Hallowed Be Thy Name: The Psalms

By Misti Stevens

Names are important in our culture. Families take great pains to name their children, often honoring previous relatives or friends who have made a difference in their lives. We even develop nicknames that express a persons character or the relationship we have with friends and family members, and we take great care when naming a child. It should be no surprise, then, that the names of God are just as important. Yet the Hebrew words for His names are most often just translated as God in English. Thus, we miss the fervor associated with each name unless we also happen to study the Hebrew text.

In Hallowed Be Thy Name: The Psalms, author Misti Stevens invites believers to know God by all His names so that we too can forge a special relationship with our Father in heaven. She offers a faithful translation and commentary of the book of Psalms, where Gods names appear over 1,200 times in distinct forms and with distinct meaningsthe God of Jacob, Adonai, Yahweh, Elohim, the Mighty God, the Great I AM, and more. Through a simple presentation of the text of Psalms with the meanings of names substituted in, you will be given a rich, meaningful look into who God isand have the chance to draw closer to Him.

We can hardly say we know someone if we dont know them by name. So how well do you know God?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781973600046

Misti Stevens

Misti Stevens is a dedicated Christian, and she is also a Bible class and high school teacher. She attended Florida Christian College, where she studied the Bible and then later completed her master’s degree in history and education. Stevens has contributed articles to Christian publications such as The Christian Chronicle, and her love for God, the Bible, education, and understanding different perspectives inspired her study for Hallowed Be Thy Name: The Psalms.

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Hallowed Be Thy Name:

The Psalms

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Copyright © 2017 Misti Stevens.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Bloomington, IN 47403

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0005-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0006-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-0004-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017912524

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/31/2017

Dedication

I am dedicating this book to God, Who in His ultimate kindness has shared with us a way to learn more about Him. I thank my grandfather, Cecil Leach, whose deep reverence for God taught me to honor Him, my father and mother, Ken and Judy Leach, who taught me the importance of following God’s word, and my husband, Wendell Stevens, who showed me how to have a relationship with God.

Author’s Notes

Great care has been taken to neither add nor take away anything from God’s word. As you read this book you may have question regarding the formatting. The text is from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible due to copyright restrictions, which was written in Old English, which is significantly different than modern English. At times, sentences seem fragmented, punctuation disjointed and spelling wrong because I have stayed true to the KJV.

The capitalization rules are also very different in the translation between English and Hebrew. For example Psalm 20:1 states, "The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. The text in bold and italics is translated the God The Mighty One." Note the before the name is lower case because it is grammatically an article in the English language. However, "The" after the name God is capitalized because it refers to the singular nature of God.

Capitalization has been a challenge writing this book. The first challenge was that the Hebrew language has no distinction in alpha case. That is why the Hebrew words in the footnotes are all in lowercase. However, in the glossary, they all begin with an uppercase letter out of respect to God’s name. The second challenge, had to do with the use of English pronouns which represented God. He, him, thee and thou were all used this way, and at other times to represent a person or people. The pronouns that represent God have been capitalized in the text to the best of my ability.

Finally, I am human and thus imperfect. I have prayed all along the way that God would give me His wisdom to see what and how He would want this text to be. I pray now that we can all use this book to grow closer to Him and that any mistakes I made will not take away from the awesome power of His word.

Contents

Book One    Psalms 1 -41

Book Two    Psalms 42 - 72

Book Three    Psalms 73 - 89

Book Four    Psalms 90 - 106

Book Five    Psalms 107 - 150

Glossary

Preface

Names are important in our culture. Families take great pains to name their children, often honoring previous relatives or friends who have made a difference in our lives. We even develop nicknames that express a person’s character or the relationship we have with friends and family members. Whether we use a name of a hero, like David or Deborah, or it be the meaning of the word in the original language, the etymology, great care is generally used when naming a child.

The names of God are no different, yet the Hebrew words for His names are most often translated God in English. Thus, the reader misses the fervor associated with each name unless they happen to study the Hebrew text. This occurs throughout the Bible and especially in the Psalms where God’s names appear over 1200 times. For example, the phrase God of Jacob is repeatedly used in the Bible. What do we picture when we hear this? Many think of the special relationship God had with the Israelites. Going back to the Hebrew word translated God we discover is elohe* which means Mighty One.

In Psalm 20:1 David uses this phrase, The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee…. So if we add the Hebrew meaning of the word he is actually using the text reads, "The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God Mighty One of Jacob defend thee. Examining the word translated God" we learn the depth of respect David is showing the Lord. Understanding the meaning of what he said enables us to fully fathom how much he truly trusted God.

