Dedication

2

Table of Contents

3

Copy Pricing Policy

8

Introduction to the Names and Titles of God

10

Why Study the Names and Titles of God?

10

What Is a Title of God?

11

The Documentary Hypothesis

12

Features of This Study

13

How to Participate in This Study

14

References and Standard Abbreviations

16

Some Books on the Names of God

17

1. God Most High ('El 'Elyon), the Exalted God

18

Moon Worship in Ur and Haran

18

Abraham's Religion

18

'El and 'Elohim

19

Abraham and Melchizedek Worship the Most High God ('El 'Elyon)

19

The Most High God ('El 'Elyon)

21

Supremacy and Monotheism

21

Most High in the Bible

22

Concepts that Underlie the Most High God

23

High and Lofty One

24

The Shekinah Glory of God

25

My Glory

25

The King of Glory

26

The Exalted God

27

2. The God of Might ('El Shaddai)

31

'El Shaddai

31

Meaning and Etymology of Shaddai (shadday)

31

God Appears as 'El Shaddai to Abraham and Jacob

32

LORD of Hosts (Yahweh-Sabaoth)

32

Commander of the Army of Yahweh (Joshua 5:13-6:2)

32

The LORD of Hosts

34

An Era with Few Military Heroes

35

The Lord's Army around Elisha at Dothan (2 Kings 6:13-17)

35

The Host of Heaven at Jesus' Death (Matthew 26:53)

36

Mighty Warrior

37

Mighty One of Jacob

38

God My Strength

38

The LORD our Banner (Yahweh-nissi, Exodus 17:9-16)

38

Application

39

The Battle is the Lord's

39

Christian Response to the Mighty Warrior

40

3. Yahweh, I AM, the Eternal God ('El 'Olam)

45

Moses and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-15)

45

Moses the Shepherd (3:1)

46

The Burning Bush (3:2-3)

47

God's Mission for Moses (3:11-12)

47

Request for God's Name (3:13)

47

I AM THAT I AM (Exodus 3:14)

48

Yahweh, God's Personal Name (Exodus 3:15)

48

The Pronunciation of the Divine Name, Yahweh vs. LORD

49

Yahweh's Name as Part of Personal Names

50

When Was the Name Yahweh First Used?

51

The Everlasting, Eternal God ('El 'Olam)

52

The Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9, 13, 22)

53

The First and the Last

54

The One Who Lives for Ever

55

The Living God

55

Excursus: Correct Spelling and Pronunciation of Yahweh vs. Jehovah

60

4. God Our Creator

64

The One and Only God (Isaiah 45:5-6)

65

A Creation Vocabulary

65

The Creator of Weal and Woe (Isaiah 45:7)

66

Why Does God Allow Evil?

66

Creator of Salvation and Righteousness (Isaiah 45:8)

66

The Potter, the Clay, and the Potsherd (Isaiah 45:9)

67

Potters in the Ancient Near East

67

Complaining Against the Potter (Isaiah 45:9-12)

67

Clay and Dust -- Man's Lot

69

The Great Craftsman Forms Man from the Sod (Genesis 2:7)

69

Creator

70

Architect and Builder

71

Maker

71

A Psalm of Creation and Praise (Psalm 95)

72

God of Heaven

73

Other Creation Titles and Metaphors

73

Creator of the Ends of the Earth (Isaiah 40:12-15, 21-31)

74

5. The Holy and Righteous One

81

Isaiah 6:1-8

81

A Vision of the Lord on His Throne (Isaiah 6:1-2)

82

Holy Is the LORD of Hosts (Isaiah 6:3-4)

82

Isaiah's Awareness of Unholiness (Isaiah 6:5-7)

83

Isaiah's Surrender to the Lord (Isaiah 6:8)

84

The Holy One of Israel

84

Holiness vs. Righteousness

85

The Righteous One (Tsaddîq)

85

The Upright One

86

The LORD our Righteousness (Yahweh-Tsidkenu)

87

The LORD Who Sanctifies You (Yahweh-M'Kaddesh)

87

Yahweh Our Lawgiver

88

Yahweh Our Judge

88

Protector of Widows, Helper of the Fatherless

89

Vengeance and Justice

90

Justice vs. Mercy

91

God Our Avenger

91

The Awe-Inspiring God

92

God Is Light and Glory

93

6. God Our Lord and King

97

God Our King (melek)

97

The Suzerain-Vassal Treaty at Sinai

97

Ark as Throne and Tabernacle as Palace

98

Tribute and Tithes for the King

100

God Our King in Praise and Prophecy

100

Appointing a King to Rule for Yahweh (1 Samuel 8)

101

Democracy and the Concept of King

102

The King, Yahweh of Hosts

103

King of Kings

103

The Lord ('Adonay)

104

Lord in the New Testament (kurios)

105

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

105

Ruler, Sovereign, Potentate, Prince, Majesty on High

106

Living as Subjects of the King

107

7. God our Fortress and Protector

112

God Our Refuge and Fortress

112

God Is our Rock, our Shade, and our Hiding Place

113

God our Shield and Buckler

114

A Psalm of God's Protection (Psalm 91)

115

A Hiding Place and Shade (Psalm 91:1a)

115

God our Shade (Psalm 91:1b)

115

My Refuge and Fortress (Psalm 91:2)

116

Refuge under His Wings (Psalm 91:3-4)

116

You Will Not Fear (Psalm 91:5-8)

116

Our Refuge and Dwelling Place (Psalm 91:9-10)

117

Protection and Salvation (Psalm 91:13-16)

117

God our Shield

118

God our Strength

119

God our Rock

120

God our Keeper

121

Needing a Crutch

122

Our Final Bastion -- Eternal Life

123

8. The Lord Our Provider and Shepherd

128

God Tests Abraham on Mt. Moriah (Genesis 22:1-14)

128

The LORD Will Provide (Yahweh-yir'eh, Genesis 22:13-14)

130

The Analogy of the Shepherd

131

God our Shepherd

132

The LORD our Shepherd (Yahweh-rohi, Psalm 23)

132

The Gracious Host (Psalm 23:5)

134

Eternal Life (Psalm 23:6)

134

God of Seeing (El-roi)

135

The LORD Your Healer (Yahweh-rapha)

135

God our Light and Sun

136

Other Provider Metaphors for God

136

The LORD is my Portion

137

The Lord my Helper

137

Hope of Israel

138

The Spring of Living Water

139

9. Abba, Father

144

The Role of Father in Bible Times

144

God as Father in the Old Testament

144

Our Heavenly Father

146

Intimacy with Abba Father

147

Reclaiming God as Your 'Abba'

147

Jesus' Teaching about the Father

148

God the Father in the Epistles

149

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

150

The Trinity in the New Testament

151

The Father and His Children

151

Miscellaneous References to God as Father

152

God our Husband

152

The Jealous God

153

Christian Feminism and God the Father

154

Feminine Metaphors for God

155

God of Your Fathers

156

God of Israel

156

The Godhead, the Deity

157

Friends of God

157

10. The God of All Grace

161

A Second Set of Ten Commandments Tablets (Exodus 34:1-4)

161

The Compassionate and Gracious, Rich in Love and Faithfulness (Exodus 34:5-6)

162

Forgiving Wickedness, Rebellion and Sin (Exodus 34:7a)

163

Not Clearing the Guilty (Exodus 34:7b)

164

Faithful God

165

Forgiving God

166

Loving God

167

Gracious God

167

The God of all Grace

168

God of Hope and Encouragement

168

11. God Our Savior and Redeemer

173

My Deliverer

173

The Kinsman-Redeemer

174

Boaz the Kinsman-Redeemer

174

Redemption from Egypt and Babylon

174

Jesus Our Ransom and Redeemer

175

God Our Savior in the Old Testament

176

God Our Savior in the New Testament

177

The Rock and Horn of My Salvation

178

The LORD Is Peace

178

The God of Shalom

179

The Prince of Peace

179

The God of Peace

181

Appendix: Class Notes

184

1. God Most High ('El 'Elyon), the Exalted God

185

2. The God of Might ('El Shaddai)

186

3. Yahweh, I AM, the Eternal God ('El 'Olam)

188

5. The Holy and Righteous One

190

6. God Our Lord and King

191

7. God our Fortress and Protector

194

8. The Lord Our Provider and Shepherd

197

9. Abba, Father

199

10. The God of All Grace

202

11. God Our Savior and Redeemer

204

About the Author

206

Other Bible Studies by Dr. Wilson

207

Index

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