JEHOVAH NISSI

 

Jehovah Nissi means “God our Banner”.  A banner is defined as a pole, a standard or a miracle.  In biblical times a banner was used as a signal that was raised to gather or assemble the people. A raised banner served to announce that something significant was about to happen.  God's people rallied for battle with the raising of banners. During the confusion and chaos of a battle, soldiers would look for the king’s banner.  The sight of it being held high gave them courage and confidence.

The name Jehovah Nissi first appears in Exodus 17:15.  God had delivered the Israelites from captivity in Egypt and was leading them to the Promised Land. (Exodus 4-17)  As the israelites were getting ready to fight the Amalekites, Moses instructed Joshua to lead the army in battle. Moses then went on top of a hill, lifted his rod to heaven, and raised his hands up to God.  When his hands were raised, Israel was more powerful than the Amalekites, but when he became fatigued and lowered his hands the Amalekites were stronger. Holding up his hands was a symbol of dependence on God and an appeal to Him for help and enablement. This act of obedience to God empowered Joshua to defeat the Amalekites.  Exodus 17:14-15 tells us, “ After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, 'Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven.' Moses built an altar there and named it Jehovah-Nissi (which means “the Lord is my banner).”

 Moses was declaring they had victory, not because of the greatness of the army, but because they were positioned under the banner of God (Jehovah Nissi).

As God’s children, the Lord Himself is our Banner, our Jehovah Nissi.  He is our confidence and the source of our strength in battle. When we have darkness and confusion in our lives we have the assurance of God, our Banner, being lifted high over our situation.  In Exodus 17:14 God instructed Moses to write down the events of Israel’s victory against the Amalekites.  He wanted this remembered for generations to come...for us. In the bible Egypt is symbolic of the world system or sin.  Just as the Israelites were attacked when they left Egypt, we are attacked when we come out of the world to serve God. Who are the “Amalekites” that are attacking you?  Is it fear, addiction, pride, selfishness, anger, or bitterness just to name a few?  God’s banner of salvation is waving over you. His promise of salvation includes help during distress, deliverance,  rescue, and healing. Without God we can do nothing (John 15:5), but when we position ourselves under the Banner, Jehovah Nissi, we can have victory over our enemies.

Father, I thank You that with You we can have victory over all that tries to come between us and You.  I pray we would realize Jehovah Nissi is not just Your name, but it is a reflection of Who You are.

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH Part 3

Jehovah Tsebaoth is God’s name which describes Him as the Lord of Hosts or God of battles.  A host is an army and may refer to an army of: people, angels, stars and planets (heavenly hosts), or  hosts of animals. Whatever kind of host or army the bible is speaking about, God, Jehovah Tsebaoth, is the Head.

I want to look briefly at heavenly hosts.  God not only created the heavens (Genesis 2:1), He also knows how many stars there are and calls each one by name (Psalm 147:4)  According to scientists the universe is comprised of approximately one billion trillion stars, yet Jehovah Tsebaoth has named and is in control of each one.  What an amazing God we serve!!

There is a battle recorded in Judges chapters 4 and 5 that describes how God moved the stars.   King Jabin had a powerful army with 900 iron chariots. The chariot’s wheels had sharp spikes that would shred their opponents to ribbons.  God told the Israelite army, which was only armed with clubs and stones, to go into battle. It looked as if defeat was imminent, or for certain.  But God had a plan. He moved the stars which caused a change in the weather and it began to pour down rain. The chariots wheels sank in the mud and Israel won the battle.

Joshua chapter 12 tells of an event when the Israelites were in battle with the Amorites.  The Israelites were outnumbered, but God spoke to Joshua in verse 8, “Do not be afraid of them,” the Lord said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.”  

Joshua knew the battle would have to be won before sunset.  He prayed to God to allow the sun to stand still. Verses 12-13 describes this event: “On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said,“Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,  and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.”    So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies.”

Again the situation looked impossible, but God had promised them victory.  Often circumstances in our life seem as if there is no solution. Remember Jehovah Tsebaoth will fight for you.

Father, we are trusting in You, not our circumstances.  I pray You would continue to reveal your magnificence to us and help us see the reality of Who You are.

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH Part 2

Jehovah Tsebaoth is God’s name which describes Him as the Lord of Hosts or God of battles.  Today we will continue to explore angelic hosts, which is an army of angels. God has a mighty force of angels ready to move at His command.  Scripture has described this angelic host to us: Psalm 68:17  “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them.”  Psalm 103:20-21 “ Praise the Lord, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands.  Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!”

