The Awe of YHVH

In the Old Testament, YHVH is the personal name of God.  It can be found 6800 times and it is so sacred to the Jews that when talking about the name of God the say, "Hashem" (the name).  We have lost how to properly pronounce God's name because the vowels are inferred.  Only the High Priest would utter His name on Yom Kippur.

The name of God is so Holy that the very people of God would not even utter it under their breath.  In Hebrew, God's name is called "the ineffable name"  The name that is so great that it is never to be uttered.  The Jewish tradition is to substitute the word "Adonai"  (my lord) in its place when reading the Torah. When not reading the Torah they will simply refer to God's sacred name as "Hashem" (the name).

We have lost the Awe of God.  There were times when going to church meant dressing up in your best, but now we go in tattered blue jeans and t-shirts.  Swearing and cursing were never heard in public and you could be fined or locked up for it.  Cursing the name of God is found in our songs, movies, TV shows, and even in church sermons.

When we think of God do we think of a big buddy who throws His arm around us and says, "Ah shucks, ya shouldn't say that."  How holy is your God?

God commands respect.  God created you.  He is the one who holds your life in His hand.  He is the omnipotent one, the omniscient one, and the omnipresent one.  He alone is self-sufficient, needing no one outside of Himself to survive.   Hashem is AWESOME!!

"No one is like you, LORD: you are great, and your name is mighty in power."  Jeremiah 10:6

Photo Credit: DSC00638 by nathan_gamble