Symbolic Designation of God (4)

Introduction

This evening we continue our study of symbolic designations found Scripture related to God, His nature, and His characteristics. So far, we have considered...

God is Our Source of Light - Sun!

This designation of God is found in several passages.

Psalm 84:11 KJV 1900

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: The Lord will give grace and glory: No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Malachi 4:2 KJV 1900

2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

John 8:12 KJV 1900

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

God, like the Sun, is the Source of Our Existence

At the very heart of our solar system is the sun. Without it, all the planets within the Milky Way would cease to exist including earth. Even the moon gets its brilliancy from the sun. One might say that it is in the sun that our planet, our moon, and our very existence lives and moves. The sun, as we know, is the source of light, heat, and power. In the same way, all the features of the sun pertain to God who is the Sun of righteousness. In nature, the sun reigns supreme. There is no other planetary object more majestic, powerful, and unique as the sun. Yet, God, the Creator of the Universe, stands as being more powerful and majestic than even the sun. It is God who is King of all creation and works as He wills in the affairs of men. Without His provision, we could not exits just as without the sun we would not exist. Just as the sun provides us with light, heat, and all that is necessary to sustain life and sustenance so God provides all that is necessary for our salvation. Essentially, without God, we are nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing.

God, like the Sun, is Beyond of Our Scope of Understanding

I find man’s interest in space fascinating. We have spent an enormous amount of money, creative genius, materials, and time trying to conquer space. Man achieved a great moment when we landed on the moon. Now, we have our eyes set on not just returning to the moon, but setting up an outpost there. Additionally, our interest in Mars has increased now that we have landed probes and remote rovers there as well. Yet, right smack in the heart of our solar system is something we will never reach or ever conquer. The sun itself has a diameter of 900,000 miles. It would take several million earths to fill make up the mass of the sun. There is no more fitting designation of God than the sun. Our minds cannot grasp the infinite mass and power of the sun. In much the same way, our finite minds cannot grasp infinite power and characteristics of God. He thoughts and His way are so far beyond our comprehending and, as Scripture says, past finding out.

Romans 11:33 KJV 1900

33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

God, like the Sun, is No Respecter of Persons

Here is something else the sun does that points to God and His dealing with men. Everyday, the sun rises above the horizon. As it does, its rays (if not concealed by clouds) falls upon all men regardless of their language, religion, or skin color. In fact, Christ commented on this very fact.

Matthew 5:45 KJV 1900

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

The sun is no respecter of persons. It provides the same illumination, warmth, and life-giving properties to all people - saints and sinners alike. In the same manner, God is no respecter of persons as well.

Acts 10:34–35 KJV 1900

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

God’s demonstrated His love for all men by sending His Son to die for all men and their sin.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He extends His invitation of mercy and grace to all who will believe in His Son and the work done at Calvary. It matter not what a person may have done or the language they may speak. If they truly believe Christ and the good news of His death, burial, and resurrection, God welcomes them into His family with open arms. His love is for all.

God, like the Sun, is Always There Providing Spiritual Vigor and Vitality

We all know the benefits of sunshine for the human body. A healthy and steady dose of Vitamin D for the body comes from the sun’s UV rays resulting in seven great benefits for the body. It improves sleep, reduces stress, assists in making your bones stronger, induces weight loss, strengthens your immune system, wards off depression, and can extend length of life according to one study done in Sweden. Consequently, if you will spend a certain amount of time outdoors each day, your health will improve. In the same manner, if we bask spiritually in the Sun of righteousness each day, we will enjoy spiritual vigor and vitality.

Malachi 4:2 KJV 1900

2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise With healing in his wings; And ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

John 1:4 KJV 1900

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Let me conclude this designation with this last thought.

Isaiah 60:19–20 KJV 1900

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; Neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: But the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, And thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down; Neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: For the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, And the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Revelation 22:1–5 KJV 1900

1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

There is coming a day when the sun will no longer be needed. In that day, the Lord God will provide all the light needed and we “shall reign for ever and ever” with Him!

God is Our Crown and Diadem!

For this designation, let’s turn to the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 28 KJV 1900

