Study 15 "How Majestic Is Your Name" Part 2

Psalm 8.1-2

"O LORD, our Lord," is both a declaration of God’s name and an admission of accountability. "You are the Lord, and you are our Lord. You rule all things, and, in particular, you rule over us." So, if the Lord is our ruler, how does that influence our public displays of worship?

We must understand the concept of "name" as that idea is used in Scripture. A name was not simply an identifying tag. A name told a story. When Esau and Jacob were born, Jacob got the name "supplanter." He gained his father’s blessing by "supplanting" his elder brother. Later, Jacob became Israel; he ceased being the supplanter and became the one who contended with God. Instead of gaining a blessing by devious measures, Jacob contended with God until the blessing was his. His unwillingness to let go till the blessing was given was proof of the change in his character. So, he needed a new name. He had shown God he was a changed man, not that he deserved a blessing.

The name of God, YAHWEH, is more than a label. The name is a declaration of God’s character. "God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM;’ and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’" Jesus declared, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." God declared the infinity of his being; the Son did likewise.

When we say we pray "in Jesus’ name," what do we mean? Are we attaching a magic talisman onto our prayers that compels God to act in a certain way? If we pray "in Jesus’ name," have we determined what God must do? Or, does praying in Jesus’ name signify some other greater truth. How did Jesus pray? "Yet, not as I will, but as You will." So, when we pray "in Jesus’ name," we are praying in a manner appropriate to Jesus’ character: not my will, but yours, O Lord.

Therefore, when we gather in Jesus’ name, we are gathering in such a way as to characterize and honor the very person of Jesus. When the angel announced the birth of Jesus to Joseph, he said, "you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins." The Hebrew name is Yeshua or Joshua or Hosea (all are the same Hebrew name). The word means salvation. So, using Jesus’ name means being aware of his saving from sin.

To gather in Jesus’ name is a declaration by a group of its coming before God in recognition of who Jesus is and what he accomplished on the cross. When the power of Jesus to save from sin is ignored, nothing much is left. If Jesus does not save from sin, then what does he do? Maybe he doesn’t even save. Perhaps, Jesus just makes living prosperously and in health a reality. Thus, Jesus becomes sort of a combination health care and financial investment plan, all rolled into one.

When God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, one of those commands stated, "You shall not make for yourself an idol." Now, most of the time, we believe if we have not bowed before or offered a sacrifice to a real, honest to goodness idol made of stone, metal, or wood, we have not been idolatrous. Let’s look beyond the physical reality to the spiritual.

What is the purpose of an idol? Basically, to have an idol meant you controlled your God and could manipulate his power. Israel worshiped Baal in order to insure rain for their crops. They did the correct rituals before the "idol," and the god had to respond in an appropriate manner. So, if we hang a nameplate on the door that says Jesus, sing the right songs, raise our hands, give our tithe, and do a few other prescribed rituals, we can force Jesus to "bless" our bodies and our budgets. We’ll be able to live well and feel good about ourselves and our wealth.

Is that what "gathering in his name" means? When Isaiah saw the Lord in the Temple, "high and lifted up," his immediate response was to cry out in despair, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Only then did Isaiah receive cleansing and a commission.

Do we feel good about ourselves when we gather to worship? How often do we sing the song of praise from Revelation, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain"? Are we afraid to face ourselves when confronted with the holiness of the Living God? Something is wrong with our worship when we come away from the event convinced of our right to wealth and health and healthy self-esteem.