Let’s think about this for a moment.  God is a personal God and knows your every need.  He has thousands and thousands of angels that are ready to fight for you. When you believe the battle is too much for you, remember an army of angels is fighting for you.   

When Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den, God sent an angel to shut the mouth of the lions. (Daniel 6:22)  Why did God protect Daniel? Because Daniel loved and respected God. That same provision is given to us. Psalm 34:6-7 declares, “In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;  He saved me from all my troubles.  For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear (who revere and worship God with awe).”

One of my favorite events in the bible is found in 2 Kings 6.  The king of Syria was making war against the people of God. During the night, he sent his army to find and capture Elisha, God’s prophet.  When Elisha’s servant went out the next morning he was filled with fear as he saw the Syrian army, which had completely surrounded the city.  The servant asked Elisha, “What should we do? “ Elisha replied in 2 Kings 6:16-17, “Don’t be afraid! Elisha told him. FOR THERE ARE MORE ON OUR SIDE THAN ON THEIRS!  Then Elisha prayed, O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!  The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”

I wonder how many times we miss not only God’s greatness, but also His plans for our lives. How many times do we react to our situation rather than the truth of God’s Word? Second Corinthians 4:4 tells us, “ Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

Like Elisha’s servant, we may not always see God operating in our lives, but that does not diminish the fact that He is working in and for us.  God has not changed since that day when the servant’s eyes were opened. He is still the same and His army is greater than that of our enemies. Jehovah Tsebaoth and His army are fighting for you today.

Father I pray that just as You opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant, you will open our eyes today that we will see Your power, Your majesty, Your love, and all that You are.

JEHOVAH TSEBAOTH

Jehovah Tsebaoth describes God as the Lord of Hosts or God of battles.  The word Tsebaoth comes from the Hebrew word tsaba and can be used as a verb or a noun.  As a verb it means to wage war or to render service to God. As a noun, tsaba refers to multitudes, hosts, or armies.  It expresses a VAST army made up of different components which are under God’s command.

When we think of an army we picture a large group of men ready to fight.  As a child of God, we are members of the army of the Lord. Another name for an army is host and may refer to angelic hosts (angels), heavenly hosts (stars and planets), or  hosts of animals. Whatever kind of host or army the bible is speaking about, God, Jehovah Tsebaoth, is the Head.

As Head of the army, God protects and defends us.  He fights or battles against those obstacles in our life which attempt to defeat us.  Joel 2:11 describes God’s power, “And the Lord utters His voice before His army, for His host is very great, and [they are] strong and powerful who execute [God’s] word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible, and who can endure it?"

Let’s look at some examples of Jehovah Tsebaoth in the bible.

In Joshua 5, God was preparing to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.  As they waited for God’s direction,  He revealed Himself to Joshua.  “ and it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man (God) stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.  And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our adversaries?’  So He said, ‘No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.’  Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped Him”  (Joshua 5:13-14). Joshua had come face to face with Jehovah Tsebaoth and knew that God was with them and would lead them to victory.

First Samuel 17 depicts David’s battle with Goliath.  Despite the fact that Goliath was huge and was fully equipped with armour and weapons, David had no fear of him because his trust was in God.  Even as Goliath mocked him, David responded with faith and confidence. “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with 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 defied”. (1 Samuel 17:45)

Both Joshua and David knew and trusted God as Jehova Tsebaoth, their protector and defender.  Their confidence was not in themselves or in their circumstances. Psalms 24:8 tells us, “Who is the King of glory? The Lord STRONG AND MIGHTY, the Lord MIGHTY IN BATTLE”.   If you are facing a battle in your life, let God fight for you.  No matter what you may be encountering, God is BIGGER.

Father, You are mighty, strong, and powerful.  I thank You that You are fighting for us. Open the eyes of our understanding to this facet of Your character.

KNOWING GOD

God desires for His creation to have an intimate, personal relationship with Him.  In John 17:3 Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true [supreme and sovereign] God, and [in the same manner know] Jesus [as the] Christ whom You have sent.”   

Eternal life is more than living forever.  It is a life that is defined by knowing God and experiencing all Who God is.

