, the Creator unveiling His character to His creatures. His Names are not the thoughts of men about how they picture God as is the case with pagan deities! At times God reveals His Name in response to a question from man (cp Moses in Ex 3:13 and God's revelation in Ex 3:14) and at other times he simply declares His Name, often in the setting of a time of man's need (e.g., Ge 22:11, 12, 13, 14 - while Abraham named the place Jehovah Jireh, it was a Name reflecting God's revelation of His timely provision of a substitutionary sacrifice!)

(2) God reveals His Names to men so that we might come to know Him personally (See John 17:3 ““This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” ). Each Name is in a sense an invitation to know God more intimately and to grow in relationship with Him. As you study the Names of God, do not forget to ask whether you know Him in your own life by the Name He reveals Himself?

(3) God's revelation of His Names is progressive, so that each Name demonstrates a new aspect or attribute of His glorious Character. As you study His Names, you will find yourself growing in the knowledge of Who God is. At the same time you will (or should) experience a deepening of your faith and increasing trust in His attitude and actions toward you, as you see His attributes revealed in His Names (cp Romans 10:13 “for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” ).

The better God is known the more He is trusted. Those who know Him to be a God of infinite wisdom will trust Him further than they can see Him (Job 35:14); those who know Him to be a God of almighty power will trust Him when creature-confidences fail and they have nothing else to trust to (2Chr. 20:12 "but our eyes are on You"! What a good word!); and those who know Him to be a God of infinite grace and goodness will trust Him though He slay them (Job 13:15 ““Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.” ). Those who know Him to be a God of inviolable truth and faithfulness will rejoice in His word of promise (cp Numbers 23:19 ““God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” , Josh 21:45, 23:14), and rest upon that, though the performance be deferred and intermediate providences seem to contradict it. Those who know Him to be the Father of spirits, and an everlasting Father, will trust Him with their souls as their main care and trust in Him at all times, even to the end.

The more God is trusted the more He is sought unto (Ed: compare "run into"). If we trust God we shall seek Him by faithful and fervent prayer, and by a constant care to approve ourselves to Him in the whole course of our conduct.

God never did, nor ever will, disown or desert any that duly seek to Him and trust in Him (He 13:5-note - Note there are 5 negatives that He will never desert or forsake us!). Though He afflict them, He will not leave them comfortless; though He seem to forsake them for a while, yet He will gather them with everlasting mercies. (Ps 9:10-note)

Remember that whenever you encounter LORD written in all caps (NAS, ESV, KJV, etc), it identifies the English translation of the Hebrew YHWH, the tetragrammaton, which is transliterated into English as "Yahweh" or more commonly Jehovah, His covenant Name by which He made Himself known to Israel.

Many of the proverbs use very figurative language to "paint a picture". In the present passage the Name of the LORD is said to be a strong tower. Obviously this does not refer to a literal tower but is a figurative description to help us understand what God is like. Solomon says He is like a tower and not just any tower but a strong tower (cp Ps 61:3-note where God is compared to a "tower of strength", the same picture as in this proverb). And when Solomon refers to "the name of the LORD" (explained in more detail below), he uses this phrase to stand for the LORD Himself or His attributes. And when he says the "righteous run", the language is again figurative. Clearly the righteous cannot literally run into God, but they can trust Him wholeheartedly, read His Word eagerly, pray to Him without ceasing, etc, all ways a righteous person can "run" into His Name. The idea of run also pictures carrying this out with some degree of haste. These "pictures" are elaborated on more in the following notes.

H A Ironside - The Name of Jehovah stands for the Lord Himself. To run into it, as into a strong tower, is to confide in Him in the time of trouble. This is the blessed privilege of every true saint. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [i.e., garrison] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7-note). All that perplexes and oppresses the human spirit can be poured into God’s ear. Then the soul can leave all burdens with Him and can confide in His love. Thus the heart will be at peace, protected as in a garrisoned tower, however the enemy may rage. See a lovely picture of this in the tower of Thebez (Jdg 9:50-57-note).

In the Bible a name stands for the whole of the character of the person. Many scripture names have meanings in which are enshrined the qualities which belonged to the man. Even among us a name comes to stand for all there is in the person’s life and character. A little child is born without a name, and when a name is given to it it means nothing as yet, for the child has no biography, no character, no personality, has done nothing to individualize itself. But as the days and years go on, and the child grows into manhood, everything he does and all that he is are gathered into his name, until by and by the name has a meaning wherever the man is known; is, as it were, a composite photograph made up of all the phases and aspects of his life. Any man’s name when spoken in the ears of his friends conveys to them a conception of his personality, his character, his disposition, his whole story; all that his is is enshrined in his name. There are certain names in every community that by reason of the noble life which the persons live, or the great or good things they have done, mean a great deal, standing for honor, for patriotism, for heroism, for philanthropy, for beneficence, for religion.

