The Seven Redemptive Names of God

 

God has many names in the Old Testament.  Depending on the context of the book, chapter, or verse, He can be called:

El Shaddai -- God the Almighty

Elohim ------ God the Creator

Jehovah ---- God the Lord

'Jehovah' refers to God's relationship to man -- He is our Lord.  There are ten different variations of 'Jehovah' in the Old Testament.  We are going to look at seven of them; The Seven Redemptive Names of God.  'Redemption' is the release of a hostage or prisoner upon the receipt of ransom.  We were redeemed when Christ died for us; he paid the ultimate price.  These seven names show the love that God has for us, that He would allow the ultimate sacrifice of His son's life.

I John 4: 10 -- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be  the propitiation [payment] for our sins.

Although the Old Testament is not written directly to us today (in the Age of Grace), it is written for our learning.  We will see the same heart and meaning in these seven names as we see in the life of Jesus Christ, and in the Church epistles (which are written directly to us).  They all convey the same message:

Malachi 3: 6a -- For I am  the Lord, I change not; . . . . . . .

Psalm 23 illustrates all seven of the qualities of the Redemptive Names of God, so this is where we begin.

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Psalm 23: 1 -- The Lord is  my shepherd; I shall not want.

1]  Jehovah-Raah is 'the Lord my shepherd'.  What is a shepherd, but someone who looks after and protects the flock?  God is always watching over us.

I Peter 2: 25 -- For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

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Psalm 23: 2 -- He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.

2]  Jehovah-Jireh is 'the Lord that sees and provides'.

The first mention of Jehovah-Jireh in the Bible is in Genesis:

Genesis 22: 14 -- And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh:  as it is said to  this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

God is still the Lord that sees and provides.

Philippians 4: 19 -- But [So] my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6: 31, 32, 33 -- Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat?  or, What shall we drink?  or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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Psalm 23: 3 -- He restoreth my soul:  he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

3]  Jehovah-Rapha is 'the Lord that heals', and restores our soul.

Exodus 15: 26 -- And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians:  for I am  the Lord that healeth thee.

In Exodus, none of the Israelites were stricken by the plagues that befell Egypt.  It is still God's will for us to enjoy good heath.

III John 2 -- Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

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4]  Jehovah-Tsidkenu is 'the Lord our righteousness'.

Jeremiah 23: 6 -- In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:  and this is  his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Romans 3: 22 -- Even the righteousness of God which is  by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference:

Romans 3: 26 -- To declare, I say,  at this time his righteousness:  that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Righteousness is one of our Five Sonship Rights (see related teaching).

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Psalms 23: 4 -- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for thou art  with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5]  Jehovah-Shalom is 'the Lord my Peace'.  If we have peace, we will never fear any evil.

Judges 6: 23, 24 -- And the Lord said unto him, Peace be  unto thee; fear not:  thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom:  unto this day it is  yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Jesus Christ brought the message of peace:

John 14: 27 -- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Today, God tells us in the epistle of Philippians:

Philippians 4: 6, 7 -- Be careful [anxious/distracted] 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 [guard] your hearts and minds [thoughts] through [in] Christ Jesus.

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6]  Jehovah-Shammah is 'the Lord is Present' ('for thou art with me').

Ezekiel 48: 35 -- It was  round about eighteen thousand measures:  and the name of the city from that  day shall be,  The Lord is  there.

Today, God is always present with us, because we have His gift of holy spirit within us.  We could be in the most spiritually darkest place on earth, but God is with us.

Romans 8: 11 -- But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8: 16 -- The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

We are born again of God's spirit, so we always have that spiritual connection with Him.

I Peter 1: 23 -- Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

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7]  Jehovah-Nissi is 'the Lord my Canopy'.  Just like the shepherd uses the rod and staff to protect his sheep from wolves and other dangers, a canopy is a covering, a protection for God's people.

Exodus 17: 15 -- And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:

Because we believe God, he can deliver us and protect us today as well.

Romans 8: 31 -- What shall we then say to these things?  If God be  for us, who can be  against us?

Colossians 1: 13 -- Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us  into the kingdom of his dear Son:*******

******* This is an erroneous translation in the King James Version.  You cannot have a kingdom unless the king is personally present.  Jesus Christ is presently seated on the right hand of God awaiting God's 'green light' to return the second and final time.  This verse is speaking of the PRESENT TIME and not the future.

The correct translation of this verse according to it's usage is:

Colossians 1: 13 -- Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [transported] us  by the work of his dear Son. [emphasis added]

Now you have the rightly divided  Word of God.

Paul gave us an example of his life in the epistle of II Corinthians:

II Corinthians 1: 10 -- Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver:  in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

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The Seven Redemptive Names of God show His love and compassion for us, and Psalm 23 illustrates the meaning behind these names.  We will conclude with the last two verses of this Psalm:

Psalm 23: 5, 6 -- Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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