Jesus taught us how to pray, during his Sermon On The Mount, when he gave us the Lord’s Prayer. One of the first things that Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer is to sanctify the name of God:
Matthew 6:9 -- "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
By acknowledging the holiness of God’s name, we are properly praising God. The proper handling of the name of God is so important, it is commanded by God (Exodus 20:7) that we do not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. But what is this name that is being referenced?
YUD HEI VAV HEI
The letters that make up God’s name are Yud, Hei, Vav, and Hei. This name is often known as the Tetragram or Tetragrammaton (meaning “four letters”). Many consider the pronunciation of this four-letter name of God to be Yahweh.
This holy name, Yahweh, can be seen in the Old Testament several times including Exodus 6:3, Psalm 83:18, and Isaiah 12:2. Though, depending on the English translation, the name might appear as the LORD or Jehovah.
In some ways, יהוה can be thought of as more of an equation than a name, because of all the information embedded in it. One way information is embedded is through gematria, a practice of assigning a numerical value to a name, word, or phrase according to numerical values assigned to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
Another way information is conveyed is through the power of imagery … each Hebrew letter represents an object. For example, the Vav can represent the image of a NAIL.
Also different parts of a letter may be known by certain names. For example, an embellishment at the top of the Yud is known as a crown and the ascender at the top left of the Yud is known as a Thorn. Sound familiar?
As explained by ancient Judaic wisdom, one important thing to know about the name of God is that the Yud represents the Father, the Vav represents the Son and the last Hei represents planet Earth (known as Malchut). Furthermore, this wisdom tells us that when people sin, the last Hei (Malchut) separates from the Vav (the Son). It is our job to unite the last Hei (planet Earth) with the Vav (the Son) through repentance.
As explained by ancient Judaic wisdom, one important thing to know about the name of God is that the Yud represents the Father, the Vav represents the Son and the last Hei represents planet Earth (known as Malchut). Furthermore, this wisdom tells us that when people sin, the last Hei (Malchut) separates from the Vav (the Son). It is our job to unite the last Hei (planet Earth) with the Vav (the Son) through repentance.
Is your mind blown yet? The name of God given to Moses two thousand years before the birth of Jesus has embedded in it that through Godly living planet Earth must unite with the Son.
Some might say that this wisdom prophecies the mission of Messiah Jesus 1300 years before his birth. And some might say that the story of Jesus reveals the ancient Judaic wisdom found in God’s name. Why can’t both be true!
