WHAT'S IN A NAME?
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
Learning who God is by name is powerful! When we know His name, we begin to unravel His character, His purpose, and His incomparable Love.
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH "THE LORD IS THERE"
The book of Ezekiel closes with a vision of a temple and its associated rituals. In chapter 40, the prophet is transported in a vision from his home among the exiles in Babylon to Israel, where a divine messenger holding a measuring rod appears to him. The messenger gives Ezekiel a tour of the temple, measuring the various walls, gates, and courts. At one point, the glory of the Lord, which was seen departing from the temple in an earlier vision (chap. 10), is now seen returning to inhabit the temple (43:1–10) further more in Ezekiel vision after the last measurement was taken The Lord says in "from that day the name of the city will be "The Lord Is There." Jehovah-Shammah, when God named the city Jehovah-Shammah , He was assuring His people that He, The Lord would be there. Oh, what an encouraging word for a people that are exiled from their home and in captivity! This renaming of the city gave God's people a future and gave them hope.
Have you ever felt alone, abandoned, or forgotten... even by God? Have you ever lost hope?
loved ones when we are in despair remember Jehovah-Shammah of Ezekiel and earlier the words of Jeremiah says it this way "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope". (Jeremiah 29:11). God was true to His word and brought His people once again out of captivity and restored them to their lands, later the promise of a Savior Jesus the Christ was reveled and the Holy Ghost given, God is truly with His people.
There maybe a Father or a Mother out there who has a child that have made and are still making bad decisions, They seem to be in exile from us and in captivity by the enemy. Fathers, Mothers, no matter how bad it may seem, don't lose hope, may the words of Nehemiah strengthen you "Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” (Nehemiah 4:14) lets remember Jehovah-Shammah.
Have you ever felt alone, abandoned, or forgotten... even by God? Have you ever lost hope?
loved ones when we are in despair remember Jehovah-Shammah of Ezekiel and earlier the words of Jeremiah says it this way "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope". (Jeremiah 29:11). God was true to His word and brought His people once again out of captivity and restored them to their lands, later the promise of a Savior Jesus the Christ was reveled and the Holy Ghost given, God is truly with His people.
There maybe a Father or a Mother out there who has a child that have made and are still making bad decisions, They seem to be in exile from us and in captivity by the enemy. Fathers, Mothers, no matter how bad it may seem, don't lose hope, may the words of Nehemiah strengthen you "Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” (Nehemiah 4:14) lets remember Jehovah-Shammah.
|
|
|
Jehovah-Shalom "The Lord is Peace"
What do you think of when you hear the word peace? Most think of a place or time or a place in time when there is no turmoil. When there is no war or the time before or more so the time after war is over “peace”. But true peace is that peace that surpasses understanding to have peace even in the midst of a storm, when calm comes over you even in a most terrified moment, Gideon felt such terror until God called him to peace; a peace that can only come from God, which can only come from “Jehovah Shalom”.
The first and only time this Hebrew word is used for God is by Gideon in the book of Judges Chapter 6: 24. Prior to this momentous moment, the Angel of the Lord has tasked Gideon with the salvation of Israel from the tyranny of the Midianites.
“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”
Gideon is overwhelmed with fear of such a task and begins to offer excuses of why he should not be the one to take on such a tremendous on taking. God saw Gideon differently than Gideon saw himself. The Angel of the Lord assures Gideon that he will be with him, and Gideon unsure asks a sign to be given that this conversation is taking place a sign of who was really speaking to him and then asked to prepare a meal for his guest. After careful preparation, Gideon presented his meal to his guest, then a miraculous thing happened:
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Why did the Lord reveal himself as PEACE at that time? Why not "The Lord is Courage" or "The Lord is Strength"? I believe it is because the Lord's peace is so profound that it overcomes every other consideration. Peace is what Gideon needed. Peace is what each of us needs when we are between a rock and a hard place.
Don't you see? As Barbara Lardinais in her commentary states “God deliberately chose Gideon because he was weak”. Then he clothed Gideon in the power of his peace and enabled him to defeat Israel's enemies. God's peace can sustain us through impossible circumstances. Beyond that, we can conquer with God's peace. Peace is the antidote for fear; peace is the antidote for weakness. Gideon is our example of this truth.
