Calling on the Name of the Lord

These days a child’s name may have come from a parent or grandparent. Or it may have been gleaned from a magazine or TV programme. Parents may have made up a brand-new name which "sounds nice." We recognise that a name must be pleasant, not only to us, but also to the child as he/she grows up.

In Biblical times, a name was much more significant. It could relate to a circumstance at the time of conception or birth, to a divine promise concerning this child, to the anticipated character or role of this new person... There are a number of instances where a name is changed to reflect a new character or role. So, for instance, Abram (exalted father) became Abraham (father of many) with God’s promise "I have made you a father of many nations" (Gen. 17.5). Simon (listener) became Cephas or Peter (rock Jn 1.42).

When we talk about God’s "name", the reference is to far more than a name-word which can be used in an almost magical or superstitious manner. By the time of Jesus, the Hebrew name-word Yahweh had been replaced in the reading of the Scriptures by Adonai (Lord), because of a superstitious fear of breaking the third commandment by taking the name of the Lord in vain (Ex. 20.7). (The vowels of Adonai added to the consonants of Yahweh give the very un-Hebrew word "Jehovah." Most modern translations have followed the old practice of translating Yahweh as "LORD" in capitals.) In modern Judaism they read the divine Name as HaShem (the Name). Some modern Jewish writings on the internet have "G-d" for God.

God’s "name" refers to his revealed character and his saving power and grace. It is sad that "God" comes into the speech of many people without giving a thought to God at all. On the other hand, when we come to him for help - and relate to him as our heavenly Father - it can only be on the basis of who he has revealed himself to be. In other words, we needs must "call on the name of the Lord."

In Psalm 116, the unnamed Psalmist begins, "I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live" (vv. 1-2). He had apparently been faced with certain death. Then he called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!" (v. 4) - and the Lord, in his compassionate grace, saved him.

"For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living" (vv. 8-9). Sometimes we have just wanted the Lord to be there for us when we "get in a fix." But the purpose of the Lord’s rescue is to bring us into an on-going relationship with himself. Our "emergency prayer" needs to lead us into a life of faith and obedience.

So we hear the Psalmist saying, "I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people" (vv. 13-14) and "I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people" (vv. 17-18).

Surveys have demonstrated that the vast majority of people (non-believers included) pray at some time or another in their lives. But prayer - naming the Name - isn’t magic. It is living our life with our heavenly Father - who loves us and welcomes us into his family. "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Joel 2.32a).

Prayer: Our Father, you have loved us with an everlasting love. How you have longed to draw us back to yourself. At the right time you sent your Son to live in this world the life we had failed to live and to give his life so we can be forgiven. We lift up the cup of salvation and call on your name. We invite you in to share our life, not just in times of emergency, but for always. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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