1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, Whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, Which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! 2 Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, Which as a tempest of hail and a destroying storm, As a flood of mighty waters overflowing, Shall cast down to the earth with the hand. 3 The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, Shall be trodden under feet: 4 And the glorious beauty, which is on the head of the fat valley, shall be a fading flower, And as the hasty fruit before the summer; Which when he that looketh upon it seeth, While it is yet in his hand he eateth it up. 5 In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, And for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, 6 And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, And for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate. 7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, So that there is no place clean. 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, And drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another tongue Will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; And this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 13 But the word of the Lord was unto them Precept upon precept, precept upon precept; Line upon line, line upon line; Here a little, and there a little; That they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, And snared, and taken. 14 Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, That rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, And with hell are we at agreement; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, And righteousness to the plummet: And the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, And the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, And your agreement with hell shall not stand; When the overflowing scourge shall pass through, Then ye shall be trodden down by it. 19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: For morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: And it shall be a vexation only to understand the report. 20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: And the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. 21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, He shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, That he may do his work, his strange work; And bring to pass his act, his strange act. 22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, Lest your bands be made strong: For I have heard from the Lord God of hosts A consumption, even determined Upon the whole earth. 23 Give ye ear, and hear my voice; Hearken, and hear my speech. 24 Doth the plowman plow all day to sow? Doth he open and break the clods of his ground? 25 When he hath made plain the face thereof, Doth he not cast abroad the fitches, and scatter the cummin, And cast in the principal wheat And the appointed barley and the rie in their place? 26 For his God doth instruct him to discretion, and doth teach him. 27 For the fitches are not threshed with a threshing instrument, Neither is a cart wheel turned about upon the cummin; But the fitches are beaten out with a staff, And the cummin with a rod. 28 Bread corn is bruised; Because he will not ever be threshing it, Nor break it with the wheel of his cart, Nor bruise it with his horsemen. 29 This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, Which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

I read this entire chapter for context.

All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible Crown and Diadem—God in His Sovereignty and Radiance

What a precious designation of God Isaiah, gives us in the chapter describing the woe of Ephraim when taken captive by the Assyrians! Twice over the prophet speaks of “the crown of pride,” and also of “the refuge of lies,” as being responsible for the fate of Ephraim (Isaiah 28:1, 3, 15, 17). But to the residue, the godly remnant among the godless, Isaiah says that “Jehovah of hosts (Jehovah-Sabaoth)” shall become “a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty” unto the residue of his people (28:5 ASV). “The crown of pride” was trodden under foot, and Ephraim’s “glorious beauty” became “a fading flower” (28:3, 4), but for the faithful the Lord was to be as a glorious crown, and as a diadem of unfading beauty.

What a charming combination Isaiah gives us of Jehovah renowned for His luster and loveliness. A “crown of glory” is fitting for Him who is the “King of Glory,” and whose righteousness is “radiant with excess of glory” (2 Corinthians 3:9–11 [Way]). As for His being “A Diadem of Beauty,” His is the perfection of beauty. “How great is His beauty” (Zechariah 9:17). In the crown, there sparkles His excellence, worth, sovereignty and glory. In the diadem, His radiance, attractiveness, and fascination. Truly, He is incomparable] To whom can we liken Him? The wonder is that, greatly desiring our beauty, He waits to make us the recipients of all that He is in Himself. In His intercessory prayer, Jesus prayed that His God-given glory might adorn our lives (John 17:22). Do we wear such a crown? Is ours the unceasing determination to live and labor for the glory of God? Then, when the psalmist expressed the wish that the beauty of the Lord might be upon us, he was not referring to any physical beauty that can be impaired by disease or age, but to the radiancy, charm of character, His gracious Spirit alone can impart. How ugly and despicable are our vaingloriousness and sins of the flesh when contrasted with Him, whose price is above rubies!

God is a Wall of Fire!

All the Divine Names and Titles in the Bible Wall of Fire—God Who Compasseth Our Path

The prophet Zechariah is the one who gives us a most forceful title of our God, who is a consuming fire.

“For I, saith Jehovah, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her” (2:5 ASV).

A “wall” is frequently used in Scripture as being figurative of protective forces surrounding us. Abigail learned that the men of David were gracious to the servants of churlish Nabal. “They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 25:16). And here is the prophet presenting the LORD as “a wall of fire” around His own. What a solemn promise of divine protection and preservation this is! Many were the trials and tribulations overtaking a covenant people in their city without walls between the days of Zechariah and the coming of Christ. But although hemmed in on every side by foes, abundant proof was given that God had not forgotten His promise to shield Jerusalem and His remnant within it. The Christ-glorifying hymn reminds us—

He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith, and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,

With His manna, he my hungry soul shall fill.

Does not the psalmist declare that God compasseth our path and our lying down, and at the same time compasseth us about with songs of deliverance? (Psalm 32:7; 139:3). What comfort and assurance are here for our hearts if alien forces are ganging up against us! In his valuable exposition of Zechariah, Dr. F. B. Meyer has the comment, ‘The image of ‘a wall of fire’ is probably borrowed from the camp-fires with which hunters surround themselves at night to scare off beasts of prey. Imagine what that means! Just as no pestilence, and certainly no intruder, could break through a cordon of flame, so the unseen but almighty presence of God would be a bulwark on which all the powers of earth and hell would break to their own undoing.”

This is a sure promise the saints of God can claim no matter where they may be, even though it be in atheistic China or Russia where there are saints who gather in secret for fear of hostile foes. You may feel that you are like an unwalled town with nothing between you and poverty, or misfortune, or the attacks of false friends. Do not lose heart! If you are His redeemed child then you dwell within the devouring fire of God’s presence, and are surrounded by the everlasting burnings of His protection. Has He not declared that no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper”? (Isaiah 54:17). With His protection and presence how blessed we are!

Conclusion