Welcome to Week 47 of A 2020 Prayer Life!
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
What follows is a series of daily meditations and exercises to help us develop our individual prayer lives. This represents a one-day-at-a-time process. Don't short-circuit the process by reading ahead. Simply read and do each day what is offered for that day.
November 18
A few weeks ago, we noted that the word "God" is actually a title, and not a particularly specific one, at that. All sorts of real or imagined beings throughout history have been labeled "god." So it was that, when the Lord spoke to Moses at the burning bush, Moses raised this objection: "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?" (Exodus 3:13 NASB)
Two layers of familiarity are implied in the text. On the one hand, He was "the God of your fathers." On the other hand, there was the question of His name. The first is personal, to be sure, and yet the second is even more personal.
There is something "once removed" about the Lord being known as "the God of your fathers." But to know Him by name -- to call Him by name -- is exceedingly intimate and personal.
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about the intimacy of names. Talk to Him about your own habits of how you address Him. Talk to Him about your comfort of discomfort of calling Him by name.
Two layers of familiarity are implied in the text. On the one hand, He was "the God of your fathers." On the other hand, there was the question of His name. The first is personal, to be sure, and yet the second is even more personal.
There is something "once removed" about the Lord being known as "the God of your fathers." But to know Him by name -- to call Him by name -- is exceedingly intimate and personal.
In your prayer time, talk to the Lord about the intimacy of names. Talk to Him about your own habits of how you address Him. Talk to Him about your comfort of discomfort of calling Him by name.
November 19
In our daily life, we routinely experience the distinction between titles and names.
These are all examples, you see, of title-and-name combinations. We may call someone by their title, we may call someone by their name, or we may use both. But titles and names are different.
Titles generally capture some aspect of a person's identity. Only a name, however, says it all.
If, for example, John Jones was a father, a coach, and an officer on the police force, he might have various people in his life refer to him as "Daddy," "Coach," and "Captain." Each title says something about him, but only "John Jones" encompasses all of who he is.
Throughout this year, we have focused on various titles for God. Now. however, we are turning our attention to His name. In your prayer time, talk with Him about these matters:
- Dr. Jones
- Coach Lombardi
- Professor Higgins
- Sergeant York
- President Washington
These are all examples, you see, of title-and-name combinations. We may call someone by their title, we may call someone by their name, or we may use both. But titles and names are different.
Titles generally capture some aspect of a person's identity. Only a name, however, says it all.
If, for example, John Jones was a father, a coach, and an officer on the police force, he might have various people in his life refer to him as "Daddy," "Coach," and "Captain." Each title says something about him, but only "John Jones" encompasses all of who he is.
Throughout this year, we have focused on various titles for God. Now. however, we are turning our attention to His name. In your prayer time, talk with Him about these matters:
- Coming into this year, my favorite title for You was....
- During this year, I have also come especially to appreciate these titles for You....
- Each of the titles that I cherish for You tells me something about You. Help me to understand, use, and cherish Your name as the expression that says it all!
November 20
The Ten Commandments famously include a warning about the use of God's name. Ironically, the commandment tells us more about the name than we are likely to recognize at first.
The third commandment reads: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7 NASB)
In order to appreciate more fully just what is included in that text, consider a different passage from the Old Testament: "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.'" (Psalm 110:1 NASB)
We observe in the second passage that the word "lord" appears twice, but it is printed differently in its two appearances: "LORD" and "Lord." This difference is a convention used in English translations of the Bible to reflect the fact that, in the original Hebrew, two different Hebrew words are actually involved. And so, what appears to be a repetition of the word "lord" in English is, in fact, two very different words in the Hebrew.
What appears as "Lord" is, in the original, the Hebrew word adonai, which was the word for the title "lord." What appears as "LORD," on the other hand, is the Hebrew word Yhvh, which was the name of God. Whenever we see "LORD" printed in an English translation of the Bible, therefore, we may know that the original text did not feature a title but a name.
And that brings us back to the third commandment: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." The commandment about the name, you see, includes the name.
For several historical reasons, we don't know the exact pronunciation of that Hebrew name. For many years, the traditional understanding was "Jehovah." In more recent years, the scholarly consensus has been "Yahweh."
