3 November 2024
JEHOVAH SHAMMAH- THE LORD IS THERE
(The Names Of God: TNOG 14)
Jehovah Shammah means “THE LORD IS THERE” (Ezekiel 48:35). This is the name of the city Ezekiel saw in his vision. Interestingly, this is the last verse of the last chapter of the Book of Ezekiel. Why? When Ezekiel received this vision from God, the Jews had been in captivity in Babylon for twenty-five years (Ezekiel 40:1). Jerusalem and the temple were in ruins. But God had promised that His people would be restored and that the city and the temple would be rebuilt (Jeremiah 25:11, 13; Daniel 9:20-27).
Jehovah Shammah, would have special meaning for the Jewish exiles. They felt forsaken in Babylon and cut off from God. But This Name - THE LORD IS THERE - was intended as a divine promise to give hope to the Jewish exiles. The Jews had already spent twenty-five years in exile in Babylon. This prophetic vision gave them assurance and hope that their future will be safe in God’s Hands and they would return to their homeland.
Jehovah Shammah also reminds us that that God is ever present in the lives of His children. He is always there for them, as Paul says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom.8:31). The Psalmist also said, “God is our Refuge and Strength, an Ever-Present Help in trouble” (Psa.46:1). God’s Presence in our lives gives comfort and assurance that He cares for us and will be there for us in every situation in life; therefore, we should not fear but trust in Him. For GOD IS THERE. He is Jehovah Shammah. Hallelujah!
When Moses was fearful about taking the people into the unknown Promised Land, the LORD assured him: “And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14). Later he assured the Israelites that though he would not go with them into Canaan by saying: “The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deut.31:8). The Presence of God is God being "present" with His children or people. The realization of His Presence gives assurance, protection and peace.
When Jesus gave the Great Commission to the disciples to “go into all the world and preach the Gospel and to make disciples of all peoples”, He gave them this Promise: “Lo, I Am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matt.28:20). The reason was because they were going into an unfriendly and even hostile world, where Christianity was outlawed. Obviously, the disciples would have been fearful and hesitant about obeying His command. But this Promise assured them and gave them boldness to go in spite of the dangers they would face.
So what does Jehovah Shammah mean to us today? It simply means that we should be more daring and trust God as we seek to evangelize the pre-believers and unreached peoples of the world because we have the Holy Spirit’s empowerment and history behind us, showing us that we can succeed just as the Early Church did. God is with us as He was with them!
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