God's Name Is Important

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” [Zechariah 13.9]

What is it about calling on the Name of the LORD that inspires Him to answer?

A name is an interesting thing. A name is a powerful thing.

It seems in the context of the verse listed above, the calling of God's name reveals further declarations: God acknowledges recognition of the 'callers of His name' and the 'callers of His name' further acknowledge recognition of Him. But it all starts with a call upon God's name.

In the verse listed above, God's actual name is masked for reasons not really understood by me. All through the Bible where the word "LORD" is shown in SMALL CAPS, it means that the original text was, as best we can interpret it, the Hebrew word YAHWEH. That word, YAHWEH, is the name of God.

My name is Greg. When I hear the word, "Greg" I will look for the speaker of that word and listen to what is further spoken. In most cases, the person who calls my name is a person who knows me and is known by me. It is called relationship.

It is possible that someone can call the name of God without knowing Him (we hear it all the time) just like it is possible for a person to call my name without knowing me. But that is all revealed quite quickly. However, with God, when we have relationship with Him and call His name, He responds in recognition and our further communication reveals the mutual relationship between us.

God's name is YAHWEH. People call Him lots of things, but in the circles I run in, I don't hear many calling Him by His actual name. I hear "God" more than anything and, usually among more dedicated folks, I hear "Lord" used to refer to God. But seldom do I hear the word "YAHWEH" used.

It makes me wonder if we are missing something... something important.

Father, You are YAHWEH. I am privileged to call You Father, but I also want to understand that You have this name - a real name - the name YAHWEH. Give me deeper understanding of the importance of Your name.