At university some of my fellow theological students were greatly amused to find an eBay auction item claiming to be the original Bible in English, signed by Jesus.  Whilst the item was clearly a joke it betrays an often-forgotten fact, that English Bibles are translations from the original languages.  It is also worth remembering that the Bible is a collection of books (The word Bible literally meaning ‘the books’) written by various people over many centuries but all contributing to a united testimony of God’s plan to rescue and restore His creation through Jesus Christ.  The selection of books called the Old Testament were written mainly in Hebrew with a couple of books containing sections in Aramaic, and that is where we find God referred to as both Lord and LORD.

It may help to begin by means of an analogy:  In a recent news article, the BBC reported on King Charles’ upcoming visit to Australia.  The article refers to the King both by his name, (King Charles III) but also simply by his title (the King).  In a similar manner, Lord translates a title for God whereas LORD is a translation of the divine name.  In the culture at that time names held greater significance than they often do for us in the West today.  A name was not just what you were called, it was also tied to your reputation and said something about you, so when Moses asked to see what God was like, God proclaimed His Name, and this is what He said:

‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.’ (Exodus 34:6)

What is significant about the divine name (translated LORD) is that it is not a name that the people of Israel gave to God, rather it was God’s own name that He revealed to the people of Israel, so it is not humanity’s best guess at what God is like, but it is God enabling us to see who He actually – the name ‘LORD’ encapsulates this revelation of God’s being.  Just as a wallet, stuffed full of £50 notes serves as a compact way of carrying around wealth, so the word LORD is a compact way of describing the riches of God’s character.  When we see the word LORD it is like seeing the wallet, but it is good to mentally ‘open the wallet’ and remind ourselves of the treasures inside.  So, at times, in my personal reading when I come across the word LORD, I will say to myself ‘The compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.’

When Jesus came, He declared that He had made God’s Name known (John 17:26).  This doesn’t mean He went around teaching people the correct way to pronounce ‘LORD’; rather, the riches of God’s Name were ‘opened up’ in the life of Jesus.  As God become man, Jesus showed us, in the flesh, what God is really like.  Filled with compassion, Jesus moved toward the unlovely, the despised and ostracised, bringing restoration and wholeness.  Yet it is on the cross where the Gospel writers see the revelation of God’s being most clearly displayed.  There Jesus lays down His life for humanity in rebellion, that we might receive forgiveness and enduring life as God’s gracious gift, so we might come to truly know and share in His life, the life revealed by His Name.              

You can discover more about the divine name LORD by listening to our recent talk on Exodus 34:6-7 by visiting: www.therfieldchapel.org/sermons/a-glimpse-of-god