Sermon: Honoring the Name of God

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:1-7

*We apologize for the poor sound quality at the beginning of the recording. It resolves in about 20 seconds!

Scripture Text: Exodus 20:1-7
Bryan Buck

Quotes for Reflection

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name;
And for thy name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself.

Justin Cronin, The Ferryman
There is power in a name. It is through names that we bring all things into this world, and when they leave, it is names we carry with us, so they are never truly gone.

Alec J Moyter, The Message of Exodus
What were the people really asking for when they wanted to know God’s ‘name’? In the Bible, names often had a serious significance, and in the case of the Lord his ‘name’ was his ‘story’; it summed up who he was and what he wanted to make known about himself.

John Frame, Doctrine of the Christian Life
The one who gives a name to someone else has some measure of control over the one who receives it. The parent names the child, the conqueror names the conquered city, and the Lord names his people. Yahweh names himself, for there is no one higher than him.

Kevin D. Young, The Ten Commandments
The way to see God’s glory is to hear his name. To know the name YHWH, the merciful and gracious one, is not to merely know something about God; it is to know God himself (Ex. 34:6–8). God shows himself by speaking his name.

Application Questions

1. What power is found in a name?

2. How does calling upon the name of God open the door for his transformative power?

3. In what ways are you moved toward a more public faith, bearing witness to God’s name?