So the name of God includes all that God is and all that he has done, that is, all the revelations which have been made to us of him. When we speak His name there arises before our mind a vision which gathers in itself all that we know about God — all our thoughts of him, our impressions of him, our experiences of His goodness, His mercy, His help. When we mention the name of Jesus Christ, the whole story of His life is suggested to us, — His condescension, His beautiful character, His gentleness, His works of power, His teaching — above all , His atoning death, and then His resurrection and ascension. Thus the name of God stands for God himself, all that God is. In this petition we pray, therefore, not merely for the formal honoring of a name, but for the honoring of God himself in the revelations of him which have been made in the world.

Of course we cannot add a particle to the essential glory of God’s name. Nothing we could do would make His character any more glorious. We cannot add to the sun’s brightness by lighting candles and lamps on the earth; nor can we, by anything we may say or do, make God any more glorious than he is in His essential character. (from The Hollowed Name)

Ancient readers could easily understand the value of a strong tower. Modern readers would not grasp the picture quite as readily (which is why we must always seek [if possible] to interpret Scripture in its cultural and historical context.) The metaphor “strong tower” indicates that God is our secure refuge.

Here is a parallel passage that teaches a similar idea…

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. (Ps 27:5, cp Ps 31:21)

God's name is like a fort that provides protection for the believer. Through this study, we will come to understand the significance of names like Jehovah Rophe or Jehovah Nissi. In each case, we will learn how understanding that name becomes a SPIRITUAL FORTRESS. For example, we will discover that Jehovah Rophe can bring healing, thus turning bitter experiences into sweet. We will find that Jehovah Nissi is a banner of protection that can give us spiritual victory. We will discover that Jehovah Jireh is a God of infinite provision who can meet every need of our lives. As we grow to understand he very nature and character of God we will find ourselves running to His name to find safety and strength. His name is like a strong tower! God's name stands for the manifestation of His presence in His revelation and His relation to His people. This can be one of the most exciting and encouraging studies that you have ever undertaken. It is essential to know God's name because we bear that I f name and we are commanded to live in such a way that will bring it honor. As we come to know the significance of each name, we will enhance the breadth of our ability to praise God and to live in His protection. (The Names of God - Highly Recommended!)

There is a sense in which Jesus has prayed for us to experience the truth of Pr 18:10. In His great prayer in John 17 Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven

I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep (aorist imperative - tereo = watch over them as precious and protect) them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled. (Jn 17:11, 12)

Boice asks: What does it mean to be kept in God's Name? We have already seen a partial answer to this question in our study of John 17:6 ““I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.” . There Jesus said that he had revealed God's Name to those who had been given to Him. We saw in studying that verse that "the name of God" is a Semitic phrase for speaking of God's attributes. To be protected by the Name is therefore to be protected by the One who is sovereign, holy, all-knowing, wise, compassionate, and anything else that can properly be said of God. And there is more, for to be kept "in the name" is not merely to be kept by God, as if He were only some distant force that could be called in to defend us if that were necessary. It is rather that we are actually in Him, much like being in a fortress. Thus, His power and other attributes surround us constantly. Pr 18:10 catches this exactly by saying, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Indeed we are! Can anything touch us when we are safe in that fortress? (Boice Expositional Commentary – John, Volume 4: Peace in Storm John 13-17)

The righteous (Ge 15:6, 32:11,28,29 1Sa 30:6 2Sa 22:45, 46, 47 Ps 56:3,4) - What word do you see in "righteous"? "Right"! The idea then is that righteous describes the person who is "right" with God. In theological terms we called that justified or declared righteous (right). How righteous does a man have to be before God? 100% righteous which is impossible for fallen men to achieve because we always fall short of perfection. The only man who was ever perfect (sinless) was Jesus and belief in His death, burial and resurrection is the only way I can become 100% righteous before God. When I believe in Jesus, His "righteousness" is placed on my "bank account" (imputed) in heaven (so to speak). Stated another way, on the cross, our sins were put on Jesus’ account (“numbered [counted] with the transgressors,” Isa 53:12) when He suffered the punishment that belonged to us (Isa 53:6). When an unregenerate sinner trusts Him, His righteousness is put on their account (2 Corinthians 5:21 “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ), and they stand forever righteous and forgiven before a holy God. Now when God looks at me, albeit still a sinner, He sees me covered by the righteousness of His sinless Son (1Co 1:30).

Hawker - The righteous; which limitation he adds to beat down the vain confidences of those men, who though they live in a gross neglect and contempt of God, will expect salvation from him.

RUN

DON'T WALK

There is no safety in looking at the "strong tower". And when danger is pressing in walking is not the approach to take. The passage says they must "run".

Run (rus/ruwts) means to make haste, to travel or to journey by moving one’s legs more rapidly than in walking and in some contexts it conveys the idea of a sense of urgency or a need to hurry. "To run against anything" (Keil). In Job 15:26 rus/ruwts is translated "rushes"

How do you run into God's Name? Read His Word (especially His Names), Believe His Word, Obey His Word, Pray His Word. That's how we can run today. This truth begs the question - Are you running toward Him or from Him? How is your time in the Word? Are you a hearer of the Word and not a Doer and thus deluded? Where do you put your trust when fear producing circumstances/thoughts/people attack you? O beloved, run… run quickly… run with full assurance that He is there waiting… run to His Name.

