Sign of the Prophet
“even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another,. . .” Jeremiah 23:26-27
Intend – The Hebrew verb hashav covers a lot more than intentions. It means “to devise, to invent, to consider and to reckon.” When it is used with God as the subject, it also means “to plan.” We find it in the famous verse about God’s plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). God plans good things for those who faithfully follow Him. But that’s not the case with false prophets. Jeremiah proclaims God’s words about their plans. One of the characteristics of a false prophet is the scheme to make the people of YHWH forget His name. Those who deceive the flock are those who devise ways to remove God’s name from memory. They want God’s name to be lost. That makes substitution much, much easier. The people follow innocently when the prophets scheme to remove the name of the Holy One of Israel.
Does that make you a bit uncomfortable? Do you need to revise your evaluation of the church fathers? Who was responsible for removing God’s holy name from our religious experience? Who gave us Adonai or LORD or Jehovah or Jesus? Why are we left with only the consonants YHWH instead of the name that David used every day (Psalm 145:1-2). What happened in the course of history that made God’s name disappear from human language? Do you think it was “accidental”?
Perhaps you’ve heard the rejoinder, “Well, what’s the big deal? I know who I’m talking about. Does it really matter if I use an English substitution rather than a Hebrew name? Surely God understands.”
Yes, He probably does. But that doesn’t make it right, does it? For quite a long time my senior tutor at Oxford thought my nickname was Steve. As a proper English gentleman, he never considered the name “Skip” as a proper name for a man. Everyone who knew me realized that when he said “Steve” he meant me. But it wasn’t my name. One day someone was brave enough to correct him. He was embarrassed. I was relieved. We became much better friends. I imagine God might feel the same way when we don’t use His name. After all, it’s the most important name in the universe.
Tragically, somewhere in our history we have been the victims of false prophets. They have removed His precious name from our lips and now we have only a guess at its real sound. I am quite sure that God understands our dilemma. But I for one would certainly like to know what it really is. I want His name to be my constant praise.
Topical Index: name, hashav, plan, intend, Jeremiah 23:26-27
Hi Skip,
What amazes me is just how bad the writing is in the NASB translation.
In Psalm 145:3 the NASB translators call God by the wrong name and then claim that no sign of his greatness can be found; ie, it is “unsearchable.”
NASB
Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable.
On the other hand, in Psalm 145:3 of The Jerusalem Bible the translators get the name right, and the writing is much stronger and more poetic IMO.
The Jerusalem Bible
Psalm 145:3 Can anyone measure the magnificance of Yahweh the great,
and his inexpressible grandeur?
IMO that is good writing.
BTW speaking of Signs of the Prophet, my favorite movie critic, Manohla Dargis, reviewed a movie in today’s edition of the NYT and the name of the movie is coincidentally called A Prophet…hmmm
In any case it looks like a great movie 🙂
A Prophet (2009) NYT Critics’ Pick
February 26, 2010
Learning to Read, Murder, Survive
By MANOHLA DARGIS
WITH: Tahar Rahim as “Malik El Djebena”
http://movies.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/movies/26prophet.html?th&emc=th
Now I am puzzled. If the goal is to know God’s name, His real name, why do so many avoid anything that resembles naming Him such as leave the “o” oug of God making it G_d. I guess I had been lead to believe that naming God was not a good thing and now, Skip, you are saying that we do not have God’s name because it was taken away by false prophets. If calling Him by his name is okay and good, I am all for it. I think I need my puzzling solved first.
The reason why we have LORD instead of YHWH and G_d instead of Elohim and the reason no one knows for sure what vowels go with YHWH is because Jewish sages were afraid to use the holy name inappropriately, so they began substituting Adonai for YHWH when they read it in the text. Over time, the actual vowels associated with the consonants YHWH were forgotten (after all, it is an oral teaching method). So, now we don’t know. English translations adopt the Jewish convention of substituting LORD for YHWH (translating Adonai) or G_d (as in orthodox Judaism today). I am sure that YHWH understands our predicament, but it is a sad day. We can certainly see that David used YHWH all the time.
Shalom,
From a Jewish perspective …. as the story goes …. the use of “The Name” over time had become restricted to use within the Holy Of Holies, (to keep from profaning The Name), and of course only by the High Priest. Over time …. exiles and dispersions and destruction of the Mikdash (Temple) resulted in (of all things) the correct rendering of YHVH being uncertain!
Because of the Holiness and Power within “The Name” the Jews eventaully chose to refer to Adonai (The LORD) as HaShem (The Name) … an ironic allusion to the actual familiar Name which Adonai revealed to Moshe.
As for the correct rendering? …. There are numerous thoughts and convictions on the matter. Sadly these rendering arguments tend to bleed into debates as to the rendering of Yeshua’s Name as well … i.e. Yeshua versus Yahshua versus Yehoshua and so forth.
In any event I would have to concur with Skip …. the reality is that a great concern should be had for a believer …. why? … Because we are left with wondering how on Earth did our ancestors forget the familiar Name of the World’s Creator … how did we come to a place, in the here and now, wherein there is not a firm record regarding the Hebrew Name of Mashiach … Eternal ELOHIM manifest amongst us!
