How to protect the sacred name of YHWH?
25th August 2009
Modified 3rd Jan 2011
Terms:
Yahushua – The true name for what many in the Western world call Jesus.
Jesus - The appellation for the Messiah in the west.
Torah – These are the first five books in the Bible written by Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy contained in every Christian Bible but vastly ignored by Christians) – Since Torah is instruction in Rabbinic understanding it can encompass all the books up to Malachi including the Renewed Covenant writings, which are also instructions repeated from the Torah.
Tenach (Scriptures from Genesis to Malachi referred to as the Old Testament.
Septuagint (Greek translation of the Tenach done in 275 BC)
YHWH - The four letters of the most sacred name of God.
We have often heard that we should use the sacred name opposed to God, Lord and Jesus, however that is only one side of the story but what is not taught by the majority of the sacred name groups so far as we know is if you use the most holy name then how to protect it also which many in this movement have failed to do.
In many places we have been told His name such as Exodus 15:3, Ps 83:18 and Isa 42:8. We have been told to extol his name Ps 7:17, Ps 23:3, Ps 29:2, Ps 33:21 and in many other places where we are to glorify and adore His name. Note the name is freely used in worship and not just thrown around outside the camp of the faithful.
I was rather disturbed that in this movement some leaders are so stuck up and arrogant about using the most holy name that they put other people down and make fun of those using the term God.
These same leaders seldom remember to mention that there are times when you should not be using the sacred name! It is apparent to me that many of these leaders do not yet have this revelation. This is why it is said a little truth can be dangerous and can cause many to fall.
Recently some friends contacted me with concern that ever since we started using the sacred name everything seems to have stopped like a suspension, business is not progressing ahead, failing relationships, problem in friendships, what is going on? Are we being attacked? This of course is always going to be understood as an attack until we begin to understand what uttering the sacred name means.
This is the reason why this article was written.
Most sacred name advocates would tell you that you are being attacked by Satan. This is not true. Why would Satan attack you for using the sacred name, why wouldn’t he attack you for using Lord, God or some other appellation?
The reason is simple; the most sacred name of the four letters Yud, Heh, Wav and Heh pronounced Yah-oo-weh or in the other variant forms by various people such as Yah-oo-wah or Yahueh is not being protected. What does not protecting it mean?
When the name is not being protected it brings about what I term divine suspension or wrath upon the user. By divine wrath I do not mean that the Master is going to strike you down dead. He is happy that you use His name but He is unhappy that you misuse it and do not understand it when you should not utter it. There are times it is better to use titles such as Lord, Adonai, Ha’shem and even God to protect it.
Sacred names people misunderstand and misapply the text by saying you can never use titles this is not true as the prophets of the Bible used titles many times so they are safe to use. The only prohibition is against using names of false deities.
We will now examine scripture to see what we are being told.
The Hebrew term for Lord, which is Adon, in modern Israel is used as a title for a man such as Mr. The term “my Lord” is “Adonai.” It would be wrong to play gymnastics with languages, which many are guilty of. In the national language of Pakistan, which is Urdu the term for the Lord is Malik and it can apply to a man of wealth, stature or can apply to a king. Either way we know that the term Lord in English language also applies to a wealthy landowner, the judiciary but generally in England this applies to judges in the court rooms today as my lord.
Is YHWH a judge? Indeed he is. Let me show you.
Psalms 82:1 (KJV) God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods.
Note other people are called gods or Elohim in the Hebrew bible.
How much more to the King of Kings, who is The mighty Judge among judges?
Let us visit Abraham the father of our faith and see if he ever used the term Lord.
Genesis 15:2 (NKJV) But Abram said, "Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?''
AF Nazarene Hebraic Study Scriptures
Beresheeth (Gen) 15:2 2 But Abram said, Adoni hwhy, what will You give me, seeing I go without son, and the heir of my Beyth (house) is Eli’ezer of Damascus?
