His Names Upon My Lips

I've been thinking about the names of God recently and how they reflect who God is.  The second part of Psalm 16:5 says

"I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up 

their names upon my lips."

The preceding words of the verse talks about chasing after other gods...and the Psalmist goes on to say he will not even take up their names upon his lips.  That verb "nacak" in Hebrew "to take up" means to pour out, to cast metal image, to anoint (a king), to set up or to install.  This takes on a definitive act of "pouring out as an offering". Other definitions I found were: to lift up, to carry and bear, to support, to desire and long for....the names of other gods. 

The Message Bible says it like this:

Don’t just go shopping for a god; Gods are not for sale.  I swear I will never treat god-names like brand-names.  

Somehow I believe that names mean something to God.  When He took the time to name the animals, naming Adam and Eve; in fact, you look at so many places in the Old Testament where a name actually had an alternate meaning.  

Egyptians believed the way to keep a person alive in the afterlife was by speaking his or her name, saying it loud.  Enemies of pharaoh tried to destroy their monuments, carving or slashing the name and by doing so, you erased the person in the afterlife.  Ancient Egyptians believed that a person’s name is an integral part of who he is.  

Taking this in a bit of a different direction...when we "take up names" upon ourselves or others, it becomes a "part" of us, or attaches itself to us.  We attach labels or names depending on our circumstances....divorced, single mom, corporate executive, alcoholic, addict, loser and the list goes on and on.  As discussed previously, when we chase after other "gods",  names can become the only single way people perceive us and what we begin to believe about ourselves. Some names are good, others should be discarded. 

Before I launch into the names of God, the names we would do well to take upon our lips, let me take a small rabbit trail, albeit important one.  WHO are you?  What is your name?  If I may....as a believer and child of God...

YOU are BLESSED (vs. 1); YOU are CHOSEN (vs. 4); YOU are ADOPTED (vs. 5)..YOU are LOVED;  YOU are ACCEPTED (vs. 6); YOU are REDEEMED (vs. 7); YOU are FORGIVEN (vs. 7)  Ephesians  1:3-7

See...His names for us are pretty important and have incredible meaning for our lives :)

REMEMBERING what HE has done for us...saving us, redeeming us...pressing on and not taking those names of other "gods" upon our lips; not carrying, supporting, bearing, sustaining, enduring, being swept away or be carried off by those names.  Believe and take into your heart HIS names for you.  Well worth another study all its own :)

As a spiritual discipline, begin to take on GOD'S names into your heart and spirit.  Speak them out daily on your lips.  Each name is a character attribute of WHO He is.  When I meditate and concentrate on who He is and speak out His names,  it really does transform my day and attitude; my perception of what is real around me. Who really is in control of my life.  So my friend, today remember WHO He is...take His names upon your lips :)

Elohim - GOD, MIGHTY CREATER

Yahweh - LORD

Adonai - LORD, MASTER

Melek - KING

El Elon - THE GOD MOST HIGH

Ab, Abba, Pater - FATHER

Yahweh Shalom - THE LORD IS PEACE

Yahweh Tsebaoth - THE LORD OF HOSTS

El Roi - THE GOD WHO SEES ME

El Shaddai - GOD ALMIGHTY

El Olam - THE ETERNAL AND EVERLASTING GOD

Yahweh Jireh - THE LORD WILL PROVIDE

Yahweh Rophe - THE LORD WHO HEALS

Yahweh Nissi - THE LORD MY BANNER

El Kannah - JEALOUS GOD

Esh Oklah - CONSUMING FIRE

Qedosh Yisrael - HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL

Yahweh Tsuri - THE LORD IS MY ROCK

Yahweh Roi - THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Ish - THE LORD HUSBAND

El Chay - LIVING GOD

Shophet - THE LORD JUDGE

Miqweh Yisrael - THE HOPE OF ISRAEL

Yahweh Tsidqenu - THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Yahweh Shamman - THE LORD IS THERE

Maon, Machseh, Magen, Metsuda, Migdal-Oz - OUR DWELLING

PLACE, REFUGE, SHEILD, FORTRESS & STRONG TOWER