And when we declare … its OK … well it probably is not. Just as is the case with Shabbat versus Sunday or Easter versus Passover/First Fruits. Removing The Name from memory was the first attack of the enemy in removing The Name from within us … how? By removing the character traits and obligation to be obedient. After a while it just is not OK … we end up a people who do not know The Name of “the one and only GOD” and we do not walk in HIS ways … pretty hard to justify this as a relationship …. no?
As Skip directly points out …. a name in Hebrew is quite important indeed. Think of Yeshua …. blessed is HE Who comes in the Name of The LORD. We do need to have HIS Name within us …. all believers need to pray for revelation …. what Abba will give stones or a snake to his children when they seek bread …. when they seek HIS very NAME?
This brings tears to my eyes. And not tears of joy! How sad that we do not even know what to call this wonderful God who created everything!! Deliver us, O Lord, from evil!
I was watching a movie some time ago with an Eastern young lady in a garden praying, and she was saying, “O Lord … God… please … etc “ – then she moved and the camera followed and settled on what scared the he-be-jee-bes out of me! There before her stood an ugly wooden statue adorned with flowers and fruits!
It quickly dawned on me that ALL religions called the one they worship … lord and god. From that day on, I’ve made it my mission to use the sacred Hebrew name of the only God we serve, the Creator of the Universe, YHWH and his son Yeshua. Blessed be his name!
I looked up Psalm 145 and I don’t get a clear answer. How do you say YHWH and how do you say Yeshua. Can you give us a break down and put into print a way to say the name of our King?
LH
Hi Lowell,
I’ll take a crack at it:
YHWH = ya way
Yeshua = yeh shu ah
Close enough for government work 🙂
If this is the pre-requisite for salvation, we and all the others calling on the Name of Jesus are in huge trouble!!It is certainly good that He looks at the heart, isn’t it? The Scriptures tell us Jesus knew (knows) the inward thoughts and desires of each one. He knows whether we are sincere and if we desire to walk in His holiness-true? Although I don’t advocate a “so what” attitude about His Name, it is comforting to know that the Author and Finisher of our faith is ABLE to complete His work in me. And by the way, this faith is really not ours, He gave it! Praise the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! Keep seeking and asking Him. Keep showing the love He has given by obeying. Thank Him for mercy and grace.
“good that He looks at the heart”
Hi Mary,
I agree and suspect that the “mystery” of the Heart in the Scriptures is ultimately more important than the knowledge in our heads.
Take for example the account of the revelation at Sinai:
“You came close and you stood under the mountain, and the mountain burned in fire, until the Heart of Heaven — darkness, cloud, and gloom. And God spoke to you out of the fire. (Deut 4:11- 12)
If I understand it correctly, Heaven is a euphemism for God; so for Moses to be close to God’s Heart, he could not be afraid of the dark fire.
And if we recall the old gentile woman whom Yeshua referred to as a “puppy,” she was obviously no Rabbinical sage.
But I would guess that she had a “heart” that connected her to the Messiah; and a lot of “fire in the belly.”
Yes, Michael. We are “close to God’s Heart” and “connected” to Him though the Messiah. As we get to “know” Him by drawing closer through relationship, obedience from an overflowing heart of love, gratitude and fear (reverence) for Who He is, we too, have “fire in the belly”. 1 Thess 5:19 “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.”
How can we be in obedience without knowing His name? All the commands about doing things “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost” cannot be carried out in obedience. This has always frustrated me; as Christians we do such things “in the name of” — without ever using the names — even the one we do know, Y’shua. “The Father” and “The Son” are not their names. And still we stick out our chests and act very proud that we have obeyed Y’shua byacting “in the name of…”. How can we be so blind?
“be in obedience without knowing His name”
Hi Donna,
As I understand it, the Jews came with the word God to “cover all the bases” and I think the most important point is that there is only one God of the Jews.
Maybe that’s what Bono had in mind when he wrote the following lyrics:
“I believe in the Kingdom Come
Then all the colors will bleed into one”
But Miachael, when Y’shua clearly commanded, in the great commission, to go “…baptizing them in the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, do we have the right to substitute a human-devised all-inclusive substitute such as God? But we don’t even do that much – instead, we repeat His command using titles (the Father, the Son) – never using any name as He commanded. And in Peter’s sermon on Pentecost, he commanded, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the NAME of Y’shua Ha’mashiach for the forgiveness of your sins…” Again, do we have the right to ignore this command also, and use “the Son” instead of His NAME, Y’shua?
Sorry, Michael, I just misspelled your name. I didn’t mean to offend you.
Hi Donna,
No worries, I tend to make these typos all the time and then not see them until I send the message.
Frankly, I did not think twice about my name above because I knew you were addressing me.
I don’t know if we have a right to use any name, but maybe a “rose is a rose is a rose.”
At least that’s what the poet Gertrude Stein wrote in her poem, Sacred Emily.