The Many Names of God

“The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.” (Ps 18:2 AV)

As of late, I have been reminded of the infinite ways in which we know our God.  His is infinite in attributes and ability.  This does not mean He holds all possible attributes.  That would necessitate a God with faults.  Rather, He possesses all His attributes, which a perfect and holy God does, infinitely so.  I have been reminded of all the names by which He was addressed, particularly in the Old Testament.  This poor saint has been trying to memorize and use them, but find myself of limited ability.  We are too linier.  Our brains can only grasp so many concepts at any one time.  Because our human relationships are limited, we often define them as such.  When it comes to the LORD, this is not the case.  There are eight titles listed above.  They do have a common theme in the sense they speak of relief.  Relief either from known threats or potential ones.  As the Spirit led meditation upon this verse, He reminded me that God is so much more to me than I can completely comprehend.

My father wore many hats.  He was a highschool math and computer teacher.  He was a music teacher who taught guitar.  He was a professional musician.  He was a volunteer at our church and trained his children to serve right alongside of him.  My father was a recycler before it was a law.  He would collect metal, glass, and paper, then sell it back to the recyclers.  My father was both a Boy Scout Master and a Girl Scout Troop leader.  He was a stamp collector, a model train enthusiast, and a plastic model builder.  He had a darkroom and was a prolific photographer.  Not a very good one, mind you, but took a lot of snapshots.  My father was a tree farmer and librarian.  He took up coin collecting, bird watching, and computer hobbies.  My father was a complex man with many talents and interests.  Depending on what we were interested in, he attempted to show the same.  But what my father could not do was manage more than a few things at a time.  He could not be in the darkroom with me while also working with my brother to put plastic models together.  He could not lead both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts at the same time.  My father was a Renaissance man, but he was still a man.  There were times when I needed him to be one thing, but he couldn’t or wouldn’t.  The same is true with my sons.  I failed them more than I care to recall.

God is truly all things to all men.  He is all these things all at once.  When I awoke last night in the middle of the night, I needed Him to be one thing to me.  Then another.  As the Spirit brought the names of God to my mind, He led me to concentrate and pray to the Father in the context of that one attribute.  He was my deliverer.  Then He was my Rock.  He was my strong tower, then He was my shield.  Most of all, I needed Him to be my Abba Father.  God is more complex than we could ever understand.  Relating to Him thusly is a key to a more intimate walk with Him.  I am so grateful the LORD has many names.  I just with I could remember them all.  So, next time you have a time with the LORD, try focusing on what He is.  Try forming your prayer in the context of His nature as well as His personhood.  Remember, God is many things all at once.  He truly is a God beyond our understanding.