In your prayer time, where "LORD" or "the LORD" appears in the following verses, insert the pronunciation that is meaningful and comfortable for you, and make these verses part of your prayers:
The third commandment reads: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7 NASB)
In order to appreciate more fully just what is included in that text, consider a different passage from the Old Testament: "The LORD says to my Lord: 'Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.'" (Psalm 110:1 NASB)
We observe in the second passage that the word "lord" appears twice, but it is printed differently in its two appearances: "LORD" and "Lord." This difference is a convention used in English translations of the Bible to reflect the fact that, in the original Hebrew, two different Hebrew words are actually involved. And so, what appears to be a repetition of the word "lord" in English is, in fact, two very different words in the Hebrew.
What appears as "Lord" is, in the original, the Hebrew word adonai, which was the word for the title "lord." What appears as "LORD," on the other hand, is the Hebrew word Yhvh, which was the name of God. Whenever we see "LORD" printed in an English translation of the Bible, therefore, we may know that the original text did not feature a title but a name.
And that brings us back to the third commandment: "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." The commandment about the name, you see, includes the name.
For several historical reasons, we don't know the exact pronunciation of that Hebrew name. For many years, the traditional understanding was "Jehovah." In more recent years, the scholarly consensus has been "Yahweh."
In your prayer time, where "LORD" or "the LORD" appears in the following verses, insert the pronunciation that is meaningful and comfortable for you, and make these verses part of your prayers:
- But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head... Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. (Psalm 3:3, 7 NIV)
- Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37:4-7 NIV)
- Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5 NIV)
- Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. (Psalm 106:1 NASB)
- I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. (Psalm 4:8 NIV)
- Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me! (Psalm 38:21 NASB)
- Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. (Psalm 96:2 NIV)
- Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits. (Psalm 103:1-2 NASB)
- Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. (Psalm 6:2 NIV)
- The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Thy hands. (Psalm 138:8 NASB)
- The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. (Psalm 97:1 NIV)
November 21
Building on what we learned yesterday about the appearance of "LORD" in our English translations of the Bible, we want to continue to practice calling our God by name. And so, in your prayer time again today, insert the pronunciation of His name that is meaningful and comfortable for you into the following verses, and make them your prayers:
- O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (Psalm 8:1 KJV)
- NIV Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10 NIV)
- In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain. (Psalm 11:1 NIV)
- Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. (Psalm 69:16 NIV)
- I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1 NIV)
- For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. (Psalm 95:3 NIV)
- How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? (Psalm 13:1 NIV)
- Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. (Psalm 103:20 NIV)
- LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? (Psalm 15:1 NIV)
- Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. (Psalm 96:8 NASB)
- Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:1 3 NIV)
November 22
We continue to learn today from how the Psalmist used the name of the Lord, and to learn how to use His name in prayer. As with the past two days, insert the pronunciation of His name that is meaningful and comfortable for you into the following verses, and make them part of your prayer time:
- The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2 NIV)
- May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NIV)
- But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. (Psalm 22:19 NIV)
- The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 NAS)
- The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1 NAS)
- The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6 NIV)
- I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good. (Psalm 54:6 NIV)
- Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing... In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation... Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies-- make straight your way before me. (Psalm 5:1, 3, 8 NIV)
- May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:22 NIV)
- The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:7 NIV)
- Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5 NIV)
- Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. (Psalm 148:13 NIV)
- Blessed be the LORD forever! Amen and Amen. (Psalm 89:52 NASB)
November 23
It seems that one of the historical reasons why we don't know the exact pronunciation of the Lord's Hebrew name is because the people of ancient Israel hesitated to pronounce it. In extreme carefulness not to use His name in vain, it seems that they didn't use it, at all.
After three days of being deliberate about using His name, talk with the Lord about your experience. Tell Him what you have learned about Him through these passages featuring His name. Tell Him what you have learned about His name. Tell Him how you have felt about calling Him by name. Tell Him what you have discovered about your relationship with Him.
After three days of being deliberate about using His name, talk with the Lord about your experience. Tell Him what you have learned about Him through these passages featuring His name. Tell Him what you have learned about His name. Tell Him how you have felt about calling Him by name. Tell Him what you have discovered about your relationship with Him.
November 24
As we conclude this week's emphasis on the name of the Lord, we want to consider an insight from Thomas Cranmer, a 16th-century Archbishop of Canterbury. Of the third commandment, Cranmer wrote, "This is a commandment of great importance. The right ways to use the name of God are by praying to Him, by confessing His name and His Word, and by thanksgiving. Speak God's name reverently."
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about Cranmer's insight.
In your prayer time, talk with the Lord about Cranmer's insight.
- To what extent have I recognized the "great importance" of this commandment?
- Cranmer speaks of "the right ways" to use Your name. In what wrong ways have I used it?
- Am I learning to use Your name properly and to speak Your name reverently?