"Z" is for Zion

 Unless one of my readers knows of a “Z” name for God, I have been unable to find one.  The word Zion however, has a very Biblical meaning.  In Psalm 87 it states the Lord loves the gates of Zion, and calls it the City of God’.

The word Zion occurs over 150 times in the Bible and is referred to both as the ‘city of God’ and the ‘city of David’.

The name Zion originally referred to an ancient Jebusite fortress, and after David captured this stronghold, it was called the ‘City of David’.  In II Samuel 5:7 it says “Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.”

In the New Testament the name Zion is given a spiritual meaning as God’s spiritual kingdom, the heavenly Jerusalem.  In Hebrews 12:22 it says “But ye are come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…”.  When the term “Mount Zion” is used, it usually is referring to the heavenly Zion as in Rev. 14:1 “And I looked and lo, a Lamb (Jesus) stood on Mount Zion…”.

So it is, as the Bible progresses, the word Zion transitions from referring primarily to the physical city of Jerusalem, to the more spiritual context of our future home, the heavenly Jerusalem.

I can think of no better way to end our trip through the alphabet, praising our Adonai, our Immanuel, our Rock, bowing before our Yahweh, than to look forward to the day when we shall march through the gates of Zion; that beautiful city of God.

“We’re marching to Zion,

Beautiful, beautiful Zion,

We’re marching upward to Zion,

The beautiful city of God.”

-----By Robert Lowry

"Y" is for Yahweh

 From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia on the Internet, the word ‘Yahweh’ is transcribed into Roman letters as YHWH.  This form of four letters is known as the Tetragrammation.  The most likely meaning of the name may be “He brings Into Existence Whatever Exists”.   Yay!  They got it right!  Our God does bring into existence whatever exists.  All things are made by Him!

The Bible (which I believe to be the true and inspired Word of God) describes ‘Yahweh’ as the One True God.  God said “I am Yahweh your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you lived as slaves.  You shall have no other gods to rival me.”  Yahweh demanded the roll of the one true God in the hearts and the minds of Israel.  “Hear Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might.”  As Christians, we believe Jesus is the human incarnation of Yahweh.

Yahweh (Yah-ve) is sometimes referred to as Jehovah, with the primary meaning of “self-existent one”. The ‘tetragrammation’ of YHWH, was considered too sacred to be spoken aloud, so other names were used for names that would be uttered.    To add vowel points to YHWH, it makes it sound like ‘Yehova’, and thus the later word of Jehovah, meaning “My Lord.”

To the name Jehovah, we see various names added to reveal His character.  For example, when God provided the ram in the thicket for Abraham, he came to know God as Jehovah-Jireh, (He will Provide).  When God revealed himself to David as the Shepherd, David called Him Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord our shepherd.  We discussed ‘Nissi’ as our ‘N’ word a few weeks ago, giving the name Jehovah-Nissi; the Lord is my banner.  This shows that Jehovah is the Lord, and the added name helps us understand ‘Who He is’.

We need to spend time praising God simply for who He is by using His various names:
He is Jehovah-elyon—“The Lord most High”
He is Jehovah-shalom—The Lord our peace”
He is my Yahweh, my Jehovah, The King of Glory!  (Psalm 24:7)

'X' is for Xristo

The X we often see used as Xmas, is actually the Greek symbol for ‘Chi’, ‘Christo,
or ‘Xristo’. In early times it was actually used for Christ Himself.

The exact origin of X for Christ is difficult to pinpoint.  Some have said it began in the first century AD, when symbols were readily used.  Some Bible scholars feel it was later, around the 13th century along with Christian abbreviations and symbols used in the middle ages.  It is also believed that early Christians put an X symbol above their doors to identify themselves to other believers and yet keeping their faith secret.

When the Gutenberg printing press was invented in 1436, each letter was individually set by placing a block in a strip.  Typesetting was tedious and expensive, so in order to save time and money one short cut was using an X for Christ when printing the bible.

This letter used in place of Christ had a long Christian history until more recent years when the history of it has faded or not been passed on; therefore it has now become misunderstood.  Many Christians feel by using X as in Xmas, they are leaving Christ out, but it is actually the same word, by using Greek symbols.

Other uses for the ‘X’ for ‘Chris’ are Xtina, for the name ‘Christina’; Xtal for ‘crystal’.
Florists use it as in ‘Xant’ for ‘Chrysanthemum’.

So next time you see the word Xmas, instead of being upset, share a bit of Christian history and your knowledge of Greek letters and symbols.

My Prayer: Lord, as a child of God, with power and wisdom from You, help me not to be so quick to find fault with expressions and words I do not understand.  Help me rather, to show discernment and study to show myself approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  Amen

"W" is for Word

 At the beginning of John’s Gospel, John refers to Jesus as the ‘Logos’ (LO-gos), the Word.  He is using the Greek term of logos for the One that created the universe by speaking it into existence (by the ‘breath of His mouth’.  Psalm 33:6)

The Scofield Bible’s notes on the Greek word of “logos” is that it means a thought or concept, and the expression of utterance of a thought.  As a designation of Christ, Logos shows that in Him are embodied all the treasures of the divine wisdom, the collective thought of God, and that He is from eternity.   As “the Word” or ‘logos’ everything about Jesus speaks to us of God—his teaching, miracles, suffering, death and resurrection.  It is Jesus voice as “The Word” that calls us.

John goes on to say in verse 14 that the Word was made flesh and made his dwelling among us”.  In the Greek, “made his dwelling” is linked to the word for ‘tent’ or ‘tabernacle’.  Jesus, as the Word made flesh, became a man, or like his brothers, to dwell (tabernacle) among us and through Him we could perceive God’s glory.  He is the Word calling out to us, healing our spiritual deafness and bringing us back to God.

We are to respond to Jesus, The Word, with both faith and faithfulness, reproducing Christ’s life so that Word may become one with us.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.  

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

…. John 1:1-4

My prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the Only Word, made flesh, and speaking your love to us in this dark world.  Give me ears to hear your word, and a heart to do your will.  Make me eager and able to proclaim your word in season and out, confident in your life-giving power and in your enduring love.  Amen