BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 21

Subject: "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ"

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:3

These words are written by Peter, a disciple of Jesus. Like the apostle Paul, Peter begins his letter praising and blessing God.

1.  The phrase “God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” occurs 11X in the New Testament. 

2.  The New Testament apostles always make a clear distinction between God and Jesus Christ. 

What is the distinction?

1. Yahweh God is identified as the “God” of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. Yahweh God is identified as “Father” of our Lord Jesus Christ.


The early church in the 1st Century worships God, Yahweh. 

• He is the merciful Father who gives us the new life in Christ. 
• He raised Jesus from the dead so that we can have a share in this living hope. 

• Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead himself.

• It was God who raised Him from the dead and then highly exalted him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 20

Subject: Blessed be the "God" and Father of our "Lord" Jesus Christ

"BLESSED be the "God" and Father of our "Lord" Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. " Ephesians 1:3 

• The focus of worship and praise is always Yahweh Father God in both the Old Testament and New Testament. 

• Here, it is Yahweh Father who is blessed and in turn, Yahweh God blesses us with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. 

• The subject is Yahweh God.

We can take note of the following:

1. Yahweh is "God" and Father.
2. Jesus Christ is "Lord".


In the past, when I read the New Testament, I often intermixed the terms "God" and "Lord". Whenever I read, "Lord", I thought "Lord" is "God", and that "God" is "Lord".


We need to distinguish these terms "God" and "Lord". 
Do not intermix them to avoid confusion.

1.  Jesus was not born with this title "Lord". 

2.  Jesus was given the title "Lord" by Yahweh God. 

In Acts 2:36, "God has made him both "Lord" and "Christ", this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

Jesus fulfilled God's mission to be the Messiah, and that's why Yahweh God raised him up to become "Lord" (Philippians 2:9-11), to sit on His right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20).


Paul constantly makes this distinction: 
One God, the Father and one Lord, Jesus Christ.

In 1 Cor 8:6, it says: "there is but "one God", the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but "one Lord", Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live."

We worship and bless the one Yahweh God.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 19

Subject: Yahweh God is Blessed Forevermore

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed FOREVERMORE, knows that I am not lying. 

2 Corinthians 11:31 

These words of Paul are almost in the form of an oath, a solemn appeal to God, who can testify to the truth of what Paul is saying to the Corinthian church.


We can take note of the following 3 points:

1. God is blessed. In the OT, Yahweh God is blessed all the time. We have seen this in the last 18 articles. 

2. Yahweh God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Yahweh God is blessed FOREVERMORE. Blessing 

• Yahweh God is to continue from generations to generations. 
• Blessing Yahweh God did not stop in the OT times. 
• Paul continues to follow through on this important teaching in his generation. 
• We too must learn to bless Yahweh God so that our children can learn to love God and praise the Name of Yahweh.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 18

Subject: Paul blesses God

BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort. 2 Cor 1:3


Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by blessing Yahweh God. 

Who is the focus of attention in 2 Cor 1:3? 

• It is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus. 
• Notice the focus of worship is not on our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• The worship of praise is directed towards Yahweh God. 
• Yahweh God is the Father of mercies and comfort. 

Paul is drawing on an OT image of YAHWEH as FATHER expressed in Psalm 103:13-14, “As a FATHER has compassion on his children, so יהוה YAHWEH has compassion on those who fear Him."

Let us praise Father Yahweh who comforts us & strengthens us in all our troubles as we take part in the sufferings of Christ.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 17

Subject: Zechariah blesses Yahweh God of Israel

‘Blessing the Name of God' is also a major theme in the NT.

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people." Luke 1:68 


These words were spoken by Zechariah when his son, John (the Baptist) was circumcised on the 8th day. As soon as Zechariah was able to speak, he praised God (Luke 1:64). He was filled with the Spirit of God and started prophesying in Luke 1:68 beginning with these words: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel …


In the NT, "Lord" can refer to Yahweh God, Jesus or to a human master. Most of the time "Lord" refers to Jesus. In Luke 1, Jesus has not yet been born, so the word “Lord” definitely refers to Yahweh God. 

