YAHWEH OUR BANNER

“And Moses built an altar and called its name, The- LORD -Is-My-Banner;” (Exodus‬ ‭17:15‬‬)

This world is not a ball field for sport; it is a battlefield of strife. Israel had seen God work miraculously to deliver them from slavery. It was a time of worship. And right on the heels of that was a time of warfare.  God had miraculously freed them (Ex.14-15) and fed them (Ex.16). Now, would He fight for them?

The Amalekites attacked Israel, but God gave them victory (Ex.17).  Although Joshua had to take action with troops in the Valley of Rephidim, the war was won higher up. Moses interceded in prayer on the mountain above the fray. So, Moses, in recording this combat report, gives the credit to Yahweh Nissi—Yahweh our Banner.

When soldiers went into battle, they would be led by someone with their arm lifted, holding the banner of the army aloft—a banner symbolizing king and country. Thus, Moses lifts “the rod of God,” as their banner—the same shepherd staff he extended over the Red Sea, as it miraculously opened before Israel, to be their pathway of escape. That was the symbol of Yahweh, the Deliverer.

They were reminded that to fight under His banner is to triumph.  That is still a precious truth for the church in our spiritual warfare. “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom.8:37). We march today under the blood-stained banner of the cross for our King Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. Do not fear, “for the battle is the LORD’s,” (1 Sam.17:47).

YAHWEH OUR HEALER

“and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.’” (Exodus‬ ‭15:26‬‬)

God plagued the Egyptians because of their defiance of him. He promises the Israelites that He will spare them of such plagues if they obey His commands.

Someone may ask me, “Do you believe in Divine healing?”  My answer is, “What other kind is there?”  All healing is Divine healing.  God identifies Himself as Yahweh Rapha—the LORD our Healer.

There is the miracle of our body’s resistance to sickness and its capacity to be restored.  Without that, a cut could prove fatal. Obedience to God’s ways makes for a healthier lifestyle. A lot more people will be shot in a bar or contract disease in a brothel on Saturday night, than will happen in a church building on Sunday morning!

Then, there are marvels of medicine. Wisdom from the Creator has been given to druggists and doctors.  The development of vaccines, testing technology to diagnose illness, and surgical methodology to correct it are gifts from Yahweh Rapha.

That is not to discount miraculous answers to prayer.  God can, and does, sovereignly and supernaturally, bestow healing at times. Its rarity is what makes it a miracle, but He does do this—according to His design and not our demand.

Ultimate healing will be found in the resurrection.  It is provided in the atonement. Perfect, painless health awaits an environment where sin is no more. The lifting of the curse frees God’s people from all sickness. We won’t even get the sniffles!

YAHWEH OUR PROVIDER

“And Abraham called the name of the place, The- LORD -Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’” (Genesis‬ ‭22:14‬‬)

God tested Abraham’s faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son Isaac. When Isaac inquired where the sacrifice was, his father replied, God will provide.  He did.  As the lad was stretched out upon the altar, and Abraham raised the knife to strike, God spoke and stopped him. The patriarch looked over and saw a ram, caught by its horns, in a thicket. Isaac was freed and the ram was sacrificed.  Thus, the place was named, “Yahweh-Yireh,” the LORD provides.

That ram represents Jesus who provided a substitutionary sacrifice for sinners.  Mary had a little Lamb, and named Him Jesus!  God provided for our greatest need!  Surely, if we can trust Yahweh Yireh for our provision of salvation, we can trust Him for lesser things.  Here is the promise: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom.8:32)

What do you really need from God today?  Call upon the name of the LORD—this name: “Yahweh Yireh.”

YAHWEH: I AM THAT I AM

“This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,” (Genesis‬ ‭2:4‬‬).

When first introduced to God in Genesis, He is Elohim—the great God. In Genesis One, we have an overview of the creation of all things, and so this name of God befits the creative power of God. Then, in Genesis Two, the name Yahweh is introduced, in conjunction with Elohim, as the focus of the narrative shifts to the making of man as the pinnacle of God’s creation—the one made in His image. Thus, Yahweh is brought to the fore in that this name emphasizes the covenant relationship of God. This is how God revealed Himself to His people—the sacred name above all names. The world may know of His existence and power as Elohim. His people know of His presence and love for them as Yahweh.

The name means, “I AM,” and is indicated in English translations as “LORD.”  Whenever you see God’s sacred name in all capital letters, it is the Hebrew, “Yahweh.”  Moses would write this name first in Genesis, as it had been revealed to him in the wilderness of Sinai, as God spoke to Him from the burning bush.

“Then Moses said to God, ‘Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they say to me, “What is His name?” what shall I say to them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.”’” (Exodus‬ ‭3:13-14‬)

As the great I AM—He is that He is. Yahweh is self-existent and eternal—uncreated and Creator of all. There has never been a time when God was not, nor will there be a time He will not be. He just is, “I AM.”  God needs nothing to sustain Him and nothing exists that He does not sustain. God is transcendent—above and beyond creation. Yahweh is immutable—unchanging.

In these ever changing times, is it not wonderful to know that we have a God that does not change—who cannot change?  This God is Yahweh, who has chosen us for a covenant relationship with Himself. Are you in that love relationship with Him?

