The Motivation for Worship

“Sing to the Lord a new song;
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:1-4

Sir Winston Churchill. Albert Einstein. Bill Cosby. President George Bush. Already your mind has formulated thoughts and opinions concerning these individuals - such as courage, genius, humor, and leadership. That is because a person’s name reflects far more than mere identity. It suggests character and personality, the sum of each person’s being.

Your worship experience can likewise be elevated through a new appreciation for the names by which God is called in Scripture. God’s name is indicative of His personal essence. The Psalmist writes: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1).

Listed are just a few of the names ascribed to God in the Bible along with the particular aspect of His character they reveal:

El Shaddai - God Almighty. Refers to the all-sufficient power and might of God (Gen. 17:1).

El Elyon - God Most High. Refers to the sovereignty of God (Gen. 14:18).

Jehovah - The Self-Existent One. Refers particularly to God’s covenant relationship with His people and His redemptive work (Ex. 3:14, 34:6).

“Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” -George Frederick Handel