Holy Is Your Name Reflection

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I picked up this red letter New Testament Bible in Jerusalem made out of Olive Wood as a memento of our trip to the Holy Land this year.

I grew up reciting the Lord’s prayer which starts out “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy Name…” (Matthew 6:8-10) at school, in confirmation classes, at assemblies- and was even sung at my wedding! Our ceremony was filled with creativity and lots of music including a few special music pieces by my senior year high school choir teacher Darcy Reese and then I sang a love song to my Tim and then turned to the massive cross hanging above at the back of the church and sang the Lord’s prayer operetic style. Whoa. Can’t believe I did that!


Holy Is Your Name

Hallowed be Thy Name - means ‘Holy is your name’. Saying that regularly over and over again, your soul awakens to the deeper question within, Who is God? What does it mean for Him to be Holy? How is He inviting you and me into His call to holiness? I’ve spent many years pondering this, searching for this, doubting this, wrestling with this, and eventually embracing the work of God’s Holy name impacting my journey. When touring Israel with my husband Tim and a group led by Pastor Dain from Kaui Christian Fellowship this month, one of the sites we visited was Saint Anne’s church besides the ancient ruins of the pools of Bethseda where Jesus said to the sick man “Do you want to get well?… Get up, take up your mat and walk” and healed him through His words and the mans act of fatih. (John 5:1-15). After we toured that site, we entered into that church which has incredible accoustics and our group sang the Doxology "Praise God for whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below, praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen!” And then the pastor asked if anyone else had a song to sing. My heart was a beaten and I sensed the Lord nudge me to sing out the Lord’s prayer. I hadn’t sang that for 32 years since our wedding ceremony! So I took a leap of faith and prayed I’d hit the high notes, and even if I didn’t- that I’d rest in the grace of God even if I sounded “off”… I share about that and more in my video blog here:

Yet, many ask…

How can you define Holy? How can you possibly define God, this invisible Creator? What’s with His name? Is “God” an actual name or characteristics as the Bible references Him as the “I Am” (Yahweh) in the Exodus story, (Exodus 3:14-15). Yes, and Yes! The Bible depicts God’s character in various names which unpacks His nature in a variety of ways. Here are some of the many names of a singular triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit):

  • “Yahweh which means I Am, the Self-Existent One.

    Yahweh Roi which means The Lord Is My Shepherd.

    El Roi which means The God Who Sees Me.

    El Kanna which means Consuming Fire, Jealous God.

    Yahweh Yireh which means The Lord Will Provide.

    El Shaddai which means The All-Sufficient Onew, God Almighty.

    Magen which means The Lord Is My Shield.

    Yahweh Shalom which means The Lord is peace.

    Yaster which means The Potter.

    Alpha Kai Omega which means Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

    Immanuel which means God with us.

  • Yahweh/ (Adonai) Rapha which means The Lord Who Heals.”- Scriptural Grace blog

The Lord is My Healer

Healing is a topic that can evoke a plethora of emotions. Doubt, optimism, pessimism, fear, confusion or Lord willing: hope. Questions one may ask when that topic comes up might include:

  • Why do people suffer?

  • If there is a God who created this world and all humanity as the Bible states, is He truly good and loving?

  • If the above is true, why would a loving God allow suffering or not answer prayers for healing all the time?

  • How do we relate to God as healer when our answers to prayer for healing isn’t answered (yet)?

My home church is in the midst of a sermon series that is focusing on the various "names of God"- today being Adonai Rapha which means The Lord is my Healer. I am so pumped my church is doing this series as I know we have so much to learn in terms of God’s name. As in the Lords prayer, “Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed by Thy name.” His name is holy, and one of the many names used throughout scripture to refer to God is Adonai Rapha or Yawheh Rapha is referencing His nature and character as healer.

“The Hebraic translation of Rapha (râpâ) means “to restore” or “to heal.” Though it often refers to physical healing, it usually has a larger meaning as well, involving the entire person. Yahweh Rapha heals the body, mind, and soul. God also heals sin.”- Scriptural Grace blogpost October 2022

The sermon today at my church was delivered by guest speaker Dr. Jeromey Martini, President of Horizon Bible College. To me, this was probably one of the most solid outlines, word driven teachings I have listened to thus far on my journey that honours God's name and addresses the challenges of faith, suffering and our desire for healing and restoration. Feel free to skip right to that message (or listen here first to my chit chat!). SHALOM friend!- Jodi

Saint Anne’s Church in Jerusalem. The church's acoustics are particularly suited to a “gregorian chant” which makes it a pilgrimage site for soloists and choirs. That wasn’t my purpose for singing here, but it absolutely had amazing acoustics!

the Pools of Bethesda. The Pool of Bethesda is mentioned in the Bible's New Testament, John 5:2 account of Jesus healing a paralyzed man at a pool in Jerusalem. It is now associated with the site of a pool in the current Muslim Quarter of the city, near the gate now called the Lions' Gate or St. Stephen's Gate and the Church of St. Anne, that was excavated in the late 19th century.- WP https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pool_of_Bethesda

Sermon Message from May 28th at FGCC

Dr. Martini’s sermon message on “Adonai Rapha”, the Lord is my Healer starts at around 46 minutes into this Youtube video (after opening worship, communion etc).

 
 
 
 

Names of God Resources:

I pray this post encourages you my friend. This is a massive topic, and never in a million years will one post even attempt to describe God. Yet, I serve and love my God who is personal and all loving who I know enjoys when we search for Him as He too seeks and searches creation for us. (Luke 19:10). I don’t claim to ever FULLY know God as He is all powerful, omnipresent and omniscient. At the same time, Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1: 15-17). As such, we can know Jesus personally in our hearts which is a relationship that plants seeds in our hearts now until eternity. Lots to ponder and meditate on here for sure. If you have any questions or other recommended resources related to this topic, don’t hesitate to reach out! - Jodi

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”
— Colossians 1: 15-17