Where are you right now? Has God called you to do something that you can't do? Are you facing something that you have no natural ability to face? I know how scary it can be. Don't focus on the problem or the circumstance. Focus on Jehovah-Shalom. When you get hold of the revelation of The-Lord-is-Peace you will be more than a conqueror!
The first and only time this Hebrew word is used for God is by Gideon in the book of Judges Chapter 6: 24. Prior to this momentous moment, the Angel of the Lord has tasked Gideon with the salvation of Israel from the tyranny of the Midianites.
“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”
Gideon is overwhelmed with fear of such a task and begins to offer excuses of why he should not be the one to take on such a tremendous on taking. God saw Gideon differently than Gideon saw himself. The Angel of the Lord assures Gideon that he will be with him, and Gideon unsure asks a sign to be given that this conversation is taking place a sign of who was really speaking to him and then asked to prepare a meal for his guest. After careful preparation, Gideon presented his meal to his guest, then a miraculous thing happened:
20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Why did the Lord reveal himself as PEACE at that time? Why not "The Lord is Courage" or "The Lord is Strength"? I believe it is because the Lord's peace is so profound that it overcomes every other consideration. Peace is what Gideon needed. Peace is what each of us needs when we are between a rock and a hard place.
Don't you see? As Barbara Lardinais in her commentary states “God deliberately chose Gideon because he was weak”. Then he clothed Gideon in the power of his peace and enabled him to defeat Israel's enemies. God's peace can sustain us through impossible circumstances. Beyond that, we can conquer with God's peace. Peace is the antidote for fear; peace is the antidote for weakness. Gideon is our example of this truth.
Where are you right now? Has God called you to do something that you can't do? Are you facing something that you have no natural ability to face? I know how scary it can be. Don't focus on the problem or the circumstance. Focus on Jehovah-Shalom. When you get hold of the revelation of The-Lord-is-Peace you will be more than a conqueror!
|
|
|
EL ELYON "THE GOD MOST HIGH"
EL the name of God means strength, might, and power and Elyon literally means "Most High" and is used throughout the Old Testament. It expresses the extreme sovereignty and majesty of God and His highest preeminence. When the two words El and Elyon are combined - it can be translated as "the most exalted God."(Psa 57:2)
Known by numerous names nonetheless there is one name of God that reign supreme "El Elyon" Abram in chapter 14 of Genesis faced with a crisis his nephew Lot with his family and possessions were taken captive by four armies lead by four kings. Faithfully Abram gathers 318 of his servants and went after Lot to free him. 318 men with minimal armament verses four thoroughly trained and equipped armies. What could Abram have been thinking? Fortunately Abram had three (3) promises from God, please notice in chapter 12:2,3, 7. 2 The Lord spoke with Abram, saying "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great. Second, 3 I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you: Thirdly 7 "Unto thy seed I will give this land:". By faith Abram went after Lot because all of God's promises to him were futuristic. One Abram was not at this time a great nation. Two, a promise that those that come against him will be cursed and third that his seed will inherit the land, at this time Abram had no children.
Justly Abram was no fool, for he knew that El Elyon was with him and if God be for you who can stand against you? After the defeat of the four armies Abram returned not only with Lot, his family and their possessions, he also victoriously returned all that were captive.
Here then is our first encounter with the compound name, El Elyon occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. the first introduction of El Elyon comes four times in Genesis 14:18-20,22 reads 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of (El Elyon) God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of (El Elyon) God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;20 And blessed be (El Elyon) God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. The King of Sodom tried to reward Abram, promptly Abram refused, saying: 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord,
(El Elyon) God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to shoelatchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou should say, I have made Abram rich:
It was El Elyon who gave Abram the victory and later fulfilled his promise to the descendants of Abraham and it is this same Most High God who rules today over the affairs of men, your affairs and mine. Confidently, I will call upon the name of "El Elyon" the Most High God" for what ever trial in my future may bring.
Known by numerous names nonetheless there is one name of God that reign supreme "El Elyon" Abram in chapter 14 of Genesis faced with a crisis his nephew Lot with his family and possessions were taken captive by four armies lead by four kings. Faithfully Abram gathers 318 of his servants and went after Lot to free him. 318 men with minimal armament verses four thoroughly trained and equipped armies. What could Abram have been thinking? Fortunately Abram had three (3) promises from God, please notice in chapter 12:2,3, 7. 2 The Lord spoke with Abram, saying "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great. Second, 3 I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that curse you: Thirdly 7 "Unto thy seed I will give this land:". By faith Abram went after Lot because all of God's promises to him were futuristic. One Abram was not at this time a great nation. Two, a promise that those that come against him will be cursed and third that his seed will inherit the land, at this time Abram had no children.
