“The circumference of the city
shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of
the city from that time on shall be, ‘The Lord Is There’”-Ezekiel 48:35. “Behold,
the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name
‘Immanuel’”(God with us)-Matthew 1:23. “And
behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” –Matthew 18:20b. “I will
never leave you nor forsake you.” –Hebrews 13:5b. “They
will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” –Revelation 22:4
(ESV).
How
many of us have said to a family member or friend, “I’m here for you”? These words of reassurance indicate that we
want to share in sorrow, the down times, the good times and be an encouragement
to others. One of the great “I Am”
statements of Almighty God is “Yahweh Shammah,” Hebrew for “The Lord Is
There.” And God is always there, ready to hear our prayers, ready to lift
and succor us, ready to be “”a very
present help in trouble” and our light and guide along life’s way. The verse from Ezekiel may need some
clarification. Ezekiel prophesied at a
time of great confusion for the nation.
In 597 B. C., Judah’s king, Jehoiachin had been exiled to Babylon along
with several thousand, among whom was the prophet Ezekiel. His message is one
of judgment and condemnation but also of hope.
In chapters 40 through 48 he sees a vision of the restoration of the
nation, a division of the land among the twelve tribes, the rebuilding of the
temple, and the city of Jerusalem, the wall of which will stretch 18,000 cubits
around the restored city. But when it is
rebuilt, it will have a new name: “Yahweh (Jehovah) Shammah”—“God is there,”
or God is with us.” When Mary was told she would bear the Messiah, the angel
gave a name for him: “Immanuel”(also
spelled Emmanuel)—God with us. As “God
with us,” Jesus came to save the people from their sins. When Jesus had finished His work for which He
came to earth and was ready to ascend to the Father, He gave the disciples
their working orders: “Go and make
disciples…teach, preach, baptize, teach them to observe all that I have
commanded you.” But then He gave a great
promise: “Lo, I am with you always, even
to the end of the world” (or the end of the age). In our work for the Lord, He is there. The writer of Hebrews reconfirmed the promise
of Immanuel, God with us” “I will never
leave you nor forsake you.” And in
telling about the New Jerusalem with the Bridegroom (Jesus) coming down from
Heaven to receive His bride (the redeemed) unto Himself, John declared that we
will see the face of the Lord and our names will be on His forehead. He will be there; He will know us individually.
Almost,
this characteristic of the Great I Am is beyond our finite comprehension. Now we can see it as through a glass,
darkly. But in our hearts we know God
made the provision for; He will never leave us desolate and alone. “God is there!” Bless His holy name! Let’s review the nine “I Am” principles that
help us to know and better understand how to relate to God our Creator and
Redeemer: (1) “Yahweh Jireh”—the Lord will provide (Gen.
22:14); (2) “Yahweh Rophe”—the Lord
heals (Exodus 15:26); (3) “Yahweh Nissi”
–the Lord is our banner (Exodus 17:15); (4) “Yahweh M’Kaddesh” –the Lord
sanctifies (Lev. 20:8); (5) “Yahweh
Shalom” –the Lord is our peace (Judges 6:24); (6) “Yahweh Rohi” –the Lord is my shepherd (Psalm
23:1); (7) “Yahweh Sabaoth—the Lord of
hosts (Psalm 46:7); (8) “Yahweh
Tsidkenu”—the Lord our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6); and (9) “Yahweh Shammah”
–the Lord is there (Ezekiel 48:35). We
probably won’t remember the Hebrew terms for the Great I Am. But their English
interpretations can be a constant reminder to us of how great our God is and
how in His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience He surrounds, loves,
saves, leads, protects and sustains us! To God be the glory!
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