The name of God is so special and meaningful. It is a blessing to know His names because from His names we can understand the different characteristics of God as well as how He has revealed Himself to us. We can find hope, peace, joy, and comfort. Here is His names:

1. Adonai (ah-doe-NI) – The Lord my Great Lord

2. El – The Strong One

3. El Elohe Yisrael (el el-o-hay yis-raw-ALE) God, the God of Israel

4. El Elyon (el EL-Yuhn) – The God Most High

5. Elohim (el-o-HEEM) – The All-Poewerful One Creator

6. El Olam (el o-LAHM) – The Eternal God The Everlasting God

7. El Roi (el ROY) – The God Who Sees me

8. El Shaddai (el-shaw-DIE) – The All Sufficient One, The God of the Mountains, God almighty

9. Immanuel (ih-MAN-u-el) – God with us, “I AM”

10. Jehovah (juh-HO-vah) – “I AM,” The One Who is the self Existent One

11. Jehovah-Jireh (juh-HO-vah JI-rah) – The Lord will Provide

12. Jehovah-Mekaddishkem (juh-HO-vah mek-KAH-dish-KIM) – The Lord who Sanctifies

13. Jehovah-Nissi (juh-HO-va NEE-see) – The Lord is My Banner

14. Jehovah-Rapha (huh-HO-vah RAH-fa) – The Lord who Heals

15. Jehovah-Rohi (juh-HO-vah RO-hee) – The Lord is my Shepherd

16. Jehovah-Sabaoth (juh-HO-vah sah-bah-OATH) – The Lord of Hosts, The Lord of armies.

17. Jehovah-Shalom (juh-HO-vah shah-LOME) – The Lord is Peace

18. Hehovah-Shammah (juh-HO-vah SHAHM-mah) – The Lord is There, The Lord is my companion

19. Jehovah-Tsidkenu (juh-HO-vah tsid-KAY-noo) – The Lord our Righteousness

20. Yah, Jah (Yah) – “I AM,” The One who is the Self-Existent One

21. YHWH (YAH-way) – “I AM,” The One Who is the Self-Existent One

As we see, twenty one names of our God and how He has revealed Himself to us. There is depth, scope, power, hope, peace, joy, and many more things that can be said. These names of God are special, and personal.

Why was this list important? Why should we spend time looking at this list? In our day and age, these kind of things are no longer paid attention to. God’s name has been cheapened, shortened, mocked, ridiculed, and blasphemed. How?

1. God’s name is now the brunt end of perverse jokes.

2. God’s name is nothing more than a swear word.

3. God’s name is a tag line on a bumper sticker for quick statement Theology.

4. God’s name is dropped when the chance to gain is present.

5. God’s name is used in ceremonial settings, only to be ignored the rest of the week.

But it goes deeper than just this. Look at how God is referred to today?

1. The big man upstairs.

2. The big guy.

3. My man.

4. My buddy.

Only by God’s mercy are those who say these things and the above five not burnt to a crisp in God’s Holy wrath. Why?

First, we have Exodus 20:7. God commands that His name be kept reverent, holy, separate. It used to be that Scribes, when writing the Scriptures, would bathe, wash their clothes, get a new ink and quill, and then write the name of God. That is the reverence they had. As you can see on the bottom nine list, that is far from this level of respect.

But notice in Exodus what God says. He says He will not hold them guiltless, or He will not consider them innocent. He takes His name very seriously. If you are reading this, and the majority of your conversation consists of God’s name being less than honor, praise, and majesty being spoken in His direction, consider yourself blessed the Lord has not ended you. But do not think you have escaped. Galatians 6:7 is very applicable.

Instead, our conversations must change. Anything less is an affront to the name of God. But it does not end here.

Second, just as there will be judgment, Matthew 12:36 becomes that much more serious. Idle words are the words that have little to no meaning other than just they were said. These words, when God’s name is used in a way less than the top twenty one revealed ways, is idle. There will be judgment.

But there is hope. God is a forgiving God as He says in Ezekiel 33:11. His judgment is not done because He takes pleasure. It happens because His Holy nature demands judgment. Anything less cheapens and weakens the nature of God Himself. But because He does not want the wicked to perish, He does not just exact vengeance immediately because He wants everyone to repent and come to Him for forgiveness as it says in 2 Peter 3:9.

Therefore, maybe you are one who uses the Lord’s name in vain. If you are unsaved, understand you are under the wrath of God where you are. But you can find mercy. Oh, it will demand of you to repent, humble yourself, and confess you are a sinner. But in Jesus there is freedom, life, and hope to escape from the wrath of God which will be poured out on all the world.

If you are a Christian who find yourself using God’s name in the bottom nine, you must repent. While your salvation is secure, there will be judgment against you as is said in 1 Corinthians 3:10-17. This will not be a good day when you stand before the Judgment seat of Christ (Not the Great White Throne Judgment found in Revelation 20:11-15).

The name of God is special, and should be kept special. It is Holy, and should evoke the very nature of fear, honor, holiness, respect, praise, and submission to God for Who He is.