Calling upon the name of the Lord is an important concept in the Bible that appears numerous times throughout both the Old and New Testaments. At its core, it refers to invoking the Lord’s name in prayer, worship, and times of need as an appeal for His help and deliverance. Let’s explore in more depth what the Bible says about calling on the Lord’s name and why it matters.
Examples of Calling on the Lord’s Name
There are many examples in Scripture of people calling upon the name of the Lord. Here are a few key ones:
- Abraham “called upon the name of the Lord” after building altars at Shechem and Bethel (Genesis 12:8, 13:4 ESV). This demonstrates using the Lord’s name in worship and prayer.
- Isaac “called upon the name of the Lord” and the Lord appeared to him the same night to reaffirm the covenant promises (Genesis 26:25 ESV). Calling on God’s name is connected with receiving His promises.
- Moses cried out to the Lord to heal his sister Miriam of leprosy, saying “O God, please heal her—please.” (Numbers 12:13 ESV). He appealed to the Lord’s mercy by name.
- David frequently called upon the Lord, including for deliverance from his enemies: “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:6 ESV).
- Elijah called on the name of the Lord to bring fire down from heaven against the prophets of Baal: “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word.” (1 Kings 18:36 ESV).
As you can see, calling on the Lord’s name was invoking His power and aid in times of need and worship. Now let’s explore why this practice matters.
The Significance of Calling on the Lord’s Name
Calling on the name of the Lord is significant for several reasons that Scripture reveals:
- It is an act of faith and obedience. By calling on the Lord’s name, we are putting our trust and confidence in Him as the only true God who hears and answers prayer (Psalm 50:15, Jeremiah 33:2-3). It is also an act of obedience to honor His name and call upon Him.
- It reminds us of God’s presence. As we call His name, we are recalling that the Lord is near, attentive, and able to help us in our time of need (Deuteronomy 4:7, Psalm 145:18).
- It activates God’s power. There is power in the name of Jesus to heal, save, and deliver (Acts 3:6, 16, 4:10, Romans 10:13). Calling on His name invokes that power.
- It defeats spiritual forces of evil. Demons tremble and flee at the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17). Calling on the Lord’s name in faith counters any demonic oppression.
- It aligns us with God’s will. As we call on God’s name, we are surrendering our will to His purposes and plans for our lives and circumstances (1 John 5:14).
- It’s often connected with salvation. Several verses link calling on the Lord with being saved (Romans 10:9-13, Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32). Salvation involves surrendering our lives to Christ’s lordship.
In summary, calling on the Lord’s name is a practice that demonstrates faith, aligns our will with God’s, claims His promises, accesses His power, and connects with salvation. Let’s look now at some key Bible verses on this topic.
Bible Verses about Calling on the Lord’s Name
Here are some important Bible passages about calling on the name of the Lord:
Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. – Psalm 50:15 ESV
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – Acts 2:21 ESV; cf Romans 10:13
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. – Proverbs 18:10 ESV
In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.” – Isaiah 12:4 ESV
Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. – Psalm 91:14-15 ESV
These verses illustrate the close connection between calling on the Lord’s name and expressing faith in Him, worshiping Him, experiencing His deliverance and help, proclaiming who He is, and receiving salvation. When we call on Him, the Lord promises to hear, answer, be with us, and deliver us from harm.
How to Call Upon the Lord’s Name
Based on all we’ve explored about calling on God’s name, here are some key ways we can put this into practice:
- Call on the Lord sincerely from your heart in prayer (Jeremiah 29:13).
- Call on His name in times of trouble and distress (Psalm 50:15).
- Call on the name of Jesus specifically for salvation (Romans 10:13).
- Call on the name of the Lord in praise and thanksgiving (Psalm 105:1).
- Call on God’s name instead of trusting other gods or idols (1 Kings 18:24).
- Call on the name of the Lord in faith, believing He hears and will answer (Psalm 116:2).
- Call on the Lord in humility and repentance from sin (Hosea 14:2).
- Call on God in alignment with His will, not our own agenda (1 John 5:14).
The key is to call on the Lord regularly from a sincere heart of faith, not just in times of desperate need. We can call on Him for both deliverance and thanksgiving, remembering His abundant mercy and grace.
Why We Must Call on the Name of the Lord
After seeing the many verses about this concept, we can summarize the key reasons it’s so critical for believers to call on the name of the Lord:
- He wants us to depend on Him fully rather than self-reliance or idols.
- It demonstrates faith in God’s power and desire to help us.
- It accesses the authority of Christ’s name for victory in spiritual battles.
- It reminds us of God’s presence and aligns our will with His purposes.
- It’s a primary means of obtaining salvation from sin.
- It brings glory and honor to God as the one true Lord worthy of our worship.