Justly Abram was no fool, for he knew that El Elyon was with him and if God be for you who can stand against you? After the defeat of the four armies Abram returned not only with Lot, his family and their possessions, he also victoriously returned all that were captive.
Here then is our first encounter with the compound name, El Elyon occurs 12 times in the Old Testament. the first introduction of El Elyon comes four times in Genesis 14:18-20,22 reads 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of (El Elyon) God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of (El Elyon) God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;20 And blessed be (El Elyon) God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. The King of Sodom tried to reward Abram, promptly Abram refused, saying: 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord,
(El Elyon) God Most High, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to shoelatchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou should say, I have made Abram rich:
It was El Elyon who gave Abram the victory and later fulfilled his promise to the descendants of Abraham and it is this same Most High God who rules today over the affairs of men, your affairs and mine. Confidently, I will call upon the name of "El Elyon" the Most High God" for what ever trial in my future may bring.
JEHOVAH-MEKODDISHKEM "THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU"
I have been married to my wife of 14 years (Tina), It was a one year courtship and a five month engagement, we were married on May 4, 2002. Our engagement represented a time of consecration, we had set one another apart forsaking all others (suitors) for a future plan of marriage.
To sanctify means to be set apart for a holy use. God has set us apart for the purpose of sanctification, not impurity (1 Thess. 4:7); and being such, we are called to do good works (Eph. 2:10).
Christians are to sanctify Christ as Lord in their hearts (1 Pet. 3:15). God sanctified Israel as His own special nation (Ezek. 27:28). People can be sanctified (Exodus 19:10, 14) and so can a mountain (Exodus 19:23) as can the Sabbath day (Gen. 2:3); and every created thing is sanctified through the Word of God and prayer (1 Tim. 4:4-5).
Sanctification follows justification. In justification our sins are completely forgiven in Christ. Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that we do, think, and desire. True sanctification is impossible apart from the atoning work of Christ on the cross because only after our sins are forgiven can we begin to lead a holy life.
Isaiah 43:1-3 God sets Israel apart from other nations as His own:
1. But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Likewise in I Peter 2:9 and 10, God has set apart thou's that have been justified through the shed blood of Christ:
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, the Lord who sanctifies: the Lord who has set us apart.
Elohim "the Creator"
Imagine a child not your own, they may call you Father, or Dad, or Mom, and we may look on that child with amusement, or wonder knowing he or she is confused or mistaken knowing we have no obligation. But' when we hear our child's voice say Dad, Mom, or Father, there is recognition and it sets forth movement within us to respond, a need and a want in us to answer. "Elohim" has instilled that longing to answer His child in us, for we are made in His image and His likeness (Genesis 1:26). Elohim wanted to commune with his creation. He wants to love, nurture, and protect us, He is moved with compassion on our behalf because we are not just his creation, we are His children.
El means "mighty" or "Strong" and is used in many references to God, including Almighty God. The him ending of Elohim is very significant, for it is plural ending in the Hebrew that indicates "more than one." Genesis 1:1
What? more than one God?
No! "The Lord is our God [Elohim], The Lord is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit they are one: The Triune God one in essence, one in character, and in purpose, yet in three persons united as one (The Trinity).
Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. In Genesis 1:2-3 we read:
The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
The writer of Hebrews adds this testimony:
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, (Hebrews 11:3a)
God spoke, the Spirit moved, and Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3, tells us that in Him, in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Son of God, "all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth." Each person of the triune Godhead had a part in creation.
"Then God [Elohim] said let Us make man in Our image.' " Elohim is your (our) creator. You exist because of Elohim. You are the unique and distinctive handiwork of Elohim. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14a)
One of God's attributes, character, His name is ELOHIM the Creator: amen...
El means "mighty" or "Strong" and is used in many references to God, including Almighty God. The him ending of Elohim is very significant, for it is plural ending in the Hebrew that indicates "more than one." Genesis 1:1
What? more than one God?
No! "The Lord is our God [Elohim], The Lord is one!" (Deuteronomy 6:4). God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit they are one: The Triune God one in essence, one in character, and in purpose, yet in three persons united as one (The Trinity).
