2021-09-21
Ezekiel 48:35 NIV
During Israel’s twenty-fifth year in captivity Ezekiel received from God the name Jehovah-Shammah: the Lord is there. He described their future home, Jerusalem, saying, “The name of the city from that time on will be: THE LORD IS THERE.” It applies not only to the Lord of the old covenant, but equally to Jesus, the Lord of the new covenant whose name, “Immanuel,” means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23 NLT). It means that at all times, in all places, under all circumstances, for all of us, He’s available and present!
David discovered: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (Psalm 139:7-10 NLT).
The name Jehovah-Shammah signifies that God’s presence is all we need. Remember when just the presence of your mother or father was enough to comfort and bring confidence to you? Fear, loneliness and helplessness disappeared when they were there. In Israel’s worst moments God’s response was always the same: “I am with you.” Those words guaranteed their needs would be abundantly met! And today God’s saying to you, “I’m with you, and neither death, life, angels, spirit-powers, present or future fears, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation will separate you from my love” (See Romans 8:38-39). That’s promise enough for anybody. Take it and run with it today!
Soul food: 2 Cor 11:16-13:14; Luke 22:39-53; Ps 19; Prov 21:3
2021-09-20
Jeremiah 23:6 NLT
The name Jehovah-Tsidkenu: the Lord my righteousness, was given by God to Jeremiah, announcing the coming of Jesus. “I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line…And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness'” (vv. 5-6 NLT).
Before Jesus came, our righteousness was dependent on our own efforts. “We will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us” (Deuteronomy 6:25 NLT). But we failed the righteousness test big time! Then the “Lord our righteousness” became our solution. Here’s how: God “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).
Notice, in Jesus we’ve “become” [been converted…turned into] righteous before God! We’re not to try to do right just so we can feel right before God or generate a supply of good works to draw from when we need credit. We’re to draw what we need from the righteousness deposited into our account by Christ.
If we need humility, purity, patience, kindness or love, it’s useless to look within ourselves. They’re just not there! We must draw them by faith from the supply stored up for us in Jesus. Guilty hearts can draw forgiveness, anxious spirits can draw peace, weary souls can draw strength, and confused minds can draw guidance from our inexhaustible supply in Jehovah-Tsidkenu.
Just as you receive salvation by faith, you must draw righteousness and everything else you need through faith in what God has accomplished and stored up for your use in Jesus – the Lord your righteousness!
Soul food: Lev 23:33-44; John 7:1-40; Zech 14:16-21
2021-09-19
Judges 6:23 NIV
The name Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord my peace, was discovered by Gideon when God assigned him the job of leading Israel against the Midianites – a position Gideon saw as far beyond his abilities. “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (v. 15 NIV). The Lord responded, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites…Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die” (vv. 16, 23 NIV). A frightened Gideon believed God before the battle was even fought and the victory secured. Through the eyes of faith, he envisioned peace already secured, and built an altar to Jehovah-Shalom: the Lord our peace.
We assume that we can only have inner peace when our outer circumstances are favourable. Let’s learn, like Gideon, that inward peace doesn’t depend on altering outward circumstances. It depends on believing that Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and that will bring you through the battle with inner peace. Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace [inner, faith-based] I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [outward, circumstantial]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).
No matter how inadequate you feel today, remember these words: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace…take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NIV). Your job is to “take heart” because Jehovah-Shalom is with you, and to trust Christ the “overcomer” to handle the circumstances for you!
Soul food: Gen 2:7-25; 1 Cor 15:39-55
2021-09-18
Exodus 14:13 NIV
Let’s look again at Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. It isn’t easy to hand our battles over and let God fight for us. We feel like we’re copping out or being irresponsible. Popular thinking says, “Don’t just sit there, do something!” We’re like the drowning man who can’t stop grasping at his rescuer. We imagine they need our help, and as a result we end up making their job almost impossible. The truth is – we become their worst nightmare!
But just because God fights for us doesn’t mean we’re not involved. The hardest part about the order – “stand still and watch the deliverance of the Lord” – is we mistake standing still for doing nothing, or being derelict in our duty. Fear says, “Just do something!” Faith says, “Stand in faith. Let God do it!” That’s about as far from doing nothing as you can get. It’s faith at its highest.
So how come we need spiritual armor if we don’t do the fighting? Good question! Paul said, “Put on the full armor of God, so…you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV). Notice: you wear his armor – not yours. You’re to stand – not fight. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NAS).
Human methods get in God’s way; natural abilities are useless against spiritual forces. The grub of the dragonfly at the bottom of the pond may be a well-developed, vigorous grub. But once it becomes a dragonfly, the strengths of its grub-life won’t help it to live an airborne life. Whereas we once trusted in our own human effort, now we trust only in Jehovah-Nissi.
Soul food: 2 Cor 9:1-11:15; Luke 22:24-38; Ps 24; Prov 21:1-2
2021-09-17
2 Chronicles 20:15 KJV
When Israel was threatened by the armies of Amalek God gave them a glorious victory. Realizing that God was fighting the battle for them, Moses built an altar to Jehovah-Nissi: the Lord my banner. Fighting our own battles was never God’s idea. The Bible says, “The Lord is a man of war” (Exodus 15:3 KJV). “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:14 KJV). “Be not afraid nor dismayed…for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
As human beings we get exhausted and discouraged because we keep trying to fight in our own strength. We engage in fruitless cycles of repentance, resolution, struggle, defeat, discouragement, and repenting all over again. The only spiritual conflict that’s ever successfully won, is the one God fights for us. He doesn’t expect us to win the battle but to let Him win it on our behalf. “But aren’t we supposed to fight too?” you ask. Yes, we’re to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12 KJV).
Ours isn’t a battle of exhausting effort, it’s the battle of believing. “But aren’t we supposed to wrestle like Jacob did?” First of all, Jacob didn’t win by wrestling, he won by being rendered too weak to keep wrestling. Secondly, his victory lay in surrender to God.
Are you worn out from the battle? Are you at the end of your rope? Then you’re just where God wants you! Let go and trust Jehovah-Nissi to prevail for you, because “the battle is not yours, but God’s!” Stand up and declare with Paul, “When I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV).
Soul food: 2 Cor 5-8; Luke 22:14-23; Ps 78:65-72; Prov 20:26-30
2021-09-16
Psalm 83:18 NLT
The Israelites called God Jehovah, a name they thought of as incommunicable and inexplicable. The name means the “self-existing one;” the “I am.” He was before all things, the creator of all things; an awesome but seemingly impersonal, unknowable being.
However, God wanted us to know Him in a personal way, so in Scripture He added five revealing titles to the name Jehovah, five word-portraits to help us understand and relate to Him. The Israelites usually discovered the truth of these word-portraits during times of crisis and distress. And they’ll encourage you, too, during your time of need.
Jehovah-Jireh: the Lord will see, the Lord will provide. Abraham was about to sacrifice his son when God provided a lamb as an offering in Isaac’s place. And in response Abraham called God Jehovah-jireh, the Lord who sees and provides. But it doesn’t just apply to Abraham. The New Testament references many counterparts to the Lord who sees our needs and provides answers. Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth…ye have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:32 KJV).
Like a caring responsive parent, God sees His children’s needs before they do, and provides the solution. Before their shoes wear out, their father provides new ones. They don’t have to beg, bargain and plead. Maybe you’re wondering how come you don’t always get what you ask for. Because God knows what you really need – you don’t! Think about it: it’s possible for your wants to be gratified and your real needs go unmet. Remember Jehovah-Jireh sees your needs, and because He sees them He will provide for them! It’s that simple!
Soul food: Lev 16; Lev 23:26-32; Heb 9:1-14; Heb 13:11-16
