Hosting the Presence of the Triune God
Definition of Hospitality
HOSPITALITY To entertain or receive a stranger (sojourner) into one’s home as an honored guest and to provide the guest with food, shelter, and protection. This was not merely an oriental custom or good manners but a sacred duty that everyone was expected to observe. Only the depraved would violate this obligation.
Hospitality probably grew out of the needs of nomadic life. Since public inns were rare, a traveler had to depend on the kindness of others and had a right to expect it. This practice was extended to every sojourner, even a runaway slave (Deut. 23:15–16) or one’s archenemy.
The Pentateuch contains specific commands for the Israelites to love the strangers as themselves (Lev. 19:33–34; Deut. 10:18–19) and to look after their welfare (Deut. 24:17–22). The reason for practicing hospitality was that the Israelites themselves were once strangers in the land of Egypt.
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.”
(Isaiah 46:9–11)
God (Israelite) — the supernatural being who originated and rules over the universe; the object of ancient Israelite worship.
In Hebrew, the basic word for God is El.
— The word el is found in many words throughout the Old Testament. El raises God high, reflecting His power.
— El emphasizes God’s might and power … not a violent power, but profound power.
— El, when combined with other words, further identifies the nature or function of God. This is a compound name.
NAMES OF GOD CONTAINING EL
• Elohim—“God” as Creator
“In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
• El Elyon—“God Most High”
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High [El Elyon], and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High [El Elyon], who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Genesis 14:18–20)
• El Roi—“The God Who Sees”
“She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees [El Roi] me,’ for she said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees [El Roi] me.’ ” (Genesis 16:13)
• El Shaddai—“God Almighty”
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before me and be blameless.’ ” (Genesis 17:1)
• El Olam—“God Everlasting”
“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called upon the name of the LORD, the Eternal God [El Olam].” (Genesis 21:33)
Q “Does God know about my pain … does He see what has happened to me?”
Yes, He is El Roi—the “God who sees.”
“ ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she [Hagar] said, ‘I have now seen the One who sees me.’ ” (Genesis 16:13)
Q “When all hope is gone and there’s no place to turn, where is God, and can I count on him to help me?”
You need to know Him as your El Shaddai—God Almighty. One of the roots of the Hebrew word shad is “breast.” Realize that a mother’s breast is totally sufficient to sustain and nurture the life of her baby without any other outside source. When you come to know God as your El Shaddai, you don’t need any outside help. He is your all-sufficient God.
In Genesis chapter 17 Abram is age ninety-nine and Sarai is age eighty-nine—both beyond childbearing years. Up to this time Abram and Sarai had been childless. Yet the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I am God Almighty” literally in Hebrew El Shaddai—the all-sufficient God.
“I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.” (Genesis 17:2)
“As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram [which means ‘exalted father’], your name will be Abraham [which means ‘father of many’], for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” (Genesis 17:4–6)
He desires to be El Shaddai, your all-sufficient God, so that when you come to Him, you will have all you need.
In Genesis chapter 1, He is God, the mighty Creator—Elohim.
In Genesis chapter 2, He is Lord, the personal Creator—Jehovah.
IN HEBREW, THE WORD FOR “LORD” IS JEHOVAH OR YAHWEH
Jehovah means “the Self-existent One”—The name Jehovah emphasizes His covenant-keeping role.
• Jehovah—“LORD, the Self-existent One, Yahweh”
“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.” (Genesis 2:4)
• Jehovah-Jireh—“the LORD, my Provider”
“So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, ‘On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.’ ” (Genesis 22:14)
• Jehovah-Rapha—“the LORD who Heals”
“He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.’ ” (Exodus 15:26)
• Jehovah-Nissi—“the LORD my Banner”
“Moses built an altar and called it The LORD is my Banner.” (Exodus 17:15)
• Jehovah-M’Kaddesh—“the LORD who Sanctifies”
“Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.’ ” (Exodus 31:13)
• Jehovah-Shalom—“the LORD is Peace”
“The LORD said to him, ‘Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.’ So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The Lord is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” (Judges 6:23–24)
• Jehovah-Sabaoth—“the LORD of Hosts”
“Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD.” (1 Samuel 1:3)
• Jehovah-Ra’ah—“the LORD my Shepherd”
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1)
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu—“the LORD our Righteousness”
“In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:6)
• Jehovah-Shamah—“the LORD is There”
“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.” (Ezekiel 48:35)
to keep (maintain) — to keep in a certain state, position, or activity.
1. helper — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places; but if not, I would have told you, because I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, in order that he may be with you ⌊forever⌋—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world is not able to receive, because it does not see him or know him.*
advocate (legal) — a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative of someone else’s policy, purpose, or cause; especially before a judge in a court of law.
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name—that one will teach you all things, and will remind you of everything that I said to you.
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father—that one will testify about me.
13 But when he—the Spirit of truth—comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak from himself, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will proclaim to you the things to come. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and will proclaim it* to you