Note our father Abraham used the title Adon which translates to Lord or Master in the English language. This particular title is one of endearment, perfectly good to use and one also good to use to protect the most holy name when you are unclean or in a ritually unfit state to use it. What is a ritual unfit state?
For a man it could be he just had relations with his wife that makes him ritually unclean until the next day. Or a man visits the graveyard and becomes unclean for seven whole days. A woman maybe ritually unclean for the same reason as a man and on top she could be ritually impure if she is in her menstruation. These are a few everyday instances which make us ritually impure and if we are in such a state we must not use the sacred name and instead opt to use a title such as Lord or Adonai.
Let us see how the creator of the earth refers to Himself
Ha’Shem now talking to Job!
AF Nazarene Hebraic Study Scriptures
Iyob (Job) 40:2 Shall he that contend with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproves Eloah, let him answer it.
The term Eloah translated ‘God’ in the KJV has been used as a title for many false deities, yet YHWH had no problem applying it to himself in the book of Iyob.
So who dares reprove Adonai the King of Israel? Today modern sacred name teachers are going to tell YHWH how to use his name all the time and not be careful to protect it?
Also when you see the sacred name on a piece of paper and you are going to throw it away you must never do that. You must tear the name out and bury it. No you cannot burn it.
The prophets knew how to protect the name from misuse and blasphemy while many need to learn this truth today.
The much loved prophet Daniel look who he glorifies YHWH!
Dan 2:20 (KJV) Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God (Elaha) for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
AF Nazarene Hebraic Study Scriptures
Dani’el 2:20 Dani’el answered and said, Blessed be the name of Elaha forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Note Daniel uses the term Elaha, which is the Aramaic appellation to mean God yet the term, was used to apply to false deities in Iraq and all surrounding regions at that time. Did Dani’el reject the term as today’s modern sacred namers? No. He was sensible and wife and knew how to protect YHWH’s name. Trying telling that to sacred names people who insist on using the four letter name.
Daniel visits Nebuchadnezzar
Dan 2:28 (KJV) But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
AF Nazarene Hebraic Study Scriptures
Dani’el 2:28 But there is Elaha in the shamayim (heavens) that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebukadnetzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these;
How come the prophet Daniel did not argue like the sacred namers do today and he used a title instead that was applied to false gods in the region? It may not be obvious but Nebu the prefix to Nebuchadnezzar’s name was the false god Nebu.
It’s clear that Daniel knew YHWH’s sacred name as this name was used in the book of Daniel but he protected the name in front of the king so it would not be defiled! He did not act as the modern Jews today by completely hiding it but he used it when he was writing it out or glorifying it.
So what can we understand from this incident? We understand that we should protect the name and not utter it all the times because it should be protected which is a part of the process of santification.
The time to protect it
If you are in an unclean state as revealed before and there are many times that you could be in a ritually unclean/unfit state then you should not utter the most holy name. The chances are you will bring wrath or curse against yourself rather than blessing so be warned for next time’s sake.
Is it ok to use the term Lord? According to our father Abraham yes. According to Daniel the prophet, yes. These are my two witnesses to show you what I state is the truth. Now you do it at your own peril if you do not take care.
For those who may not fully understand the Renewed Covenant does talk about laws that are to keep us ritually clean. They are not done away at all.
The trouble is this that many sacred name people do not mean bad and are good people but some leaders in this movement are bent with an agenda.
Therefore, one should be careful how you act on this advice of the sacred name.
If you have had problems as I described above like your business folding, your relationships breaking down, your friends turning against you then the problem may not necessarily be that you are using the sacred name but that you are not protecting it hence the judgment quietly taking place and you being oblivious to this reality.
Let the Spirit of Ha’Shem that is within you discern these type of bad leaders who lead people into error.
Now that I used the term God it should make it clear if we can use this term or not. You will not find two witnesses in scripture banning the use of God. Yes we are aware this title was applied to false deities but then so was Alaha but Daniel did not have a problem using it so neither do I.
