In the Old Testament, the principal way in which God reveals Himself is through the unveiling of His many Names (each, of which, represents a different facet [or, perhaps, several facets] of His Character and Nature). The loftiest of all the Names with which God identifies Himself is found in the four-lettered, Hebraic, Tetragammaton: Yud Heh Vav Heh. Pronounced Ye-veh or Shem Havayah, YHVH literally means "The Name of Existence." Most English versions of the scriptures interchangeably translate Shem Havayah as "I AM," "Yahweh," or “Jehovah.” Shem Havayah is the Name that is above all other Names, and it is reserved only for the Supremem God of the Hebrews: Jesus, the Almighty and the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It is more than just interesting to note, though, that, in Genesis 1:26, the word translated God or Lord is NOT Shem Havayeh, but, rather, the less specific (and plural) Elokim, which, in its most literal translation, means "Masters of Strength" or "Masters of Forces."
And now Part II…
As startling and as controversial as this might read, we, as human beings, are elokim (little e) created in the Image of the Elokim of elokim (see Psalm 82:6 and Jesus’ Words in John 10:34-38). If this is the case (and I believe it to be so), we human beings, in our capacities, powers, and endowments, so closely resemble Elokim that, by design, it is, at times, difficult to distinguish between Him and us. This, my friends, is what I believe God had in Mind when He made you and me. He desired a family (and an army, too) of loving, powerful beings who could think, feel, and act just the way He does and who could exercise dominion and mastery over the forces of nature and the spirit world. Now, of course (and quite obviously), there are significant differences between us and God (for we are not Shem Havayeh). God (big G!) alone is Shem Havayeh (The Name of Existence), He has always been Shem Havayeh, and He will always be Shem Havayeh, the Supreme Creator "of all that is, seen and unseen," as the Nicene Creed reads, the Everlasting Father and Breathe of Existence, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the ultimate Elokim of elokim. We, on the other hand, are not Shem Havayeh, and neither will we ever be so. For we are created elokim, and there was a time when we (mankind) were not. Even though God (as Shem Havayeh) is so far beyond us, it is my belief that, because we bear the Image and Likeness of Elokim, we resemble God about as much as any created beings can. And, as such—and in submission to Elokim, we do some of the things He does, and this includes our worship of Him.
Worship, because it is an endowment that was stamped in us at creation, is not just something we are commanded to do (see Matthew 4:10 and Deuteronomy 6:13), but something we cannot help but do. As controversial as this might seem, I think it bears repeating: We worship, because we are image-bearers of a worshiping God. If to worship is to adore or to devote oneself to another, well, God has been doing this very thing since before time began. The Godhead (Father, Son, and Spirit) exists in a state of eternal worship. The Father adores the Son, the Son is devoted to the Father, and the Spirit glorifies and hallows the Son and the Father. Provided below are several passages of scripture that allude to this very thing (Note: As you read through these passages, notice the love, adoration, and devotion expressed and demonstrated within the Godhead.):
"This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I find all My delight."—Matthew 4:8-10
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if You will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'"—Matthew 4:8-10
...a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is My Son, marked by My Love, focus of My Delight, Listen to Him."—Matthew 17:5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all men might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His Own, but His Own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of Whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.—John 1:1-18
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if You will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'"—Matthew 4:8-10
...a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: "This is My Son, marked by My Love, focus of My Delight, Listen to Him."—Matthew 17:5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through Him all men might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His Own, but His Own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testifies concerning Him. He cries out, saying, "This was He of Whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.'" From the fullness of His grace, we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, Who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.—John 1:1-18
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will glorify the Son in Himself, and will glorify Him at once."—John 13:31-32
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love."—John 15:9
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not Speak on His Own; He will Speak only what He Hears, and He will Tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you. All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you."—John 16:12-15
After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that your Son may glorify You. For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent. I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave Me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your Presence with the glory I had with You before the world began".—John 17:1-5
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their Message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You Are in Me and I AM in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We Are One: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I AM, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them."—John 17:20-26
Okay…that’s all for now. Tune in tomorrow for Part III!
CU…
Dave
No comments:
Post a Comment