Today I would like to talk about the Name of God, Yahweh. People notice that I use His Name and often ask me why. As I was doing my Bible study earlier I came across the following from William Finck who talks about using the proper Name of Yahweh.
For the following have I received much criticism, however in many of my methods I refuse to bow to critics, because I believe that I have a greater reasoning than my critics. Identity Christians are the only true Restoration and Revisionist theologians, and we should therefore be complete in our methods. Therefore, unabashedly, when translating the New Testament I have made every attempt to restore in a dignified manner the Hebrew appellation for our Father and Creator, Yahweh, just as those translators of the past, who without any shame or remorse on their part, when making the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and the King James Version, along with most subsequent translations, have followed the Jews by distorting that name, and by substituting mere titles in its place.
People tell me “But the apostles used those titles”, and that is certainly apparent, from the oldest Greek manuscripts which we have, and from the oldest manuscripts of the early Christian writers. Indeed, the historian Flavius Josephus, in the second book of his Antiquities of the Judaeans at line 276 (2.12.4), while discussing Moses and the incident at the burning bush stated that “Whereupon God declared to him his holy name, which had never been revealed to men before; concerning which it is not lawful for me to say any more.” Therefore it is evident that the religious leaders of Judea had banned the use of the Name of Yahweh before the time of Josephus. In turn, Christ told the apostles that “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not” (Matthew 23:2-3). So the reasons why the apostles did not use the Name of Yahweh may be evident, because the religious leaders of Judaea had forbidden it.
Yet the scribes and the pharisees no longer sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore I do not believe that I am bound to obey them, as the apostles once were. From Hosea chapter 2: “16 And it shall be at that day, saith Yahweh, that thou shalt call me Ishi [which can be interpreted as my husband]; and shalt call me no more Baali [which can be interpreted as my lord]. 17 For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name. 18 And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the earth, and will make them to lie down safely. 19 And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies. 20 I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know Yahweh. 21 And it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith Yahweh, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth; 22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel. 23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” It is a theological statement, to assert that this time of realization for the children of Israel is at hand, and that they should recognize that this God of the Old Testament is indeed their God. To identify Him explicitly, rather than with the ambiguous terms that have replaced His Holy Name, is to acknowledge the historical facts of Scripture. That is what Identity Christians should be willing to do. (End of comment by William Finck. For more from William Finck please visit his website at www.christogenea.org)
Years ago I came across the Name and it sounded so foreign saying it. However, the more I used it, the more I loved hearing the sound of it. I truly believe it has given me a closer relationship with Him. Think of a spouse, or a child, or even a friend. What if we just called them husband, or child, or friend rather than by their given name. People love the sound of their own name. So does Yahweh. After all, we are created in His image. It shows we have a close relationship when we call someone by their name rather than their title.
I am a mom, a wife, an author, a chef, an Arbonne consultant and many more things. We are all so many things. And while I love being all of those things I don’t want them to define me because they can only do so narrowly. So much is left out when someone calls me a mom. What about all of those other things? It’s the same with Yahweh. Or in the case of Christ the Messiah, His Name is Yahshua. I wonder how many know that in the original language Yahshua means Yahweh Saves. Every time I say the Name Yahshua I am reminding myself that Yahweh is my redeemer and He has saved me. The word HalleluYah means Praise Yahweh. Many words replaced the Y with a J when J wasn’t a part of the alphabet until several hundred years ago.
There is power in the Name of Yahweh. So much power that the Edomite Canaanite Kenite Jews in Yahshua’s time banned anyone being able to say the Name or even to write the Name, as stated above from Josephus. Those rulers, who ruled from about the 3rd century B.C. banned the Name of Yahweh because they knew the power it held. We are saved by His Name. They literally took power away from the Israelites by banning the use of His Name. And it continues to this day. Many Christians (who are descended from those very same Israelites) don’t even know His Name. And because of it many don’t even know they are those same people that Yahweh said He loves. It’s all connected and begins with Yahweh.
Our family has been blessed calling on the Name of Yahweh. I encourage every Christian to start calling on Him using His Name.
This is Simply My Opinion,
Kathe