What does it mean to do something in the name of the Lord?
We can explore this by considering two side by side examples in the book of 1 Kings.
First, when Elijah goes up against the prophets of Baal he builds an altar in the name of the Lord.
1 Kings 18:32
and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed.
Elijah is God’s prophet. God’s representative on earth. And as he prepares a sacrifice for God he does so in God’s name.
Next we see another example of something done in the name of another. This time it is Jezebel and her husband Ahab. When Jezebel prepares a plan to murder Naboth so that Ahab could receive his vineyard. We read that she wrote letters in the name of Ahab.
1 Kings 21:8
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.
What Jezebel does is in Ahab’s name. It is as if Ahab had sent the letter, because his representative puts his seal on it. Though this is a case of evil, it also sheds light on what it means to do a thing in the name of another.
Man is made in the image of God. And the image of God is a representative of God. He is like a letter with God’s seal. This letter carries out the purpose of God, as though God had done it himself. Yet this is only true when man does the will of God.
To do something in God’s name then is to do it as his representative. To put God’s seal on what is being done. You are saying “this is done as though God is doing it” or “God approves of this act”. Ahab recieves judgement for Jezebels actions in killing Naboth because he is complicit in her decision. His representative fulfills his desires, so he is culpable. Now the God of heaven is perfectly righteous. To act as his representative requires obeying His desires, which are wholly righteous.
To ask something in Christ’s name then is to ask as a representative of Christ. It is to put Jesus’s name on the prayer. You are saying “these are things that the Lord Jesus desires”. His seal is on this. This is prayed as a representative of Jesus.
