In seeking to understand more concerning the original and
true use of our Father’s name, we find much wisdom and teaching about this
from His written word. To find the answer outside of the traditions that have
long misinterpreted much of the Father’s intent, we have to depend on the
written Word and ask the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) to reveal the truth (Jn.
16:13).
By Kelly F. Miller
The Torah (Yahweh’s law, teaching, instructions, and guidance for His
people for all time) commands:
“Do not misuse the name.” (Dt. 5:11 NIRV)
“Do not take the name in
vain.” (Ex. 20:7 KJV)
“You are not to use lightly
the name.” (Dt. 5:11 CJB)
What do these statements mean?
The CJB (Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern) states the Name can be used,
just not lightly. The NIRV (New International Reader’s Version) says not to
misuse His name. And the KJV (King James Version) says not to use His Name in
vain. Traditions of the oral writings of the Sages and Rabbis (who definitely did not have absolute and complete revealed knowledge) said that ONLY the High Priest, once a year, used the Father’s Name, or spoke it only
once during the day of atonement to keep it holy. This implies that none of the
people ever used it. Only the High Priest, only once a year. But is this the right interpretation?
Did the Rabbis, Scribes, and
Teachers of the law always interpret it rightly? The Father spoke through His
prophet (to the nations) Jeremiah and asked: “How can you people say ‘we are
wise. We have the law of Yahweh? Actually, the teachers of the law have told
lies about it. Their pens have not written what is true’.” (Jer. 8:8 NIRV)
It goes without saying, it was
not our Father’s written Word that was the problem. He was referring to their
additional interpretations in oral commentary. Our Master Yahshua constantly,
and consistently set the record straight concerning the right interpretation,
and continued to demonstrate to us an example of challenging the “accepted
norms.”
Even the Apostle Paul showed
and taught this (same) example and instructed the body of Yahshua Mashiach
(Messiah) under the inspiration of the Ruach Ha Kodesh (the Holy Spirit of
truth) to: “test everything; hold fast to that which is good.” 1 Thes. 5:21.
Our Master restored the
Father’s name to His disciples. This is the clear message given in His
statements “Father, keep them in your Name…I have made known to them your
Name, and will continue to make it known.” (Jn. 17:11, 26). This was and is an
obvious prophetic and significant statement.
The motivations of the Rabbis
seem to be noble; to keep the Father’s Name Kodesh (holy). And they were
correct in that determination. But did they succeed, or did they assist in
helping the people forget His Name? We have to keep in mind that Israel had a
history of losing the law and worshiping many idols. Thus, forgetting His Name.
What does it mean to keep His
Name holy? The Hebrew word is Kodesh, which means: set apart, and from what? It
can‘t be set apart and restricted from use by the people, because that would
depart greatly from the clear understanding of many passages in the Holy and
Sacred Scriptures that show people addressing and using His Name.
The challenge and duty of
Elohim’s people is to accept the written definition in His revealed word. To
be set apart is to be above, beyond, and different from the names of the many
gods the pagan nations worshiped. There is only One Holy, pure, perfect, and
Almighty Elohim and His Name is Yahweh! He is not
at all like the gods the ignorant pagan nations worshiped. His Name is Kodesh
– Holy – and set apart from their names. Those gods are no Elohim (gods) at
all.
Only Yahweh Elohim is the
self-existing, true, and living Elohim. But His Name being set apart does not
render His Name un-useable by His people. The clear understanding of the
Father’s written Word says:
“people
began to call on the Name of Yahweh.” (Gen. 4:26).
“everyone
who calls on the Name of Yahweh will be saved. (Joel 2:32).
“My people
will know my Name.” (Isa. 52:6).
We
know from many Scriptures in His written Word (outside of the traditions of men)
that His Name was used, called upon by His people, and known by His own. Even
the pagans surrounding Israel had heard of the Great and Awesome saving Name of
Yahweh, and trembled!!! And His
Name being known remained (and remains) Kodesh – Holy – and set apart. There
was and is still no Elohim like Yahweh – the Elohim of Israel.
When
we receive the Ruach Ha Kodesh are we not set apart and called Kodeshim, which
is translated as saints? This word means we are sanctified, holy, and
set apart by the Spirit of Yahweh. But no one would dare say we are now rendered
un-useable because we are too holy! And neither should we say that about our
Father’s Name. To not call upon or use His Name is to do exactly what we are commanded
not to do. We lessen or weaken it to something used
lightly, vain, void (cancelled) or useless in
our lives. This happened before and the people drifted
from using the Father’s Name into completely forgetting it. He obviously wants
us to use, remember, and consider His Name as is shown by inspiring His servant
Agur to ask this simple question: “What is His Name?” (Prov. 30:4).
In
the beginning the people of Elohim called on His Name. After years of wickedness
the people eventually forgot His Name. We find Abram in his father’s house
full of idols. Our heavenly Father revealed Himself to Abraham, but our Father
didn’t reveal or restore His Name until He gave it once again to Moses (Ex.
6:2).
Our
Father Yahweh was restoring many things that were lost, because we know that the
Father’s Holy Sabbath Day was known and practiced since creation, but lost
while Israel was in a foreign and pagan land for 430 years. The true body of
salvation will always know the Father’s Holy Days and His Holy Name. This is
the pattern in Scripture. It is also stated in Scripture that the Israelites
worshiped the heavenly host of stars while in Egypt. The Father was about to
change all that and restore what was lost to His people. This is the clear
implication through His servants, the sons of Korah as stated in Psalms 44:21:
“If we had forgotten the Name of our Elohim, wouldn’t He have known it?”
Many
did forget the Father’s revealed Name, Yahweh, for many years. He did know it
and He wanted to restore it to His people. That is why He gave it to Moses, to
teach it and share it with Israel again. And how mightily they would come to
know our Father’s Name!
Later
He used His prophet Hosea (2:16-17) to tell Israel they were addressing Yahweh
as Baal. He told the people He was going to remove the name of Baal from their
lips. This is the root of the English substitute word LORD as translated
(incorrectly) in our Bibles. It’s not our Father’s Name. His Name is set
apart from the gods and idols of the masses who knew and know His revealed Name,
but refuse to call upon it. His Name is not LORD or Baal.
I
AM YAHWEH; that is my Name! I yield my glory to no one else, nor my praise to
any idol.” (Isa. 42:8).
He
said His Name was being insulted daily (Isa. 52:5-6 CJB). How? Well, we have
seen many examples already when addressing Him by a name that was and is not
His. This is taking His Name in vain and misusing it according to the word. But
His children having some supposed difficulty pronouncing correctly their
Father’s Name is not a punishable offense, as some continue to assume. What
father would discipline his child for not being able to correctly form the sound
of his father’s name due to an undeveloped and unskilled tongue? Our Heavenly
Father is more just, perfect, loving, and merciful than our earthly fathers. If
they would receive and accept their child’s attempt with a hearty laugh and a
huge hug, how much more our Father in heaven? He most certainly accepts our
attempts to pronounce our Abba’s Name, even if it “may not be” absolutely
perfect.
He
warns the world that He will pour out His wrath on those that don’t call on
His Name (Psa. 79:6). Now would that be just? Would it be right to punish people
for not calling on a Name they supposedly never knew? But if they knew the
Mighty Name of Yahweh and chose not to call on Him for salvation, then our
Elohim would be just, and He is always just. The nations did know about the
mighty wonders and awesome power of Yahweh – the Elohim of Israel. Archeology
has discovered and uncovered many records of the pagan nations etched in stones,
which named the Elohim of Israel as Yahweh. The facts are that they knew His
Name, which renders them without excuse if they called not upon His Name, nor
joined the assembly of the people of Yahweh – the Elohim of Israel. It is
stated in the written word that He never left the people of the world without a
witness. This is so as well in regards to His Name.
Much
more could be said (and has by many others) but one would be richly rewarded
with understanding from their own personal study. Before closing, one more
important example should be drawn from the Master’s useful instructions
recorded by Matthew chapter 15. In discussion with our Master Yahshua, the
Pharisees proceeded to question Him as to why His disciples were breaking “the
tradition of the elders,” in not washing their hands before eating.
Yahshua’s response is illuminating to our understanding of this discussion. He
said: “for the sake of your tradition you have made void (cancelled)
the Word of Elohim.” (Mt. 15:6)
There
were many such instances of their misinterpretations of the written word. The
Master taught us by example to challenge and test all such assumed
interpretations. If the elders got so much wrong then, what has remained wrong
to this very day in regards to their traditions and false interpretations? We
know that as a nation they cannot, as yet, collectively see their Messiah. We
know that to this very day it is an obligatory law, and ritual duty to wash
their hands while saying a baruch (blessing – called netilat yadayim) before
eating a meal. (“To Be A Jew” by Hayim Halevy Donin 1972 pp. 78-79)
As
we can see clearly, some are still stuck in the very same error of their
tradition that our Master addressed some 2000 years ago. Could it be remotely
possible that the “tradition” of not using the Father’s Name (which
didn’t come from His word) could have been, and still is a misinterpretation,
making void and cancelling the clear instructions of Elohim’s word?
Scripturally we have proven this to be the case to anyone who has eyes to see
and ears to hear. (Mt. 1314-17)
Once
again, the Sacred and absolute Scriptures show the misuse of the Name is to use
His Name in a curse (Lev. 24:10-23), or to not use it at all, or to say you know
the Name of the Holy One and to live an unholy life. These are the clear misuses
of the Kodesh Name extracted from the wealthy mine and treasure of the
Father’s flawless word. To call on, or use the Name of Yahweh Elohim is a
Sacred and Holy gift. But it is not a violation of our Father’s commandment,
as some continue to presume. We, as His people, are to know, use rightly,
respectfully, and reverently, His Name, by avoiding evil in our lives and doing
all His Holy will, and by calling upon His Name for salvation and deliverance,
or plainly just speaking our Father’s Name as His children should. His Name is
still Kodesh – Holy – and set apart. But so is all Israel which is called by
the Father’s Name, and no one would suggest we are not to be used.
The
Father clearly wants His Name to be restored to use by His people, who know what
His Name is, means, and to honor His commandment by not making His Name void,
vain, or useless, but by allowing His Name to make us useful in bringing
salvation and restoration to His people and the world. He continues to reveal
His Name in so many awesome and wonderful ways. And to You our Father Elohim
Yahweh be all the glory!