The Lord Is There / The Lord Is Present

יהוה שמה

YAHWEH SHAMMAH

The Lord is There

Greeting, Precious Family. May the Peace of the Lord be with you always.

Family, I have truly enjoyed this two-week journey of writing about the Hebrew names of God found in the Old Testament. Part of me truly wants to continue this journey into next week.

Tonight’s choice of Jehovah Shammah is especially meaningful to me. Throughout this two-week journey of learning about the Hebrew names of God, I have realized one very important truth: God is still the same today for me as He was for everyone in the Old Testament. God has always been there for me. No matter what I was facing, God has been forever faithful. It is also the reason that I lift my hands when I worship or just sit and cry. I am continually amazed at the never-ending love of God.

As we look at Jehovah Shammah in the context of where it is used in the Old Testament, the message is beautiful: God’s greatest promise is not that we will never walk through difficult places, but that we will never walk through them without Him.

Let’s look at Ezekiel 48:35 as it is the first and only time that Jehovah Shammah is used.

Before I share the scripture, I feel I should give it context. Ezekiel was a prophet used by God to rebuke and warn Israel—whom God called a “rebellious and stubborn” people. I know that I often encourage you to read the entire chapter to gain understanding of the text. The Book of Ezekiel is different. It is one where it is necessary to start at Ezekiel 1:1 and study the entire 48 chapters.

I know that sounds like a lot, but the chapters are very short. Unless you read Ezekiel in its entirety, you will never understand the full weight of our scripture selection today.

Ezekiel 48:35
New International Version

35 “The distance all around will be 18,000 cubits.[a]

“And the name of the city from that time on will be:

The Lord is there.”

Oh how I wish I could adequately explain the loving grace that has taken place and resulted in this verse. More than anything, what I want you to take away is this:

Love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. Jehovah Shammah will walk with you through the journey—just keep your eyes on Him.

There is an old church song that says:

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND….STAYED ON JESUS

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND, STAYED ON HIM.

I WOKE THIS MORNING WITH MY MIND STAYED ON JESUS, HALLELU, HALLELU, HALLELUJAH!!

Let Us Pray

Father God, Jehovah Shammah, The Lord Who Is There:

We come before You with grateful hearts, humbled by the truth that You are not a distant God, but a present One. You are the God who remains, the God who dwells with Your people, and the God who never abandons what He has created.

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness through every season. Thank You that even in the places of struggle, even in the seasons of waiting, even in the moments of uncertainty, You are still there. You have never left, and You will never leave.

Teach us to recognize Your presence when life feels heavy. Teach us to see You not only in answered prayers, but also in the quiet strength to keep going. Open our eyes so that we stop mistaking silence for absence.

Father, as we walk through our daily lives, remind us that we do not walk alone. Go before us, walk beside us, and uphold us when we are weak. Let Your presence be our peace, our strength, and our steady place of rest.

For every heart reading this today, let there be a renewed awareness: The Lord is there. In the home, in the workplace, in the waiting room, in the night season, and in the early morning hours, You are there, Lord.

And Lord, we thank You that this promise is not dependent on our perfection, but on Your unchanging nature. You are Jehovah Shammah, and Your presence is our assurance.

We give You honor, we give You glory, and we give You our trust. In the name and authority of Christ Jesus we pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Worship Video of the Day

Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA

Covington, GA (USA)