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 Part 2

The meaning of God's name, Jehovah Shammah, promises in Ezekiel 48:35 that His Presence would be with us.  

As a born again believer, His presence is always with us because WE are now the temple where God lives.  He is alive in us...He is there.

There is a deep spiritual hunger in each of our hearts that can only be satisfied by the presence of God Himself. God’s presence brings to us a culmination of all that He is.  Let’s look at a few of these attributes.

1. PEACE..John 14:27  I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.   

2. WISDOM...James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

3. DIRECTION...Psalm 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail.

4. FAVOR...Psalm 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

5. GRACE...2 Corinthians 12:9  My grace (undeserved favor and divine influence on your heart) is sufficient for you.

6. POWER...2 Timothy 1:7   For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

7. JOY...John 15:11  I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.

Scripture is clear that all of life is about being in God’s relational presence.  This is why David proclaims in Psalms 16:11, “in Your presence there is fullness of joy, at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore”  

The presence of God brings life.  His presence will take you through every situation you face.  What a privilege it is to have God’s presence in your life!

Father, I pray Ephesians 3:17-19: Christ may dwell in our hearts through our faith.  And may we, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love,  be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];  and [that we may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that we may be filled up [throughout our being] to all the fullness of God [so that we may have the richest experience of God’s presence in our lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].