What's in a Name?

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in your name all day long. . . for you are their glory and strength (Psalm 89:15-17).

Most of us have probably been on prescription medicine at some time or another.  And most of us have probably had difficulties pronouncing or remembering the names of some of those drugs.

I did a little research on the naming of drugs and learned that the chemical or brand name of a drug describes the ingredients, and the generic name relates to the problems it will treat.  The Bible study, Knowing God by Name, by Mary Kassian, explains how the names of God fulfill the same purpose by describing who He is as well as what He does.  The study specifically focuses on names of God’s deity, character, power, authority, splendor, intimacy, and sufficiency.

Whatever our struggles may be, there is an aspect of God’s character that will meet our need.  He is the God Who Sees, Our Rock, Our Redeemer, the Lord Healer, the God Who Works Wonders, Mighty in Power, and Abounding in Love.  There are also countless names in Scripture for each person of the Trinity based on their characteristics, and many of those names can bring us great comfort during times of suffering – our refuge, our strength, our comforter, our wisdom, etc.

Hopefully we know at least some of the names of our God even better than the names of our medicines.  And what a blessing and comfort it is to know that whatever our problems encompass, we can call on that great name – a name that will ultimately do more for us than any drug ever can.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Prayer:  O God, what a comfort and encouragement it is to know that for every problem I face, there is an aspect of Your character that is sufficient to bring me through it.  May I rejoice in your name every day, for you are my glory and strength. Amen.