Jehovah Shammah

Jehovah Shammah: The Lord Is There

~ Series: Names of God ~

Exodus 48:35

Introduction

What do you know about names? We know that certain names are popular in certain generations. For example, my grandmother’s names were Virginia and Edna and my grandpa were Arthur and Wade. Those names aren’t as popular anymore. So are names like Ethel, Agnes, Harry, Melvin, Clarence, Bernard, Phyllis, and Evelyn. Today some of the most common names are Emily, Olivia, Liam, James, Benjamin, Harper, Chloe, and Sebastian (to name a few). We also know that names represent something – the last name represents the family you were born into Wilson=son of Will, Anderson = son of Ander, Johnson=son of John, Smith=a blacksmith, Taylor=a tailor, Woods=lived in the woods, Hill=lived on a hill). The middle name often represents some kind of family name in your heritage (like a mother, grandmother, grandfather, etc.). My brothers middle name is after his grandpa, my daughters middle name is after her mother and grandmother, mine is a family lineage and relative with that name. And we know that the first name can be given for many reasons: to honor somebody special, somebody famous the parent’s liked (movie star, athlete, etc) [I was partially named after a movie star from the Big Valley). Or it could represent a repeat of a member of your family (like jr. of your father’s name). [George Foreman named all five of his sons George] It could even represent just something that sounds cool, or is special or unique. First names may also have a special meaning. For example, I had a cousin who had a child later in life and named their daughter Grace because that is what they felt God had given them to be able to have this child. Other people may name their kids something with a meaning like Morning Sun, who was born around sunrise).

We also know that names represent a practical purpose. The first is that it differentiates you from everyone else out there. In the Bible, they often just said their first name followed by where they were from. (Ex: Jesus of Nazareth, Mary Magdalene, and Joseph of Arimathea). As more and more people live in an areas, there are repeats of names and that doesn’t work anymore. (David of Harlowton would get people confused because of how many David’s there are out there – even in this church). For example, middle names I am convinced are for parents to let their children know when they are upset at them or want to get their attention (that’s the only time they use it). [Ex: Benjamin Michael Williams – come here).

In the Bible, names meant a lot more than just something cool or neat. They had certain meanings. For example, Joshua and Jesus both mean “the Lord saves” – one in Hebrew and one in Greek (ee-yay-sus). Barnabas means son of Encouragement. Peter means “rock,” Eve means “mother of all living”, Samuel means “His name is God”, Christopher means “Christ-bearer”, and Isaac means “he will laugh”

Just like people, God was given names that represented who He is. El in the OT meant God. Elohim means God of Gods (It is the plural form of El). El Shaddai means “God Almighty” , and El Roi means the God who sees. Then there was the name that Jewish people could not say out loud because it was so holy. It was spelled YHWH. Today, we call this the Tetragrammaton. We often pronounce it as Yahweh (Hebrew didn’t have vowels – only consonants). It means “I Am Who I Am.” If pronounced it would sound like breathing. (yah-weh). It’s like saying God is the one who gives us breath and life. At some point, Jewish people replaced this name that they couldn’t say with something more acceptable – Adonai, which is often translated as Lord. Sometime in the 6th to 10th century, Jewish and Christian scholars started adding vowel marks into the Hebrew words so they knew how they were pronounced. Since they didn’t know how to pronounce YHWH, they added the vowels from Adonai (a, o, a) and added them to YHWH, which led it to be read YAHOWAH. This led to another name for God that we often use today. Does anyone want to guess what that is? Jehovah! So, when we use Jehovah, YHWH, or Adonai, we are using basically the same root name. Then when people wanted to give it more meaning, they would add other words to this name: For example: Jehovah Rohi- The Lord, my shepherd, Jehovah Sabaoth – the Lord of hosts or the Lord of Armies, or Jehovah Jireh – The Lord, my Provider.

Looking forward over a series this summer, I want to look at many of the names of God. It describes his character and what he has meant to people in certain situations. I am going to focus primarily on the ‘Jehovah’ names. They represent who God is in many different aspects. They are names given by people who experienced that trait with God.

Today, we are going to start with Jehovah Shammah. It is pronounced Shaw-ma... not Shawmut. Is it associated with the town just east of here? No, not really. (Does anyone know how Shawmut got its name? It is not from this Hebrew word. According to google, it is from its first postmaster Francis E. Shaw who combined the name with his heritage of coming from Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was originally built on what was called the Shawmut peninsula. The peninsula got its name from a Native American word in the Alonquin tribe which means “living waters”. [Now, you know the rest of the story.] Now, back to our name of God…

Jehovah Shammah is the name given to God in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapter 48, verse 35. Here’s what is says:

Ezekiel 48:35 - “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits. “And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.”

Let’s jump into what Jehovah Shammah means literally and for our lives.

Body

I. We need God’s presence with us!

A. Jehovah Shammah means: “The Lord is there.”

Jehovah Shammah comes from two Hebrew words: “Jehovah”, which means “Lord” and “Shammah” which means “there.” The lord is there. His presence is there in that place. Do you want the Lord to be there?

I heard it said once, “Do you know how to tell if somebody is here?” Because they are not all there. Well, conversely, God is there, which means he is all here! In this place.

This is significant if you understand the background of when the book of Ezekiel was written. Israelites at this time are in the midst of exile, being taken from their homeland to be captives in a foreign land. Their capital city has been destroyed. They felt abandoned by God. During this time, God gives Ezekiel a vision of what would come in the future. In this future the Lord would be a part of it. He would be there! To me, that is powerful knowing that God will be there. He will never abandon us.

B. God promises to be with His people!

In Hebrews 13:5 (and elsewhere in the Bible) God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” That is a promise that he always keeps! That same promise is shown here in Ezekiel as well as other places in the Bible. Here’s some more:

Ezekiel 37:27 – “My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.” God promised he would be with them. His presence would be with them.

Zechariah 2:10 - “Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord.”

God wants to be with His people! He loves His people!

C. Is God’s presence with me? (insert your name, or the word “me”)

I heard it said that often times we ask God to bless what we are doing instead of finding out what he is already blessing and go and do that. There is some truth to that. Sometimes we think we have God with us, but we don’t. And that is when we get into trouble.

There is a story in 1 Samuel 4 whereby the people of God disobeyed Him and brought the ark of God into battle to try and defeat the Philistines without God’s blessing or direction. The Philistines handily routed the Israelites and even killed Hophni and Phinehas, the wicked sons of the priest Eli in battle. It was a total beat down, with about 30,000 soldiers being lost. When news came back about the defeat and losing the ark of the Lord, the priest Eli immediately fell backwards on his chair and broke his neck and died. Meanwhile, Phinehas wife was due to give birth soon. When she heard this horrible news, it sent her into a difficult and deadly premature labor. Her baby boy was born right before she died giving birth. At her last breath, she named the boy something that no person should ever name their kid. She named him Ichabod, which means “the glory has departed.” (1 Sam. 4:21) She recognized that God’s presence was gone. All the trouble brought upon her family and the nation was due to them abandoning God and his presence not going with them. The people were living on the religious fumes of the past. There was nothing left. That is why they were killed, embarrassed, and the ark of the Lord was captured. Don’t let your situation be Ichabod! (which means God’s glory has departed.)

D. Our future includes living in God’s presence!

One of my favorite Old Testament verses is in Exodus 33:15. In this passage, Moses is trying to lead the children of Israel, but is having a hard time. He asks the Lord for help. And the Lord replies in Exodus 33:14, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses replies with something I can relate to. He cries out in response to God in the next verse (15), “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” If we want to make it in this life, we need God’s presence. If we want to see our future blessed by God, then we need God in it. If we want to see God restore, heal, and deliver people, then we need to understand that he is Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is there.

In Ezekiel there are multiple promises that preceded the prophet calling him Jehovah Shammah. In Ch.36, God give his people a new heart and a new spirit and promises restoration. In Chapter 37, he prophesied about the dry bones coming to life and prophesies revival. In Chapter 40, we read about the restoration of the temple. Chapter 47 gives us a picture of living water coming from the temple and making everything come to life that it touches. Then in chapter 48, we see the final restoration of the land and the city to God’s people. At this point, we learn that God is Jehovah Shammah, He is the “Lord who is there!”

God wants our future to be with His in His presence! The greatest part of heaven to some may be that there is no more sorrow, and that everything will be made new. But, I believe above all that, the thing that will make heaven ideal and so precious is that it will be full of the presence of God. Revelation 21:3 gives us a little glimpse into what will be there. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” Did you hear that? God will be with His people! He will be there! Jehovah Shammah!

II. Our Cities Need God’s Presence

Let’s go back to Ezekiel 48:35. It says, “And the name of the city from that time on will be: the Lord is there.”

This name was not just a name of God, but a name of a city that God dwelled in. here’s some good news…

A. God can rename our cities for His glory!

In this story, the city of God used to be called Jerusalem, which in Hebrew is “Place of Peace” (Yireh-Shalom”). But God’s glory had long-departed from this city and god’s judgement had come to the city. However, God is changing the name so that his presence will be returning and it will get a new name Jehovah Shammah – “the Lord is There.” As the Prophet Ezekiel had stated repeatedly, God will return to dwell with His people. No longer worshiping lifeless idols and engaged in detestable practices, Israel will enjoy the Lord’s holy presence in the Millennium.

God can rename our cities for His glory! We need Him to if we want to see them thrive! We need the Lord in our cities! We need the Lord where we live and work and conduct business. We need the Lord in our cities! (Can I hear an Amen?!)

The presence of God in a city can transform it! It can make all the difference! If I can be so bold as to declare something that should be obvious… Harlowton needs God’s presence! Shawmut needs God’s presence! Big Timber needs God’s presence! White Sulphur Springs needs God’s presence. So does Judith Gap, Two Dot, Melville, Lavina, Ryegate, and Billings. The thing that can set apart any of these towns is not the presence of economics, great laws, or good people. What can change these towns is the presence of God.

What if our TOWN changed its name from Harlowton to Jehovah Shammah (not literally, but spiritually). What if several towns did the same? Do you think anything would be different? Definitely!

B. God’s future city is similar in size to Harlowton.

At the end of the book of Ezekiel, God gives the dimensions of the holy city that is to come in the new Millennium. It is to be 4500 sq. cubits (4500 on each side.) That is about 6500 feet each direction, or about 1.24 miles. That’s not huge. That’s actually about the size of Harlowton. Maybe God has a heart for small towns. We see it in the Bible in towns like Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Cana (where Jesus performed his first miracle). Maybe it is a coincidence that these towns were small and God used them. Or maybe God likes to use small towns in a special way. I am suddenly realizing that if God’s chosen city in the future is the same size as Harlowton, then maybe right now he can also do something great! Maybe Harlowton can be a Jehovah Shammah where God’s presence shows up there! How many of you would like to see that?

C. God wants to give our cities towns a new identity.

What is the identity of these small towns? Here’s some things I know about the identity of Harlowton (You can find many of this online if you do a search)

Established and known for many years for the railroad and all that comes with it.

Center of agriculture and ranching.

The county seat of Wheatland County.

A gathering place for Native tribes used to come and hunt and mingle.

A popular tourist attraction for modern hunters.

A place with many Veteran’s of foreign wars.

A place with many pioneers involved in the Ku Klux Klan.

For a little fun, I put together a tope 10 list of..

Top 10 Indications You Might Be From Harlowton…

You do not consider it windy unless it blows more than 20 mph.

You know there is a cemetery in the middle of the (local) golf course

You know what the IAGT building stands for.

You have ever been to a lake called Deadman’s Basin.

It drives you nuts when people mispronounce the town name (Harlo-“town”)

Most people take their vacations during hunting season.

The local sheriff’s blotter has more calls for animals than people.

You celebrate every time it rains.

You have caught or shot something “in the vicinity of the Two Dot Bridge”

A traffic jam means local sheep are making their annual migration through town.

As fascinating as the history of a place called Harlowton is, it is not the final chapter. How many of you would like God to give us a better and more godly identity? What would you think if people all over the area came to Harlowton to get saved, baptized, healed, delivered, and set free? It can happen! God can do it! (Amen?)

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” This promise isn’t just for one time in history thousands of years ago. I believe this promise is for every time and every age for every land that meets the conditions God placed on them. If we would humble ourselves and pray and seek the face of God. And if we would turn from our wicked ways, the presence of God would transform our little towns into something new – an identity that is rooted in God being there. Are you with me? I look at it this way: if Nineveh (a city described as wicked in the book of Jonah) can repent and turn to God, then our cities can do the same. What would happen if the presence of God invaded our cities and towns? Revival, restoration, good news, healing, freedom would be the regular results. I’m ready, how about you?

D. We must bring God’s presence into our cities.

How does God’s presence come into a town? There are several ways to do this. Here are three Ways to Bring God’s Presence Into Our Cities

Pray!

God shows up when people pray. When two or more are in our midst, he is there.

2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people… will humble themselves and pray.” Praying is humbling, but also powerful! And it brings in the presence of God.

Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

2. God’s people must dwell there.

I am not talking about hiding in your homes and having an address that you exist in. I am talking about dwelling. That means doing business. Walking around. Interacting with people. Why is that so important? God’s presence is in you and wherever you go, you bring it with you!

John 14:16–17 – “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

1 Corinthians 3:16 – “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Just remember that wherever you go, God goes with you and is IN you! That impacts a community. That impacts a city. That turns a city from its origins to a new identity, a new name. It can then be called Jehovah Shammah. It can be a place where the Lord is there!

3. Fill the city with praise!

Psalm 22:3 says, “But You (God) are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Enthroned means that he “dwells in” or “lives in” the praises of Israel. When we praise, God inhabits our praise. Often times, the glory of the Lord comes down and is felt in a real way. If we want the presence of God, then maybe it will come when we start praising.

That’s exactly what happened when they dedicated the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:13-14. The musicians and singers began to praise the Lord. Then the glory of the Lord filled the place, and the priests could not even stand because it was so thick with God’s tangible presence.

What would happen if we filled the air with praise of God? Imagine instead of a Harlo Music Festival piping music into the atmosphere one night a year, we instead had Christian praise bands filling the air. Do you think it is a coincidence that the Christian radio station came here to this area? I don’t! Maybe it is God’s way of inhabiting the air in this place through the radios of God’s people and random strangers. Maybe God wants to fill the air with praises and His presence so that this area can be transformed for His glory! Jehovah Shammah – the Lord is here!

III. God’s Presence Is Transformational

Closing

God’s presence can transform a person.

When the Spirit of come takes up residence in a person’s life, he is forever changed. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” The things that used to matter don’t matter anymore. The old hs been crucified and Christ now lives in you. Your desires thoughts, and even the spirit within you is transformed. When The Lord become your Jehovah Shammah, he shows up and you are changed.

2. God’s presence can transform a city.

As I mentioned before, Nineveh repented at the end of the book of Jonah. The Bible says that the people of Nineveh fasted, turned from their evil ways, and turned to God. As a result, Nineveh was transformed from a godless city into a godly city. The same can happen to any city that comes in contact with God’s presence and repens and turns to the Lord. This can happen here just like it did to Nineveh!

3. God’s presence can change the world!

Jesus gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus believed that the world could be transformed with the gospel through people that carried His presence with them. He believed that all nations could be transformed. How many of you here believe that God’s presence, power, and Holy Spirit can change the world?

If you have ever been in the presence of God, it can change everything. There is a song that was written a number of years ago by a man named Geron Davis. Most people don’t know who he is. But God has used him to write some very anointed songs. One of his more popular songs that came out in 1983 was Holy Ground (We are standing on holy ground, and I know that there are angels all around). Around the same time that he wrote that song, God inspired him to write another song entitled In the Presence of Jehovah. The chorus goes like this: “In the presence of Jehovah, God Almighty, Prince of Peace. Troubles vanish, hearts are mended, in the presence of the king.” There is an interesting testimony that he gave about this song.

Shortly after writing the song, Geron took some of his choir singers from his church to a conference. While there, he taught them the simple chorus to “In the Presence of Jehovah” which they ‘took to’ right away. On the way home from the conference, they decided to start singing the song together on the bus ride home. As they began to sing it, Geron says, “When I tell you the presence of God fell in that bus, people wept and praised the Lord and sang. And we had a worship service for 3 hours all the way back” Listen… the presence of God fell in that bus and people were changed. There is something about being in the presence of Jehovah. It impacts people. The author goes on to tell of another person that this song impacted.

When Bill Clinton was governor of Arkansas, he sang at a church conference in the choir. At the time, he loved gospel music. He sang the song Holy Ground and tears began to run down his cheek because the presence of God touched him deeply. He went up to Geron, the author, and put his arms around him and told him it was his favorite song. Then later, after he was elected president, he got in touch with Geron and told him he wanted both Holy Ground and In the Presence of Jehovah sung at his inauguration. Those songs, and the presence and anointing of God with them impacted Bill Clinton deeply. In fact, more recently, Geron was contacted by Bill Clinton who was preparing for the day he eventually dies. He wanted to make funeral plans. He told Geron that when he dies, he wants In the Presence of Jehovah to be sung at his funeral. What is it about that song that impacted Bill Clinton so deeply? It’s not merely the tune or the lyrics. It is literally the presence of God that shows up when people sing it. There is something about the presence of God that touches every man, woman, and child. It can transform us! It can transform our cities. It can change the world!

Response:

Maybe you are here today and going through something personally where you need God to show up. We are going to sing that song and I want you to let God’s presence transform your life, or the situation that you are going through.

Maybe you are doing fine, but you know somebody who needs the presence of God to transform their life. Would you worship God? Would you sit in His presence and let Him be Jehovah Shammah to you and to the person you have in mind.

Maybe God is causing your heart to break for the city that you are in or near. Maybe he is calling you to live in His presence so that God’s presences can impact your city for the kingdom. Maybe your prayers, your praises, and the presence of God in you will transform your city starting today! I believe for it!

Let’s play that song, and while it is playing, would you find a place to rest in God’s presence – at the altar, in your seat, on the floor – wherever you can get with God and soak in His presence.

Closing Video: In The Presence of Jehovah