Awhile back I studied and journaled the book, Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. The study spurred me to go through the Old Testament and look up the Hebrew words translated God. The result has been a deeper faith and the most intimate relationship I have ever had with God, which prompted me to share the information with anyone who would listen, this book is a result of that journey.

How each of us use Hallowed be Thy Name is a personal choice but it has been written to facilitate a variety of studies that address the questions of who, what, where, and why God is.

The Who. The Psalms are written in text with the meanings italicized so that the underlying traits of God that the writer is appealing to are clearly available. The attempt being, to help us understand why David, Solomon or other writers feel the urgency to petition the throne of God.

The What and Where. Near the beginning of the book there is a chart where the Hebrew names of God are listed, the first use of the word in the Psalms, a short meaning and the number of times each name is used is also denoted in this chart. This was added to help the student who is interested in a using the text as reference material.

The Why. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 3:16 that the word of God is given by inspiration, or God breathed. Since that is the case God’s Spirit chose to use over fifteen Hebrew words to denote God, why? Each word has a meaning and brings us one step closer to seeing, feeling, hearing the majesty of God, the I AM. This book helps us ask the questions that open our understanding of our Mighty God.

The How. Applications include private or public reading of the scriptures to better understand the nature of God to whom the Psalmist is appealing or praising. In individual or group study of the Psalms. In personal or congregational prayer.

First Appearances of God’s Name

Book One

Psalms 1 -41

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Psalm 1

¹      Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

²      But his delight is in the law of the Lord, Sacred and Personal**; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

³      And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

⁴      The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

⁵      Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

⁶      For the Lord Sacred and Personal knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

¹      Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

²      The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord Sacred and Personal and against His anointed, saying,

³      Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

⁴      He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord we are His servants*** shall have them in derision.

⁵      Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure.

⁶      Yet have I set my King Counselor**** upon my holy hill of Zion.

⁷      I will declare the decree: the Lord Sacred and Personal, hath said unto me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten thee.

⁸      Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

⁹      Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

¹⁰      Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

¹¹      Serve the Lord Sacred and Personal, with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

¹²      Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

Psalm 3

¹      Lord Sacred and Personal how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

²      Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God The Perfect Beginner of all*****. Selah.

³      But thou, O Lord Sacred and Personal art a Shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

⁴      I cried unto the Lord Sacred and Personal with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah.

⁵      I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord Sacred and Personal sustained me.

⁶      I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

⁷      Arise, O Lord Sacred and Personal; save me, O my God The Mighty One******: for Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

⁸      Salvation belongeth unto the Lord Sacred and Personal: Thy blessing is upon Thy people. Selah.

Psalm 4

¹      Hear me when I call, O God, The Mighty One of my righteousness: Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

²      O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

³      But know that the Lord, Sacred and Personal hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord, Sacred and Personal will hear when I call unto Him.

⁴      Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

⁵      Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord, Sacred and Personal.

⁶      There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, Sacred and Personal lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.

⁷      Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

⁸      I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, Sacred and Personal only makest me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

¹      Give ear to my words, O Lord Sacred and Personal consider my meditation.

²      Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King Counselor and my God The Mighty One: for unto Thee will I pray.

³      My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O Lord Sacred and Personal; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.

⁴      For Thou art not a God Most High******* that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with Thee.

⁵      The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

⁶      Thoushalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord Sacred and Personal will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

⁷      But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.

⁸      Lead me, O Lord Sacred and Personal in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.

⁹      or there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

¹⁰      Destroy Thou them, O God The Perfect Beginner of all; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against Thee.

¹¹      But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them: let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.

¹²      For Thou, Lord Sacred and Personal, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt Thou compass him as with a shield.

Psalm 6

¹      O Lord Sacred and Personal, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.

²      Have mercy upon me, O Lord Sacred and Personal; for I am weak: O Lord Sacred and Personal heal me; for my bones are vexed.

³      My soul is also sore vexed: but Thou, O Lord Sacred and Personal, how long?

⁴      Return, O Lord Sacred and Personal deliver my soul: oh save me for Thy mercies’ sake.

⁵      For in death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?

⁶      I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

⁷      Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.

⁸      Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord Sacred and Personal hath heard the voice of my weeping.

⁹      The Lord Sacred and Personal hath heard my supplication; the Lord, Sacred and Personal will receive my prayer.

¹⁰      Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

Psalm 7

¹      O Lord Sacred and Personal my God The Mighty One, in Thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

²      Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending