The Lord Is Present Series

It was freezing cold outside and the furnace was broken. The repairman was called, and the furnace was fixed. It was an easy fix for the furnace repairman. The blowers were working but the fire was out. Once the fire was relit the furnace was working fine.

Without living in the presence of God, as believers in Christ we become like the broken furnace. We are going through the motions. Without the fire of the presence of God we are blowing air but not living in the presence of God with the power of God.

That is tragic when a believer goes through the motions, but the Lord is not present. When you study the seven churches of Revelation the most frightening of all is the church of Laodicea. The lukewarm church going through all the motions without the presence of God.

We know how big God is. We know how set apart from us. We know how much God’s ways are higher than our ways. But the reality is God desires to have a relationship with you. Man is the crowning work of God’s creation. God who is almighty and perfectly holy desires a relationship with you.

There are these amazing passages in scripture where we find the names of the Lord. They are compound names along with the name Jehovah. The name Jehovah is the covenant name of God. This is the name for God that describes the special relationship between God and man.

Here are some names that describe different aspects of God.

Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord is our provider. (Genesis 22:14)

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord is our healer. (Exodus 15:26)

Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord is our banner, our victory. (Exodus 17:15)

Jehovah-M’kaddesh: The Lord is our Holiness. (Leviticus 20:8)

Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord is our peace. (Judges 6:26)

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord is our righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:6)

In Ezekiel 48:34 we find a compound name of God. Jehovah-Shammah. The Lord is there. The Lord is present. The intimacy of the relationship between God and man is expressed in this name.

What comes to your mind with you consider the prophet Ezekiel? Do you think he was imbalanced? He demonstrated extreme behaviour.

Ezekiel made a clay model of Jerusalem. Ezekiel took the clay model and acted out a siege of the city. He erected siege ramps on the model and then took an iron pan placed it over the model. (Ezekiel 4:1-3)

In another prophetic episode Ezekiel shaves his head and beard using a sword. He burns a third of the shaved hair, He strikes a third of the shaved hair with the sword and scatters a third of the hair into the wind. He then tucks a few strands of hair into his garment. He takes a few strands and throws them into the fire. (Ezekiel 5:1-12)

One time Ezekiel took all his belongings and left the city. (Ezekiel 12:1-7) One of Ezekiel’s visions is nine chapters long and is recorded in minute details. (Ezekiel 40-48).

Ezekiel’s name means God strengthens. Ezekiel is a contemporary of Daniel and Jeremiah. They are facing a devastating period for Israel. This includes:

The city of Jerusalem has been ransacked.

The Temple has been destroyed.

The Lord’s people have been exiled.

God’s covenant promises seemed lost.

There is hopelessness among the people.

Of all these problems the most significant one was that the temple had been destroyed. The temple represented God’s presence. The temple was what told the people the Lord was there. It seemed that the Lord was no longer present with his people.

The Israelites were asking themselves, where we miraculously delivered from Egypt only to experience bondage by the Babylonians. Ezekiel ministered to a devastated people who wept for their homeland. The temple was destroyed. God was no longer present. It was time to weep.

In Ezekiel chapters 40-48 the prophet has a vision of a city and a temple. After 9 chapters of description the name of the city is Jehovah-Shammah, The Lord is there. The Lord is present.

Through this vision Ezekiel ministered hope in a time of despair. Ezekiel’s vision was not taken literally by Ezra, Nehemiah and others who rebuilt the temple. Some say that the temple in Ezekiel’s vision will be literal in the Millennial reign of Christ.

I would say that it does not make sense for a literal re-institution of this vision in the Millennial reign. That would then include the re-institution of animal sacrifices after Jesus Crucifixion. We all hold that the crucifixion of Jesus was a once and for all sacrifice and that the animal sacrifice of the Levitical system never again need be re-established.

Ezekiel’s vision although detailed is more symbolic. God was present now in only a remnant. That was why Ezekiel tucked a few hairs in his garment. God made a covenant with Israel. In this covenant his presence was conditional on their faithfulness.