Psalm 124 ends with these words, directly quoting part of its last verse: “Our help is in the name of the LORD.”

Notice the particular noun used … the NAME of the Lord!

In Hebrew culture (and vocabulary) one’s “shem” (name) represents his or her very being, his personality, reputation, fame or glory!

So, no wonder God teaches (commands) … “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.” Exodus 20:7

God’s Name actually indicates His Power, His Grace, His Very “Essence!” (From the Latin verb “esse,” meaning “to be.” Thus, His Name speaks of His Essence!)

Then it’s logical for Solomon to write in Proverbs 18:10 … “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” To which I say “Amen!”

Readers, I just located 109 times in the Bible (Old Testament and New) that this specific String of Words is found … “The Name of the Lord!”

From Genesis 4:26 (its first mention) where men have initially learned to call upon the Name of the Lord … to James 5:10 where men have preached in the Name of the Lord!

Hence, we certainly should study the NAME of the Lord.

Or should I say … “the NAMES of the Lord?”

Scripture ascribes to Him many Names and Titles!

Here’s a Primer …

“I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.” Psalm 7:17

“Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.” Psalm 113:2

“Jerusalem … whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, unto the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the LORD.” Psalm 122:4

“The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.” Psalm 129:8

“Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.” Psalm 148:13

Apparently we can even “overcome” in the Name of the Lord! “All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.” Psalm 118:10

Wow!

There is no name like HIS NAME!

Never abuse It or take it in vain! Treat It (Him) reverently all your days.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Good advice for the last day of the year, of any year.

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It is called “anthropomorphism.” Basically, it is a way of explaining an infinite being in finite terms. Better stated for this Lesson today … a way of describing our ineffable GOD to lowly human beings like us!

How else can one rectify Jesus’ Statement that “God is Spirit” (John 4:24) with other depictions of God in the Bible” Like the “Hand of the Lord” (Exodus 9:3), for example? Or the “Feet of the Lord” (Nahum 1:3)?

A Spirit has no hands or feet!

The answer … the Bible writers are following the Holy Spirit Word for Word as He uses various anthropomorphism to teach us about God the Father!

Now please understand … Jesus (God the Son) DOES have Hands and Feet! He being God made flesh! The whole Point of the Incarnation!

Now, finally … today’s Text Verse!

Psalm 123:1 … “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”  

“Looking unto Jesus,” Paul expressed it!

Yes, we are to be that occupied with our great God!

Jesus did this when He was on earth. Particularly as He prayed … “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father …” See John 17:1 for the Whole Verse.

But now … here’s the anthropomorphism.

The invisible God (Colossians 1:15) … with “Eyes!” Proverbs 15:3 … “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

I love this sterling example … “Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” Genesis 6:8

Deuteronomy 13:18, blunt but powerful … “Do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.”

This is classic … “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

Add this one … “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” Psalm 34:15

Now the New Testament, 1 Peter 3:12 … “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

I am to look unto Him, into His Eyes!

And … this is important … as I look to Him in submission and obedience … He promises: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8

God “guiding” me (the verb means “giving counsel, advice, purpose”) with His (singular) EYE!”

The Point of this Lesson … as I look to His Eyes (in communion and adoration and worship) … He in turn guides me with His Eye!

Anthropomorphism or not … I love that Thought!

(I cannot see His Glance, His Field of Vision, or receive His Guidance … unless I am first-of-all looking into His Eyes!)

Wow!

Let me go clean my glasses!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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There is no doubt that in the Old Testament God legislated that His people (the Israelites) go to the “House of the Lord” with regularity. Deuteronomy 16:16 enumerates those occasions … “Three times in a year shall ALL thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty.” (At Passover in the Spring, Pentecost in the Summer and Tabernacles in the Fall. And the “place” is Jerusalem.)

What about the New Testament people of God, the Church? This might need a multi-layered answer.

“And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” Luke 4:16, Jesus went to Temple (somewhat parallel to Church) regularly! “As His custom was!” If the Son of God went to Church, and I am to follow “in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21), then of course I am to go to Church!

Hebrews 10:25 helps here. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,” Paul writes under the Guidance of the Holy Spirit! When God’s people assemble … I am to be there! (Whether they “assemble” once or twice or even three or four times a week!)

Even the example shown in 1 Corinthians 16:2 says a lot about Church attendance! “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” Give” to the offering that is received “every Sunday” (which is the “first day” of the week) … can’t give to an offering if you are not there, present in Church every single week!

So, no doubt precedent exists for a child of God to go to Church!

(Of course, we Americans are spoiled, or used to be anyway, with the many choices of Church we might attend, all of them being Bible preaching stations! Folks are now telling me that is changing rapidly! Areas in our Country no longer have a decent place to worship God. One might, in those situations have to improvise.)

But still … back to the Lesson title … “requirement” or “privilege” … Church attendance?

Psalm 122:1 answers that for me. “I was GLAD when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” David counted it a “joy” to go to God’s House! Twice that Hebrew verb “was glad” is translated “to be merry” in our King James Bibles! (Here not “Merry Christmas,” but “merry” Church attendance!)

And if David was that joyful … I suspect I should be as well!

Hey folks … Sunday’s coming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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We have lived to see the day that even saying “Merry CHRIST-mas” is not allowed in some areas of public life!

So-called pluralism (a denial of the first two of the Ten Commandments) has spiritually damaged America in countless ways.

God speaking to Israel, with this same standard once applying to our Country … “Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you.” Deuteronomy 6:14

Deuteronomy 11:16 too … “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them.”

So, now we are being stripped of anything CHRISTIAN in the (once) Land of the Free and Hoem of the Brave!

Well, for me and my house … “WE WILL SERVE THE LORD!”

We will still believe that JESUS is God’s Son and the Cornerstone for every facet of life.

God to Joseph about Mary’s Baby … “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

That’s the TRUTH!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 … Not just to those few shepherds either, but to us all!

Hallelujah … “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“No other gods!”

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These Two Nouns (one Proper and one common) seem to have very little affinity. God … and sleep!

In fact, does God ever sleep?

Psalm 121:4 immediately answers that question. “Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

God does not sleep!

I love this Truth, this Bible Concept! Not only does our Lord watch over Israel (His people in the Old Testament) without slumber … He also watches over us Christians (His people in the New Testament) without sleep!

Yes, that verb “keepeth” is “shamar” in Hebrew and means “to guard, to preserve!”

Wow!

When I rest in bed tonight, say at 4:00 AM, God in Heaven is alert, overseeing his resting child!

That thought brings me peace!

Friend, next time you’re awake in the wee hours … ponder your Heavenly Father Who also is wide awake! Keeping you in His Sight!

Then Psalm 127:2 tells me something else quite precious about God and sleep. Read it with me: “It is vain for you to rise up early; for so He giveth His beloved sleep.” His “beloved,” we surely qualify as sincere Christians, saved by God’s Grace!

God, Who never sleeps … gives us sleep!

And what a blessing that kind of sleep really is!

He never sleeps … so I can sleep.

Thank You, Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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