2006-03-10
Good Morning Loved Ones,
I am led to go on with discussing the names of God as they relate to the Lord's Prayer [MT 6: 9-13]. Last week I wrote about El Elyon, God is Sovereign, Eloheim, the plural Hebrew word for God, the Creator, El Shaddai, God Who is Almighty and All-sufficient, and Jehovah, I AM WHO I AM. Remember the first index sentence is: "Our Father, hallowed by Thy name..." God wants us to know Him and His attributes, which is why taking the time to go over all of this is really important. It helps us to have a deeper appreciation for why we owe it to God to worship Him.
The next name is El Roi, the God Who Sees. PS 121: 1-3, particularly verse 3 comes to mind. "I look to the mountains; from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not let you fall; your Protector is always awake." Some versions translate this last phrase, "...your Protector never slumbers." Either way it indicates God is seeing into our hearts 24/7. El Roi is the God Who has promised never to abandon those who believe in Him. PS 9: 10, "Those who know You, Lord, will trust You; You do not abandon anyone who comes to You." PS 139: 7-10, "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast."
Jehovah Jirah is the Lord Will Provide. This one requires us to have faith even when our physical provision is seemingly very unsure. People in the devastated areas like our southeastern coast in the face of Hurricane Katrina or those still suffering the financial ruin caused by the trend of "downsizing" that was so prevalent in the 90's find themselves face to face with the need to believe that God will see to their needs. God often feels the need to bring us to the end of ourselves before we will truly turn to Him. One of the most poignant stories of the Bible is found in GN 22 when Abraham's faith is tested by God when the Lord instructs him to sacrifice his son, Isaac on the altar. At the last minute, an angel of God calls to Abraham not to hurt the boy. GN 12: 12-14, [The angel said], "Do not hurt the boy or do anything to him. Now I know that you have obedient reverence for God, because you have not kept back your only son from Him." Abraham looked around and saw a ram caught in a bush by its horns. He went and got it and offered it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abram named that place 'The Lord Provides'..." How can we miss how this account looks forward to the greatest sacrifice ever made, that of the Father of His only begotten Son, so that we should have the chance for salvation [JN 3: 16]? That very place where Isaac almost was sacrificed has even more significance when one realizes it was upon Mt. Moriah where the Lord had inspired David to buy the threshing place of Araunah, the Jebusite [2 CH 3: 1] and where David's son, Solomon, would eventually build the temple. Today, that area is known as the Temple Mount. RO 10: 13 helps us to see the heart of the Lord in the matter of provision. "As the Scripture [JOEL 2: 32] says, 'Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.'"
Jehovah Nissi , The Lord Is My Banner, is first used in EX 17: 15-16 in the story of the war between the Jews and the Amalekites, their first enemies. This is where God told Moses to keep his arms lifted as the battle raged, and that would mean things would go well for the Jews. If he didn't, then the Amalekites would gain the advantage. We can just picture Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' arms when they grew tired. This story ends with (15-16), "Moses built an altar and named it 'The Lord is My Banner.' He said, 'Hold high the banner of the Lord! The Lord will continue to fight against the Amalekites forever.'" Amelek is a type of the flesh, and we can realize that Christ helps us to win the victory over the flesh. How can we not think of RO 7: 24: 25a? "What an unhappy man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is taking me to death? Thanks be to God, Who does this through our Lord Jesus Christ!" Whatever our battle, we can picture in our minds the Lord carrying the banner of victory against the foe when we place our trust in Him. The important subject of God's names demands more time and will receive it in next week's message.
PRAYER: O Lord, we now begin to see how important that we spend time in the Scriptures getting to know You better. How can we know all the blessings You have for us without knowing Your attributes and Your marvelous deeds? When we repeat so many times, "Our Father, hallowed by Thy name..." we will not be able to take it for granted any more after seeing all that You are and all that You do for us. There is a song which has the phrase, "You are my All in All." How very descriptive that is! You are our Deliverer from trouble. PS 32: 7, "You are my Hiding Place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." We must quiet our spirits and listen for Your direction with recognition of Who You really are. PS 46: 10, "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." You are the God Who daily bears our burdens. PS 68: 19-20, "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, Who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God Who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death." You are the Doer of great things and small ones which benefit us. You are the Great Teacher of our lives. PS 71:16-17, "I will come and proclaim Your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim Your righteousness, Yours alone. Since my youth, O God, You have taught me, and to this day I declare Your marvelous deeds." Your provision protects and blesses us. PS 37: 11, "But all who humble themselves before the Lord shall be given every blessing, and shall have wonderful peace." We can always count on You as our Shelter and Strength. PS 91: 1-2, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God, in Whom I trust.'" When we ail, we can turn to You, O Lord, and ask You to heal us. Your history has been never to refuse to save those spiritually who love You; and when it is in our best eternal interests, You heal us physically and emotionally as well. PS 103: 1-3, "Praise the Lord, O my soul, my innermost being; praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits-Who forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases." Dearest Father, You find us praising You in many of these citations by design. It is because You deserve our praise, worship and thanks for all You are and all You do. That is why we end this prayer with PS 86: 12-13, "I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever. For great is Your love toward me; You have delivered me from the depths of the grave." Because of You, we can look very differently and more hopefully at our lives and the future which You ordain for them. We are eager to praise, thank, and especially to worship You, because that is what is right and fitting to do. In Christ's mighty name, we pray. Amen.
As promised above, I'm led to continue discussing the names of God as they relate to worship of Him and the first index sentence of the Lord's Prayer next week. As I come to the conclusion of this devotion, the Holy Spirit calls me to cite JER 219: 11-13, one of my favorite passages. "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you not to bring disaster, plans to give you the future for which you hope. Then you will call to Me. You will come and pray to Me, and I will answer you. You will seek, Me, and you will find me because you will seek Me with all your heart." This passage is an example of that very different view we can take of our future, the more hopeful one. Paul spoke of being eager for that day when the Lord will call us home, that day He selects for us "to meet with Christ in the air" [1 THESS 4: 13-17]. That is because of what we learn from the Scriptures about heaven and a blissful eternal life with God in our "permanent" home. We can be compelled by this loving promise that God makes to all who remain faithful and obedient to Him. We are comforted by the fact that He will never test us beyond our ability to remain firm [1 COR 10: 13] and the power He gives us to fend off the challenging advances of the evil one [EPH 1: 18-20]. Imagine, Dear Ones, it's the same power as that which He used to raise His Son from death to eternal life! All of that and more are here for us, if only we will have the courage and heart to endure in our faith in our awesome God, Who deserves nothing less than our worship, thanks, and eternal praise.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn