Names

 Our Lord has many Names...in a sense.  Each Name tells us of an aspect of His character.  There are so many facets of our God, no  multi-faceted diamond can compare to His splendor.  Some of the ladies of or church have been studying these Names in all their richness and depth.  

This week we looked into a group of names given to the Lord be His people Israel.  We had Maon, which is dwelling place.  Machseh, refuge.  Magen, shield.  Metsuda meaning fortress and Migdal-Oz which is strong tower.  

All of these names have a common thread...they are places of safety and protection.  And that is our God.  He is our safe place.  

Psalm 91:1-16  He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”        3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.  4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.  5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Machseh, refuge.  Metsuda, fortress.  

This verse talks about abiding.  As I was going through this set of names it brought to mind Jesus' words of abiding in Him.  He is our dwelling place.  And not only that, we are His!   

John 15:1-10 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 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.  5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

We abide for safety, we abide by obedience we abide to bear fruit, we abide in His love.  

John 14:15-23 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”  23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Psalm 3:2-3  Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.”  3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.   

Magen, shield.  I am reminded of Ephesians 6:16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

Psalm 71:3 Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.

Maon, dwelling place.  A strong refuge.  The footnote in the NKJV says "a rock of habitation."  I love that...it's a place we continually live. 

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Migdal-oz  His Name is our strong tower.  His Name is everything we need because it is everything He is.  

I love this study in the Names of God.  It has been so fruitful to my heart.  There is never an end to or God...He is eternal in every way, every Name.  I'm so thankful!

Lord, our refuge, our dwelling place, our God and our Shepherd.  Let us always be aware that we can live in Your Presence and in Your protection.  Give us hearts to run to You, stay in You and obey You that we may dwell in safety.  We know hard things come, but nothing can snatch us from Your hands, nothing can harm our eternity with You...we are safe in Your care.  Thank You.