“Yahweh Shammah”—The Lord Is There

“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!

“Yahweh M’Kaddesh” – The Lord Who Sanctifies

“Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you.” –Leviticus 20:8 (ESV).

To be sanctified carries the idea of being set apart for a particular use, especially for a holy, sacred purpose.  God Himself is holy and that which He sanctifies or sets apart is holy.  Many places in the Psalms convey this idea of God’s holiness.  Here are two references:  “Let them praise Your great and awesome name.  Holy is He! (Ps. 99:3).  “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy!” (Ps. 99:9).   God exists in the realm of the holy rather than the profane; all that pertains to Him is holy.  This includes time, space, things and people.  But specifically, people and places are set apart—sanctified—to God.  In the Old Testament, the priests were called out and set apart as sanctified.  And by choosing and calling the nation of Israel to be His special people, they were considered set apart and sanctified.  To Abraham, God gave the promise that his descendants would be “as the sands of the seashore” and would be a blessing to all nations. 

Sanctification is inherent in the salvation experience. Paul writes in I Corinthians 6:11:  “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”  “Washed” is a means of referring to cleansing from the guilt and power of sin and experiencing regeneration (renewal).  Leaving the old life of sin is symbolized by baptism.  This rite has no saving qualities but rather indicates death to the old life of sin before salvation, and arising to a new life characterized by walking in the way of Jesus Christ.  “Sanctified” means made holy and set apart for a special calling and purpose.  It also means an ongoing action in the Christian’s life—set apart from evil and dedicated to the Lord’s service.  And “justified” is a judicial term which means “to be declared righteous” or to have the penalty for offenses paid. 

In I Peter 1:14-16, the concept of “Yahweh M’Kaddesh, I am the Lord who sanctifies”is made clear for the Christian:  “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “you shall be holy for I am holy.’”

Thank God that His love touched your heart and in mercy He saved you.  Thank Him that He sanctified you—set you apart—for His own purpose and plan. Thank Him that with His help we can be as lights shining in the darkness of this world to reflect His glory and His holiness.