Later in Proverbs we read…

Every word of God is tested. He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Comment: In context how does one take refuge in Him (Pr 30:5KJV = "put their trust in Him")? Clearly it is His tested and trustworthy Word (cp Ro 10:17). When the "loins of our mind" are girded with His Word of Truth, we are safe from the lies and half-truths that come at us from all quarters.

The psalmist says…

I shall run the way of Thy commandments, for Thou wilt enlarge my heart. (Psalm 119:32 “I shall run the way of Your commandments, For You will enlarge my heart.” )

David illustrates what it means to "run" to the LORD…

When I am afraid, I will put my trust (~"run") in Thee. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust (~"run"); I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? (Ed: Why does David say this? Because he is in the "strong tower"!) (Psalm 56:1 “Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.” ,Psalm 56:2 “My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me.” )

Psalm 56:3–4 “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”

C H Spurgeon comments on how the righteous run into the tower…

They run into it. Now, running seems to me to imply that they do not stop to make any preparation. You will remember our Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples, that when the Romans surrounded Jerusalem, he that was on the house-top was not to come down into his house, but to run down the outer staircase, and escape (Lk 21:21 Destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman General Titus in 70AD).

So the Christian, when he is attacked by his enemies, should not stop for anything, but just run into his God and be safe. There is no need for thee to tarry until thou hast prepared thy mind, until thou hast performed sundry ablutions ((washing of the body as a preparation for religious duties), but run man straight away at once.

When the pigeons are attacked by the hawk, their better plan is not to parley (confer with one another), nor to stay, but swift as they can cut the air fly to the dove-cot (A small building or box in which domestic pigeons breed).

So be it with you. Leave fools who will to parley with the fiend (An enemy in the worst sense, implacably malicious) of hell; but as for you, fly to your God, and enter into His secret places till the tempest be over, past.

A gracious hint this to you anxious souls who are seeking to fit (make suitable) yourselves for Jesus. Away with such legal rubbish, run at once; you are safe in following the good example of the righteous.

This running appears to me to imply, that they have nothing to carry. A man who has a load, the heavier the load may be, the more will he be impeded in his flight. But the righteous run, like racers in the games, who have thrown off everything, their sins they leave to mercy, and their righteousness to the moles and bats. If I had any righteousness I would not carry it, but run to the righteousness of Christ (1Co 1:30, Ro 3:21, 22, Isa 61:10, Php 3:8, 9) without it; for my own righteousness must be a drag upon me which I could not bear (Ro 3:10).

Sinners I know, when they come to Christ, want to bring tons of "good" works, wagon loads of good feelings, and fitnesses, and repentings, and such like; but the righteous do no such thing; they just foreswear every thing they have of their own, and count it but dross and dung, that they may run to Christ and be found in Him (Ro 8:1 = no condemnation, Ro 8:39 = no separation). Gospel righteousness lies in all in Jesus (and remember Jesus is Jehovah Who Isaiah saw - Isa 6:1, 5, Jn 12:41), not in the believer.

It seems to me too, that this expression not only implies a want of preparation, and having nothing to carry, but it imports that fear quickens them. Men do not run to a castle unless they are afraid. But when the avenger of death is close behind, then swiftly they fly. It is marvellous how godly fear helps faith.

Safe (7682) (sagab - word study) means to be raised, to be exalted; to be high; to defend. It refers to physical size indicating great height such as found in city walls. In the original Hebrew text "sagab" is in the perfect tense which expresses completed action.

Hebrew (literally reads) "is high" or "is inaccessible." This military-type expression stresses the effect of the trust – security, being out of danger (see HALOT 1305). Other scriptures will supply the ways that God actually protects people who trust Him.

With this definition we can "amplify" the meaning of Proverbs 18:10 as follows

The Name of the LORD is a Strong Tower. The righteous runs into it and is safe or set securely on high above the difficult circumstances, afflictions, persecutions, etc.

Comment: The circumstances may still be present (and in my experience often are) but one's perspective is altered as the one in the strong tower of Jehovah views those circumstances from "above the fray" even though still surrounded by it. Where do you run when trouble comes? Who do you go to seek respite and comfort? The righteous run to the Name of the LORD. God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble, to those who are willing to run to Him and to cry to Him.

ILLUSTRATION - H A Ironside tells a story that emphasizes that believers should run into the "strong tower" of God's Name and be lifted up above the circumstances - "A brother once asked another brother in my hearing, “How are you getting on?” The other answered, “I am doing very well under the circumstances.” The first brother replied, “I am very sorry to hear that you are under the circumstances. You know, if you keep your eyes on the Lord, He will keep you above the circumstances.” So Paul always seemed to be above the circumstances (See Ironside's explanation)."