Simple rule of thumb
If a proper name such as Allah is applied to a false deity then it should be avoided else it can be used, if it was or is only a title. We know Allah is not a title but a proper name.
.
The name Ganesh (an Indian god the one with the elephant head) should be avoided too since this also is a proper name and not a title.
However we can use the title Rab which means the Greatest as that is legitimate and can apply to YHWH with no problem whatsoever. We can use the title Baghwan in the Indian language or use premeshwar the title for God.
If you are ritually unclean such as touching the dead, touched a carcass or ritually unclean because you had relations with your wife then you should not use the sacred name but use a title instead. This would be better than to defile the name. If you are not sure don’t use it but use caution instead.
You may ask where do I get this idea from. I get it from the Torah and it’s very scriptural! The Jewish people apply this and are correct to work it like this:
Lev 10:10 (KJV) And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
We as priests must learn to put a difference between what is holy and unholy.
Is the sacred name holy? Yes. Then why are we not teaching people to put a difference on how to use it? Since Judah is the lawgiver they have already put a difference so we come to agreement with them on its use, in assembly it is IN and outside with the nations it is OUT unless that person you are greeting outside like Boaz is one of your own.
Ruth 2:4 (KJV) And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.
AF Nazarene Hebraic Study Scriptures
Root (Ruth) 2:4 And, behold, Boaz came from Beyth-lechem (Bethlehem), and said to the harvesters, hwhy be with you. And they answered him, hwhy bless you.[1]
The sacred name is to be used in worship and praise freely, you can use it from one believer to another as in a greeting such as YHWH bless you or YHWH be with you the same as Boaz but it is not to be given freely to the nations unless they have come to faith because they may potentially defile it inadvertently, this is to protect them using Lev 10:10 and to protect yourselves.
Let’s look at what the Lord says in about Israel’s behavior in the nations.
Ezekiel 22:26 (NKJV) "Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them.
This is one of the sins of Israel and many still continue in it not putting a difference between the clean and the unclean!
Let us say that you were in a situation where you had ten people in a discussion and you were trying to give a message of the holy One of Israel, then at that particular situation it is important not to speak the name because the chances are that any one of the people in anger could potentially make a mockery of the sacred name, which would ultimately bring that person under instance judgment and defiles the name at the same time putting you in risk too. On the other hand if you were witnessing to people and you used the sacred name for someone who freely knew what the term God means but then you would first have to spend about fifteen minutes to explain what the sacred name means and then the man or woman has no knowledge of how to protect the name then why would you even use it the first time. It makes no sense and is illogical. It is simpler to use the term God the generic title and introduce him to the name after.
This means in evangelism this is not the magic bullet and needs to be used with caution.
And this is not all look what God tells us we will be calling Him in the future.
Hosea 2:16 (KJV) And it shall be at that day, saith the Lord, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.
So Ishi is as an endeared title to be used in the future. This would be My Lord in English but Ishi in Hebrew or My Husband. In English it does not sound all that endearing does it but in Hebrew it does. Then you might say but does not Baal mean Lord also. So then how could He be saying that I will take the title Lord away from you but you will call me my Lord still? This is a fair argument until you read the next verse then one understands what He is saying:
Hosea 2:17 (KJV) For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall no more be remembered by their name.
From verse 17 it is apparent that the Lord is saying that He will take away the names of false gods that are in our mouths and that we use freely for now. Such as Allah is used freely by Arabic Christians but it is a proper name of the Muslim deity.
There are Indian Christians who use the local Hindu deity names freely to apply to the God of Israel; these will be removed from their mouths one day.
These are only some of the reasons but there are a lot of other factors so please be careful to protect the name as you use it. Use it but do not abuse it or profane it by ignorance.
May YHWH bless you
Shalom Shalom
Rabbi Simon Altaf
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[1] In Boaz’ time it was very common to use the sacred name as a blessing when going out or coming in.