- It taps into the supernatural help God promises to those who call upon Him.
In view of these key reasons, calling on the Lord’s name should be part of every believer’s life. We all face troubles and obstacles where we need the power of Jesus’ name. We regularly need to surrender our agenda to align with God’s will. And we continually need the salvation He mercifully provides.
Calling on the Lord in Difficulty
One of the most common contexts to call on the Lord’s name is in times of difficulty or danger. Here are some tips for calling on Him in hard times:
- Humble yourself and ask others to pray with you for God’s help and mercy.
- Acknowledge where you may have sinned and confess these areas specifically.
- Claim God’s many promises to help those who call on Him.
- Ask Him boldly for exactly what you need while submitting to His perfect will.
- Thank Him in advance by faith for how He will show Himself strong on your behalf.
- Meditate on His proven faithfulness to you in the past.
- Stand on the power and authority of Jesus’ name against any spiritual darkness.
- Keep calling on the Lord daily until you receive the breakthrough you need.
No matter what hardship you face, God is able to answer when you call on Him. He may not remove the difficulty, but He promises to be with you in it. Keep taking your burdens to the Lord!
The Lord’s Name is a Strong Tower
One of the most well-known verses about this topic is Proverbs 18:10 – “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Let’s break down the key truths in this verse:
- The Lord’s name represents His character – righteous, faithful, powerful, protective.
- His name is like a strong, impenetrable tower or fortress.
- We run to Him for refuge from spiritual danger just like hiding in a tower.
- The righteous know His name is the only real, safe protection from harm.
- By calling on His name in faith, we find divinely secure shelter in Him.
No matter the situation, we can call on the name of the Lord with total confidence that His strength and safety will shield us. His name protects all who hide themselves in Him.
The Name of the Lord is Worthy of Praise
Not only should we call on the Lord’s name in difficult times, but we should praise and honor His name at all times! Here are some key reasons the name of the Lord deserves our continual praise and exultation:
- His name is majestic and great (Deuteronomy 32:3).
- He is most high over all the earth; His glory is above the heavens (Psalm 148:13).
- He alone is worthy of total glory, honor, and power (Revelation 4:11).
- All nations will one day come and worship before the Lord (Isaiah 2:2-3).
- Jesus’ name is above every other name in all creation (Philippians 2:9-11).
- The name of the Lord endures forever (Psalm 135:13).
- God’s name is a refuge for His people (Psalm 20:1, 5:11).
For these and many other reasons from Scripture, the name of the Lord deserves our ceaseless praise. We must exalt the name of Jesus in prayer, worship, and testimony before others.
Principles for Calling on the Lord
In summary, here are some key principles for calling on the name of the Lord gleaned from our broad study:
- Do it often and regularly, not just in emergencies (1 Chronicles 16:8).
- Call on the Lord sincerely from the heart (Psalm 119:58, 145:18).
- Acknowledge Him as the only true and living God (Psalm 79:5-6).
- Align your requests with His will and ways (1 John 5:14).
- Have faith God hears you and will answer in some way (Psalm 17:6).
- Assume an attitude of humility and repentance from any sin (Hosea 14:2).
- Trust in God’s strength and salvation (Isaiah 12:2-3).
- Use the name of Jesus against spiritual forces of evil (Mark 16:17).
- Thank and praise the name of the Lord at all times (Daniel 2:20-23).
If we apply these principles for calling on the Lord’s name, we will experience more of God’s power, deliverance, help, and salvation in our daily lives.
Benefits of Calling on the Lord
In addition to all we have covered, calling on the name of the Lord provides many benefits, including:
- Fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 1:9)
- Security and peace (Psalm 4:8)
- Forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9)
- Guidance and direction (Psalm 31:3)
- Freedom from fear (Psalm 56:3-4)
- Strength in weakness (Isaiah 40:29-31)
- Provision of needs (Philippians 4:19)
- Discerning God’s will (Romans 12:2)
- Overcoming adversity (Psalm 18:3)
- Receiving God’s mercy in trials (Hebrews 4:16)
These amazing benefits motivate us to call on the Lord daily. As we do, He promises to be with us, empower us, provide for us, and accomplish His will through our lives.
Conclusion
Calling on the name of the Lord is a consistent practice throughout Scripture, modeled by many heroes of the faith. It’s more than just invoking God’s name in a time of need – it’s the essence of prayer, praise, worship, and relationship with God. When we call on Him sincerely and align our will with His purposes, He promises to hear, answer, be near, and faithfully help us in every circumstance. The Lord’s name reveals His powerful, protective character that surrounds believers who take refuge in Him. We can call on God’s name regularly with thanksgiving, humility, faith in Christ’s authority, and submission to the Father’s will. As we do, His benefits flow into our lives, and He is glorified.