God tells us in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Let not the wise man bask in his wisdom, nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches.  Let them boast in this alone: That they truly know me, and understand that I am the Lord of justice and of righteousness whose love is steadfast”.

There are several commands in God’s Word that revolve around or are contingent upon our knowing God.  

Proverbs 3:5 tells us, “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.”  

Luke 10:27 commands, ”You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”

How do we reach a point in our lives where we completely trust and love God?  We must come to know His heart and His attributes. The names of God are a manifestation (evidence, example) of His character and reveal to us Who He is.

Approximately one year ago God instructed me to begin writing a blog describing His many names.   It is my desire to help the readers of these articles, along with myself, discover Who God truly is and become intimately acquainted with Him.

Father, I pray Your Word over each person who reads this.  As we “Move our heart closer and closer to God, He will come even closer to you. (James 4:8)

I thank You for Your  promise and I thank You that You are faithful to Your Word.  Open our hearts to all that You are.

JEHOVAH TSIDKENU

Jehovah Tsidkenu means God our Righteousness.  This name first appears in Jeremiah 23:5-6. At that time, God’s kingdom was full of sin and idolatry and ruled by one wicked king after another.  Jeremiah prophesied the following, “For the time is coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.  He will be a King (Jesus) who rules with wisdom. He (Jesus) will do what is just and right throughout the land.   And this will be His name:  The Lord Is Our Righteousness. (Jehovah Tsidkenu).”  God was promising the people not only a righteous King (Jesus), but also a way for mankind to obtain righteousness.

When the bible speaks of righteousness, it is describing God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word.  

The scriptures portray God as righteous and His words and actions are in accordance with the purity of His nature.  Psalm 119:142,144 tells us there is none who compares to Him: “Your (God’s) righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your (God’s) law is truth.  The righteousness of Your (God’s) testimonies are everlasting.”

God’s laws, as given in the Bible, describe His character and establish the gauge by which He measures human righteousness.  On our own, we can never live up to this standard. Romans 3:11-12 describes mankind, “There is none righteous [none that meets God’s standard], not even one.  There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

Because God is so loving, and loves each one of us, He created a plan allowing us to become righteous.  Through the work of Jehovah Tsidkenu, the Lord of Righteousness, Jesus, took our sin, our unrighteousness on Himself.   Our sin (past, present, and future) exchanged for His righteousness and purity. What an exchange! When we become born again, we are now in right standing with God.  We ARE a new creation (1 Corinthians 5:17). God no longer sees our righteousness, which is compared to filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Jesus exchanged those filthy rags for His robe of righteousness. Isaiah 61:10 declares, “I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!  For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation  and draped me in a robe of righteousness.  I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding  or a bride with her jewels.”  

Not only were we made righteous, Jesus also took our sins and destroyed the powers of darkness.  Jehovah Tsidkenu is a name that brings hope to the hopeless, light into darkness, and life in place of death.

Father, we thank You for Your plan of salvation.  We thank You that we are no longer who we were, but are now a new creation.  We run to You, our Strength and our Righteousness.

JEHOVAH MAKKEH Part 2

As we observed earlier, the name, Jehovah Makkeh, means God our smiter, corrector, or instructor.  God uses many methods to teach us: His Word, Holy Spirit, and our life circumstances. When these do not produce a change in us, God may  use discipline as a way of correcting or changing our path. His correction is with love and meant for our eternal benefit, to bring His plan for our life into fulfillment.  First Peter 5:10 tells us, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts His blessing and favor], Who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]”

God gives us this promise in Hebrews 12:5-6, “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you.  For the Lord disciplines those He loves,    and He punishes each one He accepts as his child.”  It goes on to say in verses 10-11 : “But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness.  No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

Jesus lovingly reminds us of this in Revelation 3:19, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will].”   Jehovah Makkeh wants us to set our hearts on His plan, not ours.

I want to emphasize, God’s correction is motivated by His love for us.  When left to our own ways, we are on a path to destruction. His love for mankind is so immense that He allowed His only Son to take our ultimate punishment, which is death, for the sins we have commited.  Jesus took our penalty of death when He died on the cross in our place. He was smitten for our sake. I encourage you to read Isaiah 53 which gives a vivid picture of all Jesus has done for us.

Father, I pray that each person that reads this will surrender completely to You and allow You to change and mold them into who You have created them to be.  We acknowledge that our ways bring destruction and death, but Your ways bring life, peace, and healing.