THE ATTRIBUTE NAMES OF YAHWEH

Yahweh's Names are an expression of Him being ever-present to be that which we need Him to be. As we enter into covenant relationship, we experience the revelation of His life manifested to meet our need. By an extension of Himself to us, He becomes our all in all - our sufficiency in all things - our El-Shaddai . The revelation of His attribute Names came as men walked with Him and found Him sufficient for their every need in life's situations.

1. YAHWEH-YIRAH Genesis 22:1-14

Strongs 3069 Literally "Yahweh will see to it" or "Yahweh will Provide." The Theological Wordbook (2095) says - "in English to see to something, is to provide it"

The occasion of the revelation of this Name, was on the basis of Abraham's absolute surrender of everything to Him. In Isaac was all the aspirations and hope for the future, even all that Yahweh Himself had promised him - yet, he was called to surrender it all. On the basis of that type of surrender - Yahweh will provide.

When the sacrificial offering was completed in Abraham's heart, Yahweh intervened in the literal sacrifice of his son being offered, and said to him, "For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me." (Genesis 22:12) He had offered up that which most precious to him, the treasure of his life, which he had petitioned for and waited many long years to receive - it was the ultimate sacrifice!

On that level of complete abandon to the will of God, he received the promise revealed in the Name.

Yahweh's provision was a lamb for the sacrifice, as Abraham had said prophetically "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering" Genesis 22:8

And Yahweh did provide Himself the Lamb for a substitute offering for us, to provide eternal redemption for us, and in Him, the Lamb of God, all our needs are met. But it is on the basis of total and absolute surrender that we find Him sufficient for all our needs and not otherwise.

Paul articulates the principle in Philippians 4:18-19, of the result of their sacrificial giving to him through Epaphroditus, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Yeshua the Messiah". The assurance of the riches of His glory being made available to them was on the basis of their sacrificial gift.

It does also have an outworking in the provision of our material needs, but that is based on several principles. His concern as a loving Father is toward His children, but we reap according as we have sown.

Paul outlines these principles in 2 Corinthians 9:6-12. If we sow to the spiritual, we shall real spiritually. Likewise if we sow to the natural we shall reap accordingly i.e. fleshly "corruption" Galatians 6: 8; See also Matthew 6:19-21

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? " Romans 8:32; Also Matthew 6:33

2. YAHWEH-RAPHA

Strongs 3068 = 7495 Literally "to mend (by stitching) i.e. to cure, to cause to heal, repair or make whole - therefore "Yahweh is my Healer/Physician"

Yahweh gave His revelation as the Healer to His people on the basis of a test. "If you diligently heed the voice of Yahweh your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians." Exodus 15:22-26

It was conditional and the results of not keeping His commands and statutes are listed in Deuteronomy 28:15-60 as curses to be visited upon them. See also Exodus 23:25,26; Deuteronomy 7:15; Proverbs 3:7,8

As outlined in these scriptures it means all of His instructions. This not only includes the moral laws, but also those of hygiene and the observance of the different classification of clean and unclean foods.

Healing was part of the atonement of the whole man - spirit, soul and body as brought out in Psalm 103:1-3

In Isaiah 53:3-5 it brings out that Yeshua bore not only our sins, but also our emotional and physical ailments.

Verse 4 reads literally, "Surely He has borne our griefs/sicknesses/weaknesses/pains and carried our sorrows/pain"

Verse 5 - "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities".Thus we see the healing/wholeness which he obtained for us, was for every part of our being.

3. YAHWEH-NISSI

Strongs 3071 - from 5264 "a flag, a sail, a flagstaff, a signal. a standard" Literally "Yahweh my banner" - The Theological Wordbook (1379a) - says that it "generally means a rallying point or standard which drew people together for a common action or for the communication of important information. This usually happened on a high or conspicuous place within the camp or community. There a signal pole, sometimes with an ensign attached, could be raised as a point of focus or object of hope."

In Exodus 17:14,15, Moses lifted the standard against Amalek, saying, "Because Yahweh has sworn: Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation". Read Chapter 17: 8-16. Amalek was a descendant of Esau who typifies the fleshly nature. They came and attacked Israel in an attempt to defeat them and regain the inheritance that Esau lost. The inheritance is retained for Israel by Moses interceding for them while the battle ensued. While he prevailed in prayer, Israel (the spiritual nature) had the ascendancy, but when his hands became heavy Amalek (the fleshly nature) prevailed.

This is a valuable natural example in type of a spiritual truth. The flesh will always be used by the enemy to overpower us and cause us to lose our inheritance, but we can prevail in prayer and overcome while we keep our eyes fixed on our standard, the Messiah, and see Him as our focal point and source of hope.

We will have war with the enemy through the flesh, but we are waging a warfare under His banner. That banner has been raised and the victory has been declared over the enemy on an altar that was established at Calvary by a greater Moses, and we rally under that ensign.

We declare the victory in His Name and by the power of His Spirit, take possession of our inheritance.

"So shall they fear the Name of Yahweh from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of Yahweh will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

4. YAHWEH-SHALOM

Strongs 3073 - "safety, wellbeing. happiness, prosperity and peace" i.e. "Yahweh is my peace"The Theological Wordbook 2401a - says that "the root meaning of the verb 'shalem' better expresses the true concept of 'shalom'. Completeness, wholeness, harmony and fulfillment are closer to the meaning. Implicit in 'shalom' is the idea of unimpaired relationships with others and fulfillment in one's undertakings."