“Blessed be Yahweh, God of Israel….” We have seen in the last 16 articles that men of God in OT constantly used this exact phrase to worship the One True God of Israel. God's Name is exalted through praise.


Zechariah is blessing Yahweh God of Israel, for God is visiting His people to redeem them through the Messiah. John the Baptist is to be the prophet of the Highest to go before the face of the “Lord” to prepare his ways (Luke 1:76). “Lord” here refers to Yahweh as this is a quotation from Isaiah 40:3, “Prepare the way of Yahweh”.


In the Greek NT, when "κύριος" Lord is used in quoting the OT, most of the time, the Hebrew has the text "יהוה" Yahweh. Therefore, we can read "Yahweh" in place of the word "Lord" in those occurrences.


Truly Yahweh God is praised and blessed. God is truly merciful in fulfilling His promise to raise up a horn of salvation in the person of Christ with John as the forerunner.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 16

Subject: Calling on YAHWEH who is worthy of PRAISE

"I called to YAHWEH, who is worthy of PRAISE, and I am saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:3

Last time, we saw that Job was under spiritual attack, and in his pain and sorrows, he called on Yahweh and blessed the Name of Yahweh. God is worthy of our praise on the basis of WHO He is, apart from blessings He bestows on us. This is the secret of Job's life in face of all his loss.

Psalm 18 is psalm of David. He too, like Job, recognizes that Yahweh God is worthy of praise. He called on the Name of Yahweh and praised Him to overcome spiritual battles. Yahweh God delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.


David is praising God in the middle of spiritual battles. Here is an important connection of calling on the Name of God and praising Yahweh's Name, especially under severe spiritual attacks. God responds. The enemy flees. God's Name is honored.

We are familiar with praising God when the music is on, when the drum is beating, when the pianist dances beautiful music on the piano, or when the singspiration leader leads us with singing. We seem to think that church worship is the best environment that is suitable to bless and praise God. Not so. Learn true spiritual meaning of praising God at all times, especially under the pressure of severe spiritual attacks,  because He is worthy of praise all the time.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 15

Subject: Job Blesses the Name of Yahweh

Job 1:21 “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away; Blessed be the Name of Yahweh.”

We are all very familiar with these words of Job. 

• Job is a person who knows Yahweh God. 
• "Yahweh" is repeated 3 times in this verse alone. 
• "Yahweh" gave. "Yahweh" has taken away. Blessed be the Name of "Yahweh".

Notice that Job blesses the Name of Yahweh in the midst of adversity. 

• In grief, Job's thoughts are on God's Name, and that the Name of Yahweh be praised. 
• We know how to praise God in times of joy and celebration. 
• But do we know how to praise God in times of sorrow and suffering?

When we suffer deep pain through difficult trials, the natural response would be anger, complaint and self-pity. We feel that praise is not suitable in such a circumstance. Our thoughts and minds dwell on our sufferings and not on Yahweh God.


Remember, God alone is worthy of praise all the time. Why? 

• Yahweh has not changed. 
• The only change is our circumstances. As in the case of Job, his situation was completely changed overnight and he lost almost everything. Job has every reason to be bitter and licking his wounds. Job has our total sympathy.

In our church, we have been studying the Book of Job in the last 3 months. We want to understand the the suffering of a righteous man. In our suffering, we need to perceive God’s work from beginning to end. Without God, all suffering is in vain. 


Job is actually under severe spiritual attacks. What is his secret to come through triumphantly in his despondency and intense suffering? He held on to God and he blessed the Name of Yahweh. Praising Yahweh is one of the keys to victory, to overcome Satan's attacks. Satan uses all kinds of attacks to stop God's children to praise God and to curse Him. Job's wife fell into this trap.

