Worship Words

(This study is an expansion of the worship section in my book, “A History of Man’s Quest for Immortality,” Fifth Estate Publishing, 2007)

The desire of God’s heart is to give of Himself to others. He created the Universe for us. He created the Earth for us. He created us. What God asks for from us in return is our love, obedience and worship.
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. ‘And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22
“(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God).” Exodus 34:14
God wants our worship and He does not want His people worshiping anyone or anything else. His Name is Jealous (Hebrew El Kanno). Remember that the Bible is God’s Revelation. He reveals Himself to the world – letting us know Who and What He is. Here are 100 of the names God used in His Word to reveal Himself to the human race. The names are Hebrew unless identified otherwise.
  1. The most sacred, unutterable Name of God (He was, He is, He will be) – YHVH, Jahweh, Yah, Jehovah
  2. YHVH the Holy God – Adonai ha’elohim hakkadosh
  3. YHVH my Holy God – Adonai Elohai Kedoshi
  4. YHVH my Rock and Redeemer – Adonai Tsuri v’go’ali
  5. The NAME – Hashem
  6. GOD (Sacred Name) – Shem Hameforash
  7. I AM THAT I AM – Ehyeh asher Ehyeh
  8. The Excellent One – Hagaon
  9. God is Sovereign (plural form) – El
  10. God (singular form) – Eloah
  11. God is Awesome – Elah (Aramaic)
  12. God is Creator – Elohim, Hayotzer
  13. The LORD our Maker – Adonai Osenu
  14. The Living God – Elohim Chayim
  15. God of the living – Elohim HaChayim
  16. God the Father – Elohim HaAv
  17. God our Father – Elohim Avinu
  18. God in Heaven – Elohim Bashamayim
  19. God of Heaven – Elah Shemaiya (Aramaic)
  20. The God of truth – Elohim Emet
  21. God is Most High – El Elyon
  22. God of gods – Elohei Haelohim & Elah Elahin (Aramaic)
  23. The Spirit of God – Ruach Elohim, Ruach El
  24. The Spirit of the LORD – Ruach Adonai
  25. The Spirit of the LORD God – Ruach Adonai Adonai
  26. The Holy Spirit – Ruach Hakkodesh
  27. God is Mighty – El Gibbor
  28. God is One – El Echad
  29. God is Great – El Haggadol
  30. God is Holy – Hakkadosh
  31. The Holy God – Ha-El Hakkadosh
  32. The Holy One, blessed is He – Hakkadosh Barukh Hu
  33. God is Everlasting – El Olam
  34. The Eternal God – Elohei Kedem
  35. Everlasting Father – Avi’ad
  36. God is All Knowing – El De’ot
  37. God is Awesome – El Hannora
  38. God is Faithful – El Hanne’eman
  39. God is Truth – El Emet
  40. God is Gracious – El Channun
  41. God is Merciful – El malei Rachamim
  42. God is Righteous – El Tsaddik
  43. God is All Sufficient – El Shaddai
  44. God is Jealous – El Kanno
  45. Just One – Yashar
  46. The God of Justice – Elohei Mishpat
  47. The God of All Glory – El Hakkavod
  48. King of Glory – Melekh HaKvod
  49. The God of heights – Elohei Marom
  50. God of my strength – El Sali, Elohei Ma’uzzi
  51. God of my salvation – El Yeshuati
  52. God of our salvation – El Yeshuatenu
  53. The God of my praise – Elohei Tehillati
  54. The God Who is near – Elohei Mikkarov
  55. The God Who is far – Elohei Merachok
  56. The God Who sees me – El Roi
  57. The God of my life – El Chaiyai
  58. God of Compassion – El Rachum
  59. God of my Kindness – Elohei Chasdi
  60. The God of the Heavens – El Hashamayim
  61. The God of rock – Elohei Tzur
  62. The God of Israel – El Yisrael, Elah Yisrael (Aramaic)
  63. King of Israel – Melekh Yisrael
  64. Light of Israel – ‘Or Yisrael
  65. The Holy One of Israel – K’dosh Yisrael, El k’dosh Yisrael
  66. God of Jerusalem – Elah Yerushelem (Aramaic)
  67. The God of forgiveness – Eloah Selichot
  68. The LORD (Master, Owner) – Adonai
  69. The LORD God – Adonai Adonai
  70. The LORD your God – Adonai Eloheikhem
  71. The LORD of Peace – Adonai Shalom
  72. The LORD our Righteousness – Adonai Tzidkenu
  73. The LORD my Rock and Redeemer – Adonai Tsuri v’goali
  74. The LORD my Miracle – Adonai Nissi
  75. The LORD GOD of hosts – Adon Adonai Tseva’ot
  76. The LORD God of Israel – Adonai Elohei Yisrael
  77. The LORD your Sanctifier – Adonai Mekaddishkhem
  78. The LORD my Shepherd – Adonai Ro’i
  79. The LORD Who heals you – Adonai Roph’ekha
  80. The God of hosts – Elohei Tseva’ot
  81. LORD of lords – Adonei ha’adonim
  82. The LORD of all the earth – Adon kol-ha’arets
  83. Our God – Eloheynu
  84. God with us – Immanuel
  85. Deliverer – Moshia’
  86. The Savior – Hamoshia’
  87. Salvation – Yeshu’ah
  88. God of Israel the Savior – Elohei Yisrael Moshia’
  89. Mighty One of Jacob – Avir Ya’akov
  90. The Giver of Salvation – Hannoten Teshuah
  91. The Redeemer – Haggo’el
  92. The Redeemer of Israel – Go’el Yisrael
  93. Fortress (Shelter) – Machseh
  94. Refuge (Dwelling Place) – Ma’on
  95. Light of the Nations – ‘Or Goyim
  96. Wonderful Counselor – Peleh Yo’etz
  97. Prince of Peace – Sar Shalom
  98. Messiah – M’shicho, Shiloh
  99. Messiah the Prince – Mashiach Nagid
  100. Jesus the Messiah – Yeshua Hammashiach