Gideon established an altar to Yahweh when given the revelation of this Name. Judges 6:1-24 It was based on Gideon's call to defeat Israel's enemies which had been afflicting them because of their disobedience (v.10) and their sin of idolatry. (v.25) Yahweh had shown Gideon the cause of their oppression from the enemy and instructed him to remove the altar to Baal (vs. 25-27) and make atonement for their sin."The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever" Isaiah 32:17

5. YAHWEH-SHAMMAH

Strongs 3074 Literally "Yahweh is there" - The Theological Wordbook (2404) - says that it is a common adverb that may have a locational significance. Therefore the understanding is that Yahweh is always there with us.

Yahweh made a covenantal promise through Ezekiel that He would establish His sanctuary in the midst of them and dwell with them (Ezekiel 37:26-27). This was based on the ultimate fulfillment of His purposes in them. (Ch.37:21-25) This prophecy will come to realisation in the millenium. We see in Revelation 21: 2,3, in the new heaven and the new earth, where the very presence of God and the Lamb are in the midst of His people, where truly it will be "Yahweh-Shammah" - "Yahweh is there!" (Ezekiel 48:35) In this age we are partakers of the promises and the power of the world to come and have become indwelt by the Spirit of Yahweh corporately. As He said "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people" Leviticus 26:11-12; 2 Corinthians 6:16 As Yeshua also said, "Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them"

Being in agreement-unity is the basis for this manifestation of His Name. Matthew 18:20

Although He is omnipresent in all places and at all times, His manifestation is dependent on conditions. Note that the enemy has to "walk" through the earth (via his agents) to manifest himself (1 Peter 5: 8), and 2 Chronicles 16: 9.

6. YAHWEH-TSIDKENU

Strongs 3072 Literally "Yahweh is our right", or "our righteousness"

"A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. .. .. .. .. Now this is His Name by which He will be called "Yahweh our Righteousness" Jeremiah 23: 5b, 6b

Prophetically, this is speaking of Yeshua becoming this to His people through the power of the redemption that He obtained for us. Isaiah 11: 1-5,10 "But of Him are you in Messiah Yeshua, who became for us wisdom from God - and righteousness and sanctification and redemption - " (1 Corinthians 1:30) "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Here "Yahweh our Righteousness" is identified as Yeshua the Messiah. He has become our righteousness whereby we may be accepted as 'righteous' - not on any merits of our own, but because of His imparted righteousness to us. To those who accept His dominion now over their lives, He has become their righteousness before the Father. In the age to come, He shall execute judgment and rule in righteousness and the people will thus learn righteousness.

7. YAHWEH-RA'AH

Strongs 3068 + 7462 "is a primitive root 'to tend a flock' i.e. to pasture it; by extens. to associate with (as a friend). .. .. a companion" - The Theological Wordbook (2185) says that the concept of this word is the pasturing or herding of the people.

"From very ancient antiquity, rulers were described as demonstrating their legitimacy to rule by their ability to pasture their people." . . . . "This attribute of God is one of the marks of the office of prophet, priest and king."

David said "Yahweh is my Shepherd" i.e. Yahweh-Ra'ah. - Psalm 23: 1 The shepherd's role was not only to feed the sheep and lead them to good pastures, but also to protect them from wild animals which they did with their rod which was about 30" long with a knob on the end to beat off the animals. He also protected them from dangerous situations where they may harm themselves. For this He used the Staff to keep the sheep out of tight spots and prevent them falling off cliffs and into ravines. The shepherd was always with the sheep, ever by their side to care for them and tend their needs.

As a shepherd boy, David knew what it was to take care of the sheep and therefore knowing the Divine Shepherd, David extols all the attributes of His Name as the Shepherd of his soul.

• Yahweh-Yireh His provision "I shall not lack" v.1; "my cup runs over" v.5
• Yahweh-Rapha Healing and restoration - "He restores my soul" v.3a
• Yahweh-Nissi Spiritual sustenance in the midst of trials - "a table in the presence of my enemies" v.5
• Yahweh-Shalom Prosperity and peace - "green pastures - still waters" v.2
• Yahweh-Shammah His Presence - "For you are with me" v.4
• Yahweh-Tsidkenu His right judgment - "He leads me in paths of righteousness" v.3b

Yeshua said, "I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep" John 10:11

Yeshua fulfilled all that was revealed of Him as the Shepherd of our souls. (Hebrews 13:20)

As a Son of the Father He allowed Himself to be the provision of our redemption.

In being lifted up on the Tree He secured deliverance from sin and all its resultant weakness, sickness and death.

In His resurrection He became the victor over all the powers of darkness and raised an ensign for all people. Having secured eternal redemption, He made peace through His shed blood and we now reign in life through Him. Now we dwell in Him and He in us by His Spirit which is given to us, and He will be with us to the end. Through Him we stand righteous, justified, and will be glorified on that day when we stand before Him. Shepherding His sheep He will then lead them to the fountain of living waters and feed them on the heavenly manna. Revelation 22: 1-2

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." 2 Corinthians 9: 8