Genesis 1:1, In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth. In Genesis 1:2-3 we read:
The Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
The writer of Hebrews adds this testimony:
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, (Hebrews 11:3a)
God spoke, the Spirit moved, and Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3, tells us that in Him, in Jesus Christ, the Word of God, the Son of God, "all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth." Each person of the triune Godhead had a part in creation.
"Then God [Elohim] said let Us make man in Our image.' " Elohim is your (our) creator. You exist because of Elohim. You are the unique and distinctive handiwork of Elohim. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14a)
One of God's attributes, character, His name is ELOHIM the Creator: amen...
EL ROI "THE God who sees"
"For the ways of a man are before the Lord and He watches all his paths"
Pain, Turmoil, Abuse, Rejection, Have you ever experienced any of these? During the Pain, Turmoil, Abuse, or Rejection, did you ever say or think "Where is God?" Where is Elohim, the Creator during my need? does He really care? Does He know what is going on? Doesn't He see?
Yes, he sees. For His is El Roi- The God Who Sees.
The omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time) God is there, and He eyes are not shut. He isn't asleep, He isn't caught off guard, and He isn't hindered by darkness. God sees!
in Genesis chapter 16, Hagar in her desperation as she flees from Sarai her mistress, will encounter this all seeing God, El Roi. Now the Angle of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." (Genesis 16:7-8).
There was concern in for Hagar's past and her future in that question. In the later verses 9-12 God reveals a future plan for Hagar and her son, if she is obedient and return to her mistress.
The Lord say's "I will greatly multiply your descendants... and though these verses we can see with amazement what Hagar saw, that God: He knew where to find her(God seeks us, He knew her occupation, He knew her heartaches and fears (God what to comfort us), He knew about the child in her womb: what his name will be, what characteristics he will have. What is more, He knows her future... her destiny. God has a plan and a future hope for Hagar, Ishmael, and for us.
Like the woman at the well later confessed in John 4, Hagar has a revelation in verse 13-14 she say's "And she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "Thou art a God who sees";(Thou God seest me?) 14. Ther for the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [the well of the living one who sees me].
Gods eyes are in all places beholding the evil and the good, God sees our hurts, our pains, and our frustrations. He wants to comfort by letting us know that he sees. He knows where we are , were we come from and where we are going. He knows every thought an every feeling in the deepest part of our hearts. He sees all, right now. At this very instant. We can trust Him with our secrets. He alone is absolutely trustworthy. Now we Know more about Him He is: El Roi the God who sees.
Pain, Turmoil, Abuse, Rejection, Have you ever experienced any of these? During the Pain, Turmoil, Abuse, or Rejection, did you ever say or think "Where is God?" Where is Elohim, the Creator during my need? does He really care? Does He know what is going on? Doesn't He see?
Yes, he sees. For His is El Roi- The God Who Sees.
The omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time) God is there, and He eyes are not shut. He isn't asleep, He isn't caught off guard, and He isn't hindered by darkness. God sees!
in Genesis chapter 16, Hagar in her desperation as she flees from Sarai her mistress, will encounter this all seeing God, El Roi. Now the Angle of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. And he said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." (Genesis 16:7-8).
There was concern in for Hagar's past and her future in that question. In the later verses 9-12 God reveals a future plan for Hagar and her son, if she is obedient and return to her mistress.
The Lord say's "I will greatly multiply your descendants... and though these verses we can see with amazement what Hagar saw, that God: He knew where to find her(God seeks us, He knew her occupation, He knew her heartaches and fears (God what to comfort us), He knew about the child in her womb: what his name will be, what characteristics he will have. What is more, He knows her future... her destiny. God has a plan and a future hope for Hagar, Ishmael, and for us.
Like the woman at the well later confessed in John 4, Hagar has a revelation in verse 13-14 she say's "And she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, "Thou art a God who sees";(Thou God seest me?) 14. Ther for the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [the well of the living one who sees me].
Gods eyes are in all places beholding the evil and the good, God sees our hurts, our pains, and our frustrations. He wants to comfort by letting us know that he sees. He knows where we are , were we come from and where we are going. He knows every thought an every feeling in the deepest part of our hearts. He sees all, right now. At this very instant. We can trust Him with our secrets. He alone is absolutely trustworthy. Now we Know more about Him He is: El Roi the God who sees.