“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 Shalom”—God Our Peace

“The Lord said to him (Gideon), ‘Peace be to you.  Do not fear; you shall not die.’  Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, ‘The Lord is Peace.’” –Judges 6:23-24 (ESV).

The pronouncement that Jehovah was Shalom—God our Peace—was made when Gideon was a judge in Israel.  He had been called to lead an attack against the Midianites, but doubting his qualifications and strength to do so (for his people, the Abiezrites, were the weakest clan in Manasseh).  Gideon was one who needed signs to verify God’s presence with him.  Frist he made an offering of a young goat and unleavened cakes.  Placing these on an altar, they were consumed by fire that sprang from the rock when the angel of the Lord touched it with a staff.  It was after observing this miracle that Gideon built an altar to God at Ophrah and called it “The Lord is Peace.”  He tore down the altar to Baal and angered the townspeople.  They demanded that Joash bring out his son Gideon so they could kill him for destroying the Baal altar.  Joash then said, “If Baal is a god, let him contend for himself.”  Gideon’s life was spared, and his name was changed to Jerubbaal, which meant, “Let Baal contend against him.”  Of course, there was no Baal to stand up against Gideon.  When Gideon (Jerubbaal) was asked to lead an army to fight the Midianites, again he required a sign.  He put out a fleece, asking that all around the fleece be wet with dew, but the fleece remain dry.  This was accomplished, but he wanted still another sign, a wet fleece when all around it was dry.  That accomplished, a mighty army was gathered, but God told him it was too many; 22,000 left and 10,000 remained.  But by means of eliminating all but the bravest (see Judges 7:1-8), Jerubbaal’s army was reduced to 300 men.   These were divided into three companies of 100 each, given trumpets, pitchers, and torches (lamps) and at a given signal they sounded the trumpets, broke the jars and lighted the torches so that the large army of the Midianites were in confusion and began to kill each other and to flee.  The cry, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon” went up, and soon other Israelite tribes began to pursue the fleeing Midianites.  When the Israelites asked Gideon to be their king, he refused, saying, “”The Lord will rule over you” (Judges 8:23).

“The Lord our peace”:  With so much warfare going on in Gideon’s day, how could he declare “The Lord is our peace?’  Sometimes warfare is unavoidable.  Formidable enemies arise, as in the days of Gideon.  God’s people seek out the will of God and try to determine the best course of action.  Amidst the wars and storms of life—whether these are corporate or individual—God can give us peace.  All peace comes from the Lord.  He is the author and foundation of peace.  Aaron’s blessing recorded in Numbers 6:24-26 is used still as a benediction following worship services:  “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” (ESV). The greatest bestower of peace is the Lord Jesus Christ who is “the Prince of Peace.”