There are times when the spiritual oppression is so heavy that words become feeble in our prayers. Calling on Yahweh's Name and praising Him will help us soar above our suffering.

Don't think that we only praise in good times. Learn to praise all the more in times of deep suffering. Tears maybe flowing out in pain but when our hearts are filled with praise to Yahweh's Name, we find strength in His Name to overcome intense pain and sorrows.

Many spiritual battles are lost because of a lack of praise to God's Name. This is why it is very important for you to get to know God's Name, to call upon His Name, and to bless and praise the Name of Yahweh.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 14

Subject: Levites Bless Yahweh's Glorious Name FOREVER

Stand up and bless Yahweh your God forever and ever. "Blessed be thy glorious Name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." Nehemiah 9:5


Nehemiah was a great servant of God who feared God's Name (Neh 1:11). After 70 years of Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and remained there for 12 years to help build up God's people.

Nehemiah 9 is probably one of the longest recorded prayer in the Bible. Here, the Levites led the Israelites in prayer. Right at the beginning of their prayers, they blessed the glorious Name of Yahweh. When the Levites gathered the people to prayer, the first thing they said to the people was: "Stand up and praise YAHWEH God, FOREVER and EVER." 

This event tells us something very SIGNIFICANT: Even after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, the Name of God, Yahweh was never forgotten. Please take note that the Levites led the congregation to praise YAHWEH and bless the glorious Name of God. They knew God as YAHWEH and called on YAHWEH. 

Secondly, the Levites also instilled on the hearts of the Israelites that God's Name, Yahweh, must be praised and blessed FOREVER and EVER. They remembered the teaching of Moses back in Exodus where God says: "This Is My Name FOREVER." So now, after 70 long years away from Jerusalem, the new generation of Levites reminded the people again that Yahweh's Name be blessed FOREVER and EVER. The Israelites needed to teach their children to bless and praise Yahweh God from generation to generation.


Isn't this interesting? In the past, we were given the impression that the Israelites did not use God's Name, Yahweh anymore after the exile. This is simply not true. Actually in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the Levites continued to teach God's people to call on Yahweh Name as this is God's Name FOREVER and EVER.

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 9

Subject: David's Prayer in weakness

Psalm 41:13
Blessed be to Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen. 

Psalm 41 is one of David’s many prayers. 

• Here we find the secret of David's strength in weaknesses. 
• Yahweh delivers the weak in times of trouble. 
• Yahweh protects and preserves the weak. 
• Yahweh sustains the weak on their sick bed. 
• Yahweh restores the weak from their bed of illness. 

Call on the Name of Yahweh to have mercy on us to raise us up. (Psalm 41:4, 10)

• Do not get discouraged when you are weak. 
• Lately, I've been feeling very weak. 
• Give thanks to God because I am now able to see myself clearly. 
• It is when we perceive clearly our weaknesses that we passionately call out to God with a yearning heart. 
• Our prayers are no longer apathetic. 
• When God's deliverance comes, we become strong in His strength. 

David ends his prayer with these words, "Blessed be to Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen" (Psalm 41:13).

In the previous articles, we have clearly seen that Psalm 72:19, 89:52, and 106:48 also end with this same special expression of blessing the Name of Yahweh at the close of their prayers.

Now, can you see how important the Name of God is to the Psalmists? 

Even to the end of their prayers, even when they are feeling weak in themselves, their concern is on the Name of Yahweh and to bless His Name!

How do you end your prayers to God?

BLESSED be the Shem of Yahweh FOREVER – 8

Subject: Ethan's Prayer

Psalm 89:52 

Blessed be Yahweh forever! Amen and Amen.

The Bible has a lot to say about praising and blessing the Shem of Yahweh that we are going to use another week to learn this important lesson.

This is the prayer of Ethan, the Ezrahite. He was one of the wise men from the time of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:31).

Like all men of God, he too is concerned for God’s Shem when he prays and he calls out to the Name of Yahweh throughout his prayer. 
Psalm 89

 

I will sing of the steadfast love of Yahweh, forever;
    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
    in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
    I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
    and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Yahweh,
    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!
6 For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh?
    Who among the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,
    and awesome above all who are around him?
8 O Yahweh God of hosts,
    who is mighty as you are, O Yahweh,
    with your faithfulness all around you?
9 You rule the raging of the sea;
    when its waves rise, you still them.
10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;
    you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;
    the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.
12 The north and the south, you have created them;
    Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
13 You have a mighty arm;
    strong is your hand, high your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
    steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, O Yahweh, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day
    and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
    by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to Yahweh,
    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19 Of old you spoke in a vision to your godly one, and said:
    “I have granted help to one who is mighty;
    I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found David, my servant;
    with my holy oil I have anointed him,
21 so that my hand shall be established with him;
    my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him;
    the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him
    and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and my steadfast love shall be with him,
    and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea
    and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, ‘You are my Father,
    my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’
27 And I will make him the firstborn,
    the highest of the kings of the earth.
28 My steadfast love I will keep for him forever,
    and my covenant will stand firm for him.
29 I will establish his offspring forever
    and his throne as the days of the heavens.
30 If his children forsake my law
    and do not walk according to my rules,
31 if they violate my statutes
    and do not keep my commandments,
32 then I will punish their transgression with the rod
    and their iniquity with stripes,
33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring shall endure forever,
    his throne as long as the sun before me.
37 Like the moon it shall be established forever,
    a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah

38 But now you have cast off and rejected;
    you are full of wrath against your anointed.
39 You have renounced the covenant with your servant;
    you have defiled his crown in the dust.
40 You have breached all his walls;
    you have laid his strongholds in ruins.
41 All who pass by plunder him;
    he has become the scorn of his neighbors.
42 You have exalted the right hand of his foes;
    you have made all his enemies rejoice.
43 You have also turned back the edge of his sword,
    and you have not made him stand in battle.
44 You have made his splendor to cease
    and cast his throne to the ground.
45 You have cut short the days of his youth;
    you have covered him with shame. Selah

46 How long, O Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever?
    How long will your wrath burn like fire?
47 Remember how short my time is!
    For what vanity you have created all the children of man!
48 What man can live and never see death?
    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,
    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?
50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,
    and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,
51 with which your enemies mock, O Yahweh,
    with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

52 Blessed be the Yahweh forever!
Amen and Amen.

Name – 3X

1. Rejoice in Your Name
2. In Your Name they rejoice all day long
3. In My Name, his horn shall be exalted

Yahweh – 11X

1. Sing of the steadfast love of Yahweh forever
2. Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Yahweh
3. For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh?
4. Who among the heavenly beings is like Yahweh, a God
5. O Yahweh God of hosts,
6. Who is mighty as you are, O Yahweh
7. Who walk, O Yahweh, in the light of your face
8. For our shield belongs to Yahweh
9. How long, O Yahweh?
10. O Yahweh
11. Blessed be Yahweh forever! Amen and Amen.

When the psalmists pray, they often call on Yahweh's Name and pray that God's great love and faithfulness be declared throughout all generations. (Psalm 89:1). So in their prayers, you find them always rejoicing in God's Shem all day long to declare the steadfast love of Yahweh and His wondrous acts down through the ages. Let us also pray in this manner.

Who is like Yahweh our God of Hosts? 
Who is mighty as you are, O Yahweh?

In prayer, we must learn to truly worship God and not always bring out a list of prayer requests. 

We need to put our full attention on Yahweh God whose love stands firm forever (v.2). Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne & love and faithfulness go before Him (v14). God had acted faithfully in the past since the time of creation, and Yahweh will continue to act faithfully in this generation. Blessed be the Name of Yahweh forever.

Like David, Solomon and the other psalmists, please take note that Ethan also ends his prayer "blessing Yahweh forever!" Amen and Amen.

Blessed be the Yahweh forever!

Amen and Amen.