ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Falaite Sanuali 20, 2023

Call on the Name of Yahweh

Lotu ki he Huafa ‘o Sihova

GENESIS 4:26

TO SETH ALSO A SON WAS BORN, AND HE CALLED HIS NAME ENOSH. AT THAT TIME PEOPLE BEGAN TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.

SENESI 4:26

Pea ko Seti foki na‘e fanau‘i kiate ia ha foha; ‘o ne fakahingoa ko ‘Īnosi. Ko e taimi ko ia na‘e kamata fai ai ‘a e lotu ki he huafa ‘o Sihova.

There's a sly contrast suggested by two names in this verse, one human one divine. The name Enosh, which is another word for "man," is derived from a Hebrew root (anash), meaning "weak" or "sickly." It's the same root that Jeremiah uses to describe the heart that is deceitful and "sick/

incurable" (anush) above all things (17:9). So Enosh isn't exactly a strong, herculean name. If anything, it encapsulates humanity's condition in a fractured world. That's all the more reason, then, to qara ("call") on the name of the LORD-the strong, healthy, and dependable name of God.

The verb qara can be used both to invoke ("call upon") and to proclaim name of the LORD ("call out"). In our crumbling lives, we invoke him, knowing that "the a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe" (Prov. 18:10). In our sin-sick world, we proclaim his healing name (Acts 3:16). And we rely on Jesus, who bears the name above all names-Yahweh with every knee bowing, every tongue confessing, that he is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:9-11).

(Ps. 115:1). "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"