The Names of God Study Guide

In the Bible names virtually represented the person to whom they belonged. A name conveyed something that was distinctive about its bearer. A person was virtually indistinguishable from their name.

Now suppose that God has some specific things to say to us about himself. And suppose that he actually revealed himself to us by giving us a series of related names. Suppose further that he unfolded these names at defining moments in his interaction with his people and that they represent important insights into his character. Suppose that it is really not difficult for us English-speakers to identify these names and that they enlarge our vision of God. Suppose also that an awareness of these names and their meanings can be a great help to us in our walk with the Lord and particularly in our prayer lives.

This is precisely what happens in the Bible, and with a few helpful suggestions it is possible for us to gain an insight into his heart and to get to know him more intimately. When taken together, these Hebrew names converge in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is declared in Scripture to be "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being."