"It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." (Ezekiel 48:35)
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." (Psalm 23:6)
The name Elohim speaks of God in His relationship to creation: creating, ruling and preserving.
The name Jehovah speaks of His relationship to man. That moral and spiritual relationship, which our first parents enjoyed in Eden, and was broken by the fall. Thereafter names compounded with Jehovah reveal Him as providing redemption for fallen sinful mankind. Every aspect of that transaction is revealed by a special name.
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH is the promise and pledge of the completion of the program of redemption. At the conclusion of David's most beautiful Psalm 23 we discover this name - JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH - God is THERE. In the House of the LORD - WITH THE LORD! Here, amidst this early scene, the enemy is always present. The Apostle Paul speaks of our transition - "Absent from the body - present with the Lord." (Jehovah-Shammah).
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH IS NOT ONLY "THERE" WHEN
LIFE'S DAYS ARE OVER, BUT HE IS ALSO EVER
PRESENT IN THIS LIFE.
We are reminded in Hebrews 13:5 of our Lord's promise: "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee". And for good reason - He is Our Great Shepherd, and we the sheep of His pasture.
Moses informed us in Deuteronomy 32:9 that, "..the Lord's portion is his people". In Isaiah 43: 1-7 we have the Lord's pledge to tread the deep waters of trial with His people; to protect them when walking through the fire of trials, stating, "thou wast precious in my sight", and "I have loved thee" (verse 4). He is saying, "I am the Lord that IS THERE".
THE LORD KEEPS HIS PROMISES
Joseph, having been betrayed and sold by his brethren, became a servant in the house of Potiphar. But, he discovered the faithful presence of the Lord that IS THERE. We are told that Potiphar turned all of his business matters over to Joseph, and for good reason. We read in Genesis 39:2 - "And the Lord was with Joseph." Then trial and affliction permitted him to be cast into prison. "But the Lord was with Joseph" we read in verse 21. The keeper of the prison made him head over all the prisoners, "Because the Lord was with Joseph".
THE LORD IS THERE IN OUR FEEBLEST EFFORTS
OF SERVICE FOR HIM
In the Garden all the disciples forsook Him, yet He does not forsake them. Just prior to His ascension He commissions and sends them as His spokesmen:
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me
in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and
lo, I am (Jehovah-Shammah) with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
THE NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT OF
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
At His birth, they called His name Emmanuel, meaning "God with us". The Apostle John said: "..the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14)
IN THE MILLENNIUM, JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH
WILL "BE THERE"
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out
of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God
is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and
God himself shall be with them, and be their God." (Revelation 21:1-3)
There is a marked distinction between our Jehovah-Shammah being "there" during this age, and His being "there" in the Kingdom. This is an age of testing - often a time of severe trial. In the Kingdom, His presence will prevent all illness, sadness, and death. Where He is we also shall be.
CONCLUSION: Although He is Jehovah-Shammah today (and by His presence preserves us), He sees fit to stand with us beside the open grave, the hospital bed, and upon the battle field. When we've climbed the last hill of life's journey, that day will be forever over. We will be in the HOUSE OF JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH - WITH JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH forever!
Lee R. Russell , Used by permission