As I was studying for the upcoming message on Samson’s life, I was introduced to a particular religious practice in the Near East. Manoah learns of the celestial visitor, and it appears that he is jealous and maybe a little chauvinistic. The Lord grants another appearance for Manoah’s sake, and after a couple of demanding questions, Manoah asks:

Judges 13:17

And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

I have known that the name of the Lord is significant through previous studies. Most of the time I discuss the name of the Lord, I stress the fact that God is a spirit. He doesn’t have a silhouette we recognize. We do not even have the sound of his voice or the fragrance of his presence to link with Him. The only identification we have is his name. The names God has used to reveal himself to man have been strategic ways to help us understand his identity without seeing him with our eyes or hearing him with our ears.

In these cultures, there is an additional layer of significance which I knew from the creation account, but I had not transposed it to Judges 13. To give something a name would signify your authority. Hence, Adam names the animals after God has delegated dominion to Adam. Adam names Eve which signifies his authority in the home. To know and wield the name was important. Think about Moses’ excuse at the burning bush. He didn’t know what name of God he would tell the children of Israel.

“In the ancient Near Eastern context, knowing the name of a heavenly being provided power over that being.” Manoah, in Judges 13, is seeking to manipulate the power of this celestial visitor with this secret knowledge.

Fast forward to the New Testament and we are taught to pray in Jesus’ name.

John 14:13–14

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

He freely offers his name for us to use in prayer. Spurgeon said, “Do it in the name of Jesus...Do for me as You would have done for Jesus, for I am authorized by Him to use His name. Do it for me as You would have done it for Him.”

Are you not astounded by the access we have to God in Jesus’ name?

Now, consider the third commandment:

Exodus 20:7

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

What Manoah desired to use for selfish reasons, we are often guilty of disregarding for senseless reasons. This is an encouragement to realize what you are saying when you pray in Jesus’ name. “Do for me as You would have done for Jesus!” This is also a caution to remember that we must not use His name in vain. Enrich your prayer life, today!

Take the name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe—
It will joy and comfort give you,
Take it then where’er you go.

Take the name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from ev’ry snare;
 If temptations ‘round you gather,
Breathe that holy name in prayer.