JEHOVAH SHAMMAH Part 3

The name Jehovah Shammah denotes, God is there.  God has always desired to have fellowship with man.  Isaiah 30:18 describes God’s heart toward man: “Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them]”.

Joshua 1:9 gives a beautiful promise concerning the presence of God, “Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

God’s faithfulness is not based on how well we are doing, but rather His faithfulness is based on how holy, kind, righteous, and good He is.

In the last post, part 2, we looked at several characteristics of God which usher in His presence: (protection, peace, wisdom, direction, favor, grace,  power, and joy). Let’s explore a few more.

1. MERCY...Ephesians 2:4-5    God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment).
2. HOPE...Romans 15:13   I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. KINDNESS...Romans 2:4   do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?
4. LOVE...Romans 5:8   But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

As I read these scriptures I am overwhelmed by Who God is and His love for us.  What an awesome privilege to be in God’s presence. Psalm 95:2 encourages us to come before His presence with thanksgiving.  Psalm 22:3 tells us praising God brings His presence. As we thank and praise God this day we can be at peace, knowing He is with us.

Father I thank You that You are always with us and we need not fear our circumstances or situations.  I pray the reality of Who You are will fill us today and that the truth of Your character will penetrate deep into our hearts.

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

Our relationship with God grows as we begin to learn about, and know Who God is.  God reveals facets of His nature and character through His name. Jehovah Shammah means “God is there”.

 This name is first found in Ezekiel 48:35, “and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”  God was promising His people that He would be there in a new temple that was to be built.  God’s heart is the same today. He desires to have a relationship with His creation, to be there.  God no longer needs temples made of stone, because as born again believers, WE are now the temple where God lives.  No matter where you are, God is there. He will not leave you because His presence is with you. We are told in 1st Corinthians 3:16, “ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”   In 2nd Corinthians 6:16 God says, “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”  

Jehovah Shammah is here with you and in you.  When our circumstances seem impossible, we must remember God is right there with us.   

In Daniel chapter 3, three Jewish men, who were being held captive, were ordered to bow and worship a golden idol.  Because they refused to worship another god, the king vowed to throw them into a fiery furnace. The men responded by saying in Daniel 3:16-18, “ We do not need to defend ourselves before you.  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us.  He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty, but even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”  The king was so angry, he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. The three men were bound, thrown into the furnace, and fell into the midst of the fire (Daniel 3:19-23). When the king looked into the fire, this is what he saw: verse 25:  “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”  Verse 27 goes on to say, “they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed, nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.”   Jehovah Shammah was there with them as they were going through the fire.

Are you going through a situation, like the three Jewish men, that may look as though it is impossible? When you are surrounded by difficult circumstances, know that Jehovah Shammah is there with you. You are not alone.

Father, thank You for always being with us and never leaving us alone.  I pray that we would continue to have revelation of how powerful your presence is in our lives.