Carolyn E. Jacobs

This week’s name is The Name. Sounds like a riff on “Who’s on First?” “What’s the name this week?” “The Name.” “Right, the name. What is it?” “I told you, The Name.” “That’s what I’m asking. What. Is. The. Name?” “That’s it!” This week in Ann Spangler’s study, we’re looking at Hashem. Technically, it’s not a name of God; it’s The Name. Hashem. Shem means name, and Ha is the definite article. Today, many observant Jews say Hashem instead of God out of reverence and holy fear. They even write G-d for fear of taking his name in vain.   What’s in a name?  “What’s in a name? That which we…

Behold, the Lord GOD (Adonay Yahweh) will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His compensation is with Him, And His reward before Him. Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in the fold of His robe; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. – Isaiah 40:10-11 I can’t read Isaiah 40:11 without breaking into song. He Shall Feed His Flock is a glorious piece. But what’s the connection between verses 10 and 11? What does carrying lambs in the fold of his robe have to do with his might and his ruling arm? This week, we’re looking at Yahweh Roeh, The Lord is My Shepherd. Just like last…

In Psalm 23, David calls Yahweh his Roeh, his shepherd. Yahweh is my Roeh.     I am never in need.         He makes me lie down in green pastures.         He leads me beside peaceful waters.         He renews my soul.         He guides me along the paths of righteousness             for the sake of his name. – Psalm 23:1-3, Names of God version Why did Yahweh make himself known to David as a shepherd? David was a shepherd. He knew what it took to be a good shepherd. He knew it didn’t involve lying in the grass, blowing the parachutes off dandelions all day. David replied to Saul, “I…

I hope this AI generated image makes you chuckle. It did me. Move over, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Here’s Simon, the Rock, Peter. The name we’re studying this week is Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord is my Rock. Tsur means rock, cliff, boulder – a place of refuge and strength. And Jesus decided to give Simon, Andrew’s brother and John’s business partner, a new name. Peter.  (Cephas in Greek.) Rock. Jesus nicknamed Peter, often the Keystone Kop of the disciples, a Rock. Chuck Missler used to say Peter’s M. O. was, “Ready, fire, aim.” Throughout the Gospels, we chuckle or cringe as Peter lurches between bravado and bumbling. I relate to…

We’re looking at Yahweh Tsur, The Lord is My Rock, this week. A whole host of images and references have been tumbling around in my brain. Tsur means cliff, boulder, big rock – a place of shelter, refuge. But what other rock or stone references do we see in the Bible? Today we’re looking at some uncomfortable ones. Did you know our phrase “stumbling block” originated with the Bible? It’s up there with “handwriting on the wall” or “casting pearls before swine” or “fly in the ointment” – phrases you’re familiar with but may not realize they’re in the Bible. You shall not curse a person who is deaf, nor put a stumbling block before a person who…