The worship of Israel was based on God revealing Himself to His people. God revealed Himself first to Abraham, then to his son Isaac and to Isaac’s son Jacob. One of God’s Names is The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Elohei Avraham elohei Yitschak elohei Ya’akov).The names God gave to His children also tell us more about the worship relationship they had with God. We’ve already seen that the name Abraham meant “father of many” and Isaac meant “laughter”. Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons who they named Esau and Jacob. Esau (“hairy”) was the older son, Jacob (“heel catcher, supplanter”) was the younger son. Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for food and Jacob tricked his father into giving him the first-born blessing. Jacob later wrestled with God and the Lord changed his name to Israel. The name Israel is a combination of the words isra (strive, power, rule) and el (God) and demonstrated God’s intention to rule and bless the world through the lineage of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of 12 sons and one daughter.

  1. Reuben
  2. Simeon
  3. Levi
  4. Judah
  5. Dan
  6. Naphtali
  7. Gad
  8. Asher
  9. Issachar
  10. Zebulun
  11. Dinah
  12. Joseph
  13. Benjamin
God chose Jacob (Israel) to be the one who would receive His special blessing and through whom He would eventually rule the world. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world would come through Jacob’s line. That raises the question  – what happened to the rest of Abraham’s children and grandchildren? They all lived in proximity to Jacob and his sons and would interact with Israel for generations. You may recognize some of the names from your studies in the Old Testament. It’s important in a study of worship to note which sons and tribes came directly from the line of Abraham and which came from the people who lived in Canaan before Abraham arrived. God promised certain blessings to the offspring of Abraham, even though He chose only one son to carry the Seed – from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah.
  1. Abraham’s sons: Ishmael (by Hagar), Isaac (by Sarah), Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah (by Keturah)
  2. Abraham’s grandsons: The 12 sons of Ishmael – Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah (by mother from Egypt, name unknown) … Isaac’s 2 sons – Esau and Jacob (by Rebekah) … Jokshan’s 2 sons – Sheba and Dedan (mother unknown) … Midian’s 5 sons – Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah and Eldaah (mother unknown)
  3. Abraham’s great-grandsons: Esau’s (also known as Edom) sons – Eliphaz (by Adah daughter of Elon the Hittite), Reuel (by Basemath, daughter of Ishmael), Jeush, Jaalam and Korah (by Aholibamah the daughter of Anah) …  Jacob’s 12 sons – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Issachar and Zebulun (by Leah), Joseph and Benjamin (by Rachel), Dan and Naphtali (by Bilhah), Gad and Asher (by Zilpah) … Dedan’s 3 sons – Asshurim, Letushim and Leummim (mother unknown) … Midian’s 5 sons- Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah and Eldaah (mother unknown) …
We could continue with this list for a long time because the Bible is quite specific about the lineage of Abraham – as it should be since God promised blessings to Abraham’s children and children’s children for generations. Christians often ask why the Bible is filled with so many lists of names. One reason is how those names establish the lineage of God’s Promises to His people. Whenever you see God become very detailed in revealing something, take note. The Bible is God’s Holy Word and He didn’t waste a word or a letter. The Bible is God’s Revelation of Himself and He shows us those things that are important to Him. And if it’s important to God, it’s important to us. For the purpose of this study about the history of worship, we will focus on the line that carried the Seed that would be the Salvation of God to the world. The lineage of Israel would be the line of worship that God would receive from the human race, and none other.
The first chapter of the Book of Matthew, the most Hebrew of the Gospel accounts, contains a list of names proving that God kept His specific Promise of the Seed to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. It is an unbroken line from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of  the Virgin Mary, the mother of God’s Son. (Click here for more about the miraculous Virgin Birth of Jesus the Messiah of Israel.)
“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers. Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram. Ram begot Amminadab, Amminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David the king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. Solomon begot Rehoboam, Rehoboam begot Abijah, and Abijah begot Asa. Asa begot Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat begot Joram, and Joram begot Uzziah. Uzziah begot Jotham, Jotham begot Ahaz, and Ahaz begot Hezekiah. Hezekiah begot Manasseh, Manasseh begot Amon, and Amon begot Josiah. Josiah begot Jeconiah and his brothers about the time they were carried away to Babylon. And after they were brought to Babylon, Jeconiah begot Shealtiel, and Shealtiel begot Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel begot Abiud, Abiud begot Eliakim, and Eliakim begot Azor. Azor begot Zadok, Zadok begot Achim, and Achim begot Eliud. Eliud begot Eleazar, Eleazar begot Matthan, and Matthan begot Jacob. And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations.” Matthew 1:1-17
We see the power of God’s Will concerning the Seed Promise played out in the life of Joseph, one of Jacob’s youngest sons. Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him because of how Jacob loved him. They conspired to kill Joseph and tell their father that a wild animal had killed him. However, Reuben, the oldest of the brothers, suggested they throw Joseph in a pit. The brothers sold Joseph to a group of Ishmaelites (lineage of Ishmael, the brother of Isaac) and Midianites (lineage of Esau, the brother of Jacob) who sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. God used the lineage of Ishmael and Esau – also from the lineage of Abraham – to bring about His Will in the life of Israel.
As we know from Genesis 39 – 48, Joseph went on to become second in command to Egypt’s Pharaoh and provided for his father and brothers from the great famine that devastated Egypt and Canaan. The day came when God was ready to reunite Joseph with his father and brothers. The Lord used the widespread famine to do that.
“When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, ‘Why do you look at one another?’ And he said, ‘Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.’ So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, ‘Lest some calamity befall him.’ And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.” Genesis 42:1-5
Isn’t that interesting! Jacob and his family were in trouble. They needed food. Jacob (Israel) was God’s chosen one to carry the Seed of Salvation to the world. How would God provide and protect Israel? He sent Joseph ahead of his family to prepare the way. Egypt had grain because God gave Joseph the interpretation of pharaoh’s dream. Do you see the power of that? Everything looked so bad to Jacob for so many years. He thought Joseph had been killed by a wild beast. He had grieved and mourned for Joseph for years, not knowing that God was going to use a living Joseph to save his family from starvation. Wow! What a God we serve!
Joseph recognized his brothers when they came to him to buy grain, but they did not recognize him. Many years had passed and Joseph had become a strong man in Egypt. The brothers took the grain back to their father, Jacob, but the grain soon ran out. They had to make another trip to Egypt to buy more grain. It’s interesting to see what Judah said to his father, since Judah now carried the Seed that would bring salvation to the world.
“Now the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, ‘Go back, buy us a little food.’ But Judah spoke to him, saying, ‘The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you will not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Genesis 43:1-5
Joseph’s plan was to get his entire family to come to Egypt. He wanted to see his brother Benjamin (they had the same mother) and his father. That second reunion led to Joseph revealing himself to all his brothers. Joseph also revealed how God had worked out everything out for His Purpose.
“Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph; does my father still live?’ But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:3-8
What wisdom that is for us! We may see disaster and defeat, but God sees a great victory in our lives as we obey His Will. Joseph’s brothers returned to the land of Canaan to tell Jacob that Joseph was still alive. The news revived Jacob’s spirit and he determined to go to Egypt to see Joseph before he (Jacob) died. As Jacob traveled to Egypt, he stopped to worship God. That’s when God revealed more of His plan to make Israel into a great nation.
“So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ So He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.’ Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.” Genesis 46:1-7
God’s prophecy to Jacob that He would make Israel into a great nation was quite interesting in light of the fact that the total number of people who went with Jacob to Egypt was just 70. That’s right! God started building the Nation of Israel with just 70 people. Generations later, Israel would become one of the mightiest nations on earth. Interestingly, Jacob sent Judah (who would carry the Promised Seed forward) to meet with Joseph about the family moving to Goshen. Joseph took care of all the details and continued to provide for his family’s needs until the end of his life.
Israel would grow into a great nation of people in Egypt, but their greatest days were yet to come when God would call them out of Egypt to return to the land He had given Abraham many years before. God would call them out to be His people and worship and serve Him forever.
(You can read more about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and the children of Israel in Egypt on pages 270 – 282, and 562 – 586 of “A History of Man’s Question for Immortality”)

In Christ’s Love and Grace,

Mark McGee

GraceLife Ministries

“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.””