Symbolic Designation of God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Tonight, our study of God’s names takes a little different path that our previous course of study. So far, we have considered the personal names and titles designated by the Holy Spirit for God. Now, as we continue, we are going to some symbolic designations given in Scripture that represent the character of God and His relationship to us.
For this study, you will be filling the circles on your chart. Here is the first.
God is Our Rock!
God is Our Rock!
The first mention of God as a rock is by Moses when he sang his song recorded in Deuteronomy 32. In that song, Moses sings the following...
“Because I will publish the name of the Lord: Ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: A God of truth and without iniquity, Just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:3–4)
In these verses, Moses names several attributes of God. He is a God of perfection, judgment, truth, without iniquity, just, and right. However, the very first attribute Moses mentions is that our God is a Rock.
The word “rock” is an interesting word to study. In Hebrew, it means a huge cliff or a great big boulder. It is not some simple stone that you can pick up with your hand and skip across a body of water. No, the connotation is that of a much bigger stone. A stone that cannot be moved easily. In fact, if you roll with the idea of a cliff, that is something extremely hard to move. A cliff is huge and solid. It is a place where you can build a house or castle. Such a cliff provides a firm foundation. Thus, Moses is noting that God is a huge cliff upon which there is security, safety, and clarity. I add clarity for when you stand upon a great big cliff you can see the land all around you for miles.
As we know from history, men and women often used symbols in Scripture. Many of the symbols used came from things that they were accustomed to seeing. For instance, God is our rock or cliff. There are many mountains noted in Scripture. We see several just in the first five books of the Bible. Notably, the mountains of Moriah, Sinai, and Zion figure prominently throughout Israel’s history. The mountains and cliffs of Canaan afforded God’s people shade and shelter. They also provided relief from the heat of the desert sun. Consequently, we see many Old Testament writers as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit utilize the rocks and cliffs to depict God’s nature.
Moses was the first. Obviously, rocks played a big part in Moses’ life. On two different occasions, God instructed Moses to speak or strike a rock so the people would have water. It was on great rock mountain of Sinai that God met with Moses. It was there that God gave Moses the tablets of stone not once, but twice. Mount Sinai was also the place where Moses was allowed to see the hinder parts of God. He is the only man to do so and live. It makes sense that Moses would employ the symbolism of a rock to depict Jehovah God.
However, Moses was not the first. Others also utilized that same imagery. As we know, the true author is the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Holy Spirit gives us this wonderful symbol which helps us understand something very important about God. Note some other passages that uses this Hebrew word “tsur” meaning rock or cliff.
“And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, Mine horn is exalted in the Lord: My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; Because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: For there is none beside thee: Neither is there any rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:1–2)
Remember that Hannah was childless. Additionally, she was harassed by her husbands other wife who was not childless. She poured out her heart to God for a child promising to give that child back to God in return. God answered her prayer. These verses, 1 Samuel 2:1-2, is her prayer of praise thanking Jehovah for giving her a son. In that prayer, she notes that there is no rock, cliff, or mountain like Jehovah God. He was her anchor, safety, and security. There is no other foundation like the mighty rock who is our God!
47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
David proclaims this in his song of deliverance. After the many years of war and strife, he finally comes to a time of peace. All of his enemies are defeated. He no longer is dealing with Saul or the Philistines. He then offers unto God this song of praise. In the song, he states the fact that God is alive and that God is his rock (tsur). During all the constant turmoil and upheaval of his life, his foundation and source of salvation was God, his rock. As I think about David, I am reminded that David’s life of turmoil was result of both outward and inward circumstances. At times, David faced a lot of opposition from likes of Saul and others. On the other hand, David also brought upon himself much grief because of his own sin. Through it all, God remained his rock. David always understood that God was the great cliff solidifying his escape from all that he faced in life. His faith in God as the rock of his salvation sustained him through the ups and downs of his life.
There are several notable references to God as a rock in the Psalms.
31 For who is God save the Lord? Or who is a rock save our God?
1 Unto thee will I cry, O Lord my rock; be not silent to me: Lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.
22 But the Lord is my defence; And my God is the rock of my refuge.
I believe you see a recurring theme. Each of these references to God as a rock relate to God as the only source of salvation and security.
If we go to Deuteronomy 32, we find Moses speaks about God as a rock five different times.
Deuteronomy 32:15 “15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: Thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; Then he forsook God which made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.” - God is the Rock of his salvation, thus, Moses recognized God as the Source of Grace.
Deuteronomy 32:18 “18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, And hast forgotten God that formed thee.” - Here Moses sees God as the Rock that “begat thee.” Moses recognized that God is the Source of Life.
Deuteronomy 32:30 “30 How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had shut them up?” - It is noted that God is the Rock that “sold them” recognizing that God is the Source of Ownership.
Deuteronomy 32:31 “31 For their rock is not as our Rock, Even our enemies themselves being judges.” - Moses observes that “their rock is not as our Rock.” Therefore, God is the Source of Perfection.
Deuteronomy 32:37 “37 And he shall say, Where are their gods, Their rock in whom they trusted,” - This observation continues noting that any rock outside of God is the Source of Failure.
These references to God as our Rock teach us that He can be trusted and depended upon for our salvation and security. In fact, if we place our trust in anyone or anything other than Him, we will fail. This all ties back to the fact that God does not change. He is the same. When everything else is changing around us, we can rely upon the fact that God never changes. He is our rock, our cliff, and, as such, our sure foundation.
“Thou art my Rock; when kingdom and nation,
ruler and crown, have crumbled to dust;
Thou shalt remain my Rock of salvation,
Rock everlasting, Thee will I trust.”
God is Our Covert!
God is Our Covert!
