Monthly Archives: October 2009

Names of God — Jehovah-Shammah

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And the name of the city from that time on will be: the LORD is there. (Ezekiel 48:35)

The New Jerusalem.

What picture does that create in your mind? Some people picture beauty; some picture happiness and praise; some picture no sorrow or pain. One thing’s for certain though — the LORD will be there, just as Ezekiel prophesied. He is the source of all beauty and all happiness, and deserving of all praise. Naturally then, where these things are eternally, there He is.

What a great day it will be when we see the LORD face to face, and know that He will be there eternally, and us with Him!

What was it though, Jesus promised shortly before he ascended into Heaven?

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

My friends, today is the day “the LORD is there”. He will be there in the New Jerusalem for sure, but He is here today. With us — in our struggles, in our joy, in our failure, in our triumph. Emmanuel. God With Us.

What better assurance can you ask for?

Names of God — Jehovah-Shalom

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22When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, “Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” 23But the LORD said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” 24So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. (Judges 6:22-24)

I think Gideon gets a bad rap from us too often. He tested God not only once, but twice. The nerve! Actually I’m not convinced most of us would have done things any differently. We know where Gideon’s heart was though. When he saw Jesus face-to-face* he was terrified! He knew no one can see God and live (Exodus 33:20). We’re told the LORD calmed his fears and gave him peace.

God can provide the same peace to you that He provided to Gideon. Have you experienced the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7)?

What fear can the Lord calm for you today? Why not let him restore your soul (Psalm 23:3)?

*In the Old Testament, the Being known as THE angel of the LORD is understood to be Jesus. See our previous posts on this subject: 1) 2).

Names of God — Jehovah-Sabaoth

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Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.” (1 Samuel 17:45 NAS)

LORD of hosts — YHWH-Sabaoth. Easy to get that word mixed up with another common word — Sabbath — but the meaning of Sabaoth doesn’t have anything to do with the day of rest. It’s a transliteration of a Hebrew word, sometimes translated as heavenly hosts or armies.

The words of David, quoted above, explain it pretty well: the “LORD of hosts” is the same as the “God of the armies of Israel”. The name is sometimes translated “LORD Almighty”, and is closely tied to Shiloh and the ark of the covenant:

1David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. 2He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. (2 Samuel 6:1-2)

Although David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22, I Samuel 13:14), he made plenty of mistakes and some of his biggest ones had to do with the ark. Still, as often as we fail, and as big as we fail, the LORD of the hosts of heaven, the LORD of the armies of Israel will always fulfill his promises to us. His will be done!