Reverencing GOD and His Holy Name

Are you having a rapturous experience in your worship? Reverence is a key part, as this short but powerful compilation of quotes from Sister White will help us understand! It is very difficult to find true reverence for God anymore, let alone for His Name. It seems as if we have lost all sense of His holiness! May these quotes wake us up to our true condition before the Living God who holds us in the palm of His almighty hand.

Do We Disgust the Angels with Our Prayers?

Holy angels have been displeased and disgusted with the irreverent manner in which many have used the Name of God, the Great Jehovah. Angels mention that Sacred Name with the greatest awe, ever veiling their faces when they speak the Name of God; and the Name of Christ is so sacred to them that they speak it with the greatest reverence.

— 1 Testimonies, p. 410

We Should Have Holy Awe

To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. “Holy and reverend is His Name.” Psalm 111:9. We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity.

In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe. The angels veil their faces in His presence. The cherubim and the bright and holy seraphim approach His throne with solemn reverence. How much more should we, finite, sinful beings, come in a reverent manner before the Lord, our Maker!

— Mount of Blessing, p. 106

Speak the Name of God Thoughtfully

Reverence should be shown also for the Name of God. Never should that Name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its frequent or needless repetition should be avoided. “Holy and reverend is His Name.” Psalm 111:9. Angels, as they speak it, veil their faces. With what reverence should we, who are fallen and sinful, take it upon our lips!

— Education, p. 243

Do Not Rush into the Divine Presence

Prayer, how misunderstood, how perverted it has been! How few realize how solemn a thing it is to approach the throne of God. Angels bow before that throne with veiled faces, yet men who are stained by sin rush heedlessly into the divine presence. Let us remember that the holy angels approach the throne of God in reverence and holy fear. It is because men do not know God or Jesus Christ whom he has sent, that they take improper attitudes and utter improper words in their petitions.

— Review and Herald, 5/28/1895

Now, most of the following should be a review our previous study ‘Two Forgotten Apostolic Ordinances of 1 Corinthians 11‘, which, if you have not yet done so, we encourage you to prayerfully read with an unprejudiced mind; but please read on to see how what we have learned applies to what we should do when we speak the Names and titles of Deity. Notice that in every one of the quotes above is mentioned the veiling of angels’ faces—either when they speak the Name of God, or when they are at the throne, which is equivalent to when we bow down and pray. Are men to do this as well? No.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth His Head … For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

—  1 Corinthians 11:4, 7

And the glory of man, which is but dust, is to be veiled in God’s Holy Presence, which is signified by His Name. That is why it is written, “Every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoreth her head”; and “the head of every man is the Messiah; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of the Messiah is God” (vv. 5, 3).

This means that the glory of God, which man is to represent on this earth, is dishonored if the woman’s head is not veiled when she speaks the Name of God, just like it is for with the angels, who do not represent the image and glory of God as men do. That is why the angels and women are to veil themselves when they speak the Sacred Name of God—but not for the Son, though it is still to be spoken with “the greatest reverence”—but if men have a hat on, they should remove it when they speak the Name of God. This is part of why it is written, “the woman to have [the symbol of] power on her head because of the angels” (v. 10). This matter of veiling only applies to the actual Name and not the titles, but we at Bright Beams Mission try to emphasize all of the Names and titles by all caps as a prompt for the reader to slow down and have reverential awe when they are read or spoken.

Let Us Adore Him

Supreme love to God will be shown by every man or woman who is a true follower of Jesus Christ. “Give unto Jehovah the glory due unto His Name,” writes the psalmist; “for Jehovah is great, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Those who surround His throne, the sinless angels, bow down and adore Him, praising His Name, and crying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” We are His creatures, the work of His hands, and He is justly entitled to reverence, honor, and love.

— Signs of the Times, 3/4/1897

Must Be Corrected Before the Church Can Prosper

I saw that God’s Holy Name should be used with reverence and awe…
Those who realize the greatness and majesty of God, will take His Name on their lips with holy awe. He dwelleth in light unapproachable; no man can see Him and live. I saw that these things will have to be understood and corrected before the church can prosper.

— Early Writings, p. 252

Four Principles to Remember:

R A P T — As we are rapt into the glory of the Most High . . .

R everence – Holy fear and humility before God
A doration – Homage and affectionate love to God, in attitude and posture
P ause – Not rushing into and out of prayers or in speaking the names and titles of Deity
T houghtfulness – Not thoughtlessly speaking God’s titles, but considering their meanings

Read more: Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God