18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.
17 And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.
18 And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.
The context of this verse is this. Israel is divided into two kingdoms. There is the Northern Kingdom consisting of 10 tribes and the Southern Kingdom which is the remaining two tribes. If you study Israel’s history, you know that God brings judgment upon both kingdoms through captivity. The Northern Kingdom was the first to be judged. The Assyrian army conquered them and took them out of the land. Their last king was Hoshea. Over in the Southern Kingdom, King Ahaz sat upon the throne. Ahaz was a very wicked king. It was during his reign, that the Assyrians invaded the North and were heading his way. The short version of the story is that Ahaz made an alliance with the Assyrian king. That alliance included sending all the gold and silver of the Temple to the Assyrian king as a tribute. In exchange, the Assyrian king captured and killed one of Ahaz’s enemies. Ahaz then rushed to Damascus to pledge his loyalty to the Assyrian king. While Ahaz was in Damascus, he saw a huge pagan altar that he really like. Now, remember this. Ahaz is a wicked king having rejected Jehovah God. Instead, he was very much into pagan worship especially to Baal, the false god. Having seen this pagan altar in Damascus, Ahaz upon his arrival in Jerusalem proceeds to God’s Temple into a model of this pagan altar of Damascus. It in this context that we read our verse which states that totally gutted the courtyard of the Temple. In doing so, he removed the “covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house.” In other words, he demolished the covered walkway which led into the Temple. Thus, a “covert” is a covered walkway.
Here are few other passages in which we find the word “covert.”
5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, And upon her assemblies, A cloud and smoke by day, And the shining of a flaming fire by night: For upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, And for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Here we are given a description of the Millennial Kingdom. In that day, the Lord will fill Jerusalem (Mount Zion) with His presence. He will also build a tabernacle which will be a “covert” or shelter for all people.
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, And abide in the covert to lie in wait?
God utilizes this word in His reply to Job. Essentially, God is reminding Job that He, Jehovah, is the One Who takes care of nature. It is no different for the fierce lions. The picture is that of lions taking shelter in their dens as their “covert.”
20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
The context of this verse is when Abigail met David when David threaten to kill her husband, Nabal, for his treatment of David’s men. She rode out to meet David in secret under the “covert” of the hill so that Nabal would not know. Thus, in this instance, a covert means not only shelter, but also a secret meeting place.
38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: For their land is desolate Because of the fierceness of the oppressor, And because of his fierce anger.
In this verse, God is relaying His dissatisfaction with the nation of Israel. He describes how He will bring judgment upon Israel’s shepherds. His judgment will be so fierce that not even the peaceful pastures of Israel will escape. In that moment, He, the LORD, will become as a lion that has left its “covert” or den. His anger will be fierce.
Taking all these into consideration shows that God is like a “covert.” He is a shelter. We see God as One to whom we can run for protection and care. This is picture found often in the Psalms.
4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: Thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
God is Our Refuge!
God is Our Refuge!
9 The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
The term “refuge” in Hebrew is translated several different ways. These translations give us the full meaning of the word. In our text, it is refuge. Note Psalm 18:2
2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
The words “high tower” are the same Hebrew word as “refuge” in our text.
9 Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: For God is my defence.
Here is the word “defence.” Again, it is the same Hebrew word as “refuge” and “high tower.”
Over in Deuteronomy 33:27
27 The eternal God is thy refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms: And he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; And shall say, Destroy them.
The promise is this. Not matter what is going in your life, you can always go to God for refuge. There is double safety for those who belong to Him. He is the everlasting God, who is our Refuge, who has everlasting arms holding us up and surrounding us as a great tower of defense.
A great way to imagine this word can be found in the book of Joshua. You might recall that after Israel had taken the land of promise that God gave instructions on how the land was to be divided. In that same instruction, He instructed Joshua to establish six cities of refuge.
1 The Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3 That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
Essentially, these cities were asylum cities. They were under the protection and care of the Levites. They, the Levites, were offer protection to those who shed blood unwittingly or by accident. If this was the case, the person killed someone could flee to the closest city of refuge. Anyone who sought to avenge a death could not do so if the person safely made into the refuge.
Now, with that in mind, consider the words of Isaiah 26:1
1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
The cities of refuge were scattered throughout the land. Each city was known as a city of refuge where a person could be saved from capital punishment for murder. These cities were appointed by God as protection. Arrival in these cities meant safety and salvation. In like manner, God is our only safety from God’s avenging wrath. In Him, we are secure from the judgment that is already upon all men’s heads. Christ’s finished work at Calvary provides the safe have, the high tower, and defence. It is in Him we are eternally secure.
39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.
12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
I am sure that there were others cities which were more fortified than the cities of refuge. It would have been easy to assume if one were to reach one of those cites since they were closer, they would be safe. However, that was be false hope for they were not the cities of refuge. In order to escape judgment and punishment, a person had to arrive in one of the cities of refuge. Is that not then a picture of Christ? There is no other way to escape God condemnation. It is only through Christ and none other. Just as God divinely appointed the cities of refuge for Israel, so God divinely appointed that our spiritual safety can only be found in the refuge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
One last thing to note about the cities of refuge.
25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
26 But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
As long as the manslayer stayed within the confines of the city he was safe. In fact, he remained safe until the death of the high priest. If the high priest died within his lifetime, he was free to return home with no worry of retribution upon his head. The city of refuge provided a means by which he was safe from his accusers and from their ability to take revenge. In the same manner, our safety from the Accuser and the one who seeks to destroy us rests upon the lifetime of the High Priest. How long will our High Priest lives? He lives forever and ever. Thus, we are secure for our Refuge is everlasting and upholds us with everlasting arms.