For further study, you might read or listen to this excellent devotional by John Piper:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/10-things-yahweh-means

EL SHADDAI: ALMIGHTY GOD

If we look back, we may be mired in regret. If we look around, we could be overwhelmed with circumstances. If we look ahead, we might be paralyzed with fear. So, look up!  There you will find El Shaddai—Almighty God—who can blot out past failures, conquer present foes, and chase prospective fears.

This is how God revealed Himself to a very old Abram [Abraham], as he was but a year shy of the century mark—and still without a son born to him and his wife Sarai [Sarah]. Abraham and Sarah had tried to help God out (read Gen.16), in the disastrous Hagar and Ishmael incident. Now, some thirteen years have passed and God doubles down on His promise. He changes the name Abram (Exalted Father) to Abraham (Father of a Multitude) and Sarai to Sarah (Princess).

It was humanly impossible. They were well past child-bearing age. But, with God all things are possible!  Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is El Shaddai! So, very soon, Sarah will be carrying Abraham’s child and birth Isaac into their family!

Will you give Almighty God your past, present, and future? No matter how you have failed yesterday, what you are facing today, or what you fear for tomorrow, trust Him. El Shaddai is more than able to care for you!

EL ELYON: GOD MOST HIGH

Genesis 14:18 introduces us to the mysterious Melchizedek, who was both king and priest, in the city that came to be known as Jerusalem. According to the writer of Hebrews, Melchizedek is a type of Christ (Ps.110:4; Heb.5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1ff). That would be a fascinating study in itself, but is not the purpose of this one.

Our focus is on the name of God that Melchizedek uses: “God Most High,” translated from the Hebrew, “El Elyon.”  There is no one above Him—God is the highest in His majesty, sovereignty, and glory. Of any god man might devise in his mind, with any words he or she might describe with his or her tongue, with any craftsmanship of an deity humans might devise—none can even compare to the Most High God!

El Elyon is described by Melchizedek as “Possessor of heaven and earth.”  As Creator, Sustainer, and Master of the universe, all of it—every molecule—belongs to Him. He directs all things to the fulfillment of His will and the exalting of His name and fame. Abram [Abraham, as he would come to be called] is the recipient of God’s favor here—in this case enabling his servant to win victory in battle against an alliance of kings that had taken his nephew, Lot, along with his family and possessions, captive. The battle was not won by Abraham’s superior strategy, but by God’s supreme sovereignty.

I don’t know what battles you are facing today. I do know that all God’s children are in a spiritual war with Satan. In our own strength, we have no might against our supernatural foe. The good news is, that the Devil and his dark army of demons has no means to withstand El Elyon, God Most High!  Trust Him and walk in victory!  “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4b).

ELOHIM: GOD IS GREAT

As a child, I learned a prayer of thanksgiving for my meal which began, “God is great; God is good,” and indeed He is!  It is a prayer so simple that a child can express it, yet contains truth so profound, that adults cannot exhaust it.

The first name we find concerning God is the Hebrew word, “Elohim,” in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heavens and the earth.”  You will find around 2,750 uses of that name in the Old Testament text. It speaks to the greatness of God—Creator and Sustainer of all.

It is a word that is a composite word—the root being El. El is used in the Hebrew Bible by itself to describe God, such as in Genesis 7:1–and about 250 times total.

Elohim is a plural word. Might it be that this is an allusion to the plurality of God—one God in three persons?  We do find this in the creation narrative, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters” (Gen.1:2b)—describing the creative work of the Holy Spirit.  Then, we find God calling all into existence by His word. The New Testament tells us that Word is Jesus, and that, “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made...” (John 1:2-3). “Then God said, ‘Let Us [plural] make man in Our [plural] image, according to Our [plural] likeness...” (Gen.1:26a).

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps.145:3). Amen and amen!

THE NAMES OF GOD

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  (Exodus‬ ‭20:7‬)

“What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”  Those words were penned by William Shakespeare. He may have been right about botany, but not theology.  When we ask concerning God, “What’s in a name?” we must answer—everything!

  

God’s name describes His nature.  That is why using God’s name in a vain or profane way is such a sin—to devalue God’s name is to defame God Himself.

  

As we have previously noted, there are many portraits of God in Scripture—and we talked about several—that He is a Rock, a Shepherd, a Defender, and so forth.  Many pictures are needed because one portrait does not give us a complete description.

  

Likewise, there are many names of God found in the Word of God, for one is inadequate to define Him.  This series of studies will focus on the names of God, and I pray will be a source of encouragement and blessing to you—and supremely will glorify God’s great name!

THE SUCCESSFUL SERVANT

“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:10-12‬‬)

First the cross and then the crown. There is suffering and then there is glory. The story of Jesus does not end with tragedy, but triumph. Indeed, He suffered greatly, but He will reign supremely!  Isaiah concludes this marvelous prophecy of Christ by pointing to the resurrection, ascension, and return of Christ.

His resurrection is inferred in “He shall see His seed.”  Yet, Jesus died without being married or having children. But, His death would make it possible for sinners to become children of God, and because He arose, He would see the fruit of His suffering!  “He shall prolong His days,” in that death could not keep him; the grave could not hold Him. He lives forevermore!

His ascension is implied in how “By His knowledge My Righteous Servant shall justify many,”—that is, knowing Christ today justifies us before God. Not only are our past sins taken care of, but any additional failings, for He “made intercession for the transgressors.”  The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is not just the sacrifice for sin in His death, but in His ascension back to heaven, He is our High Priest who, “always lives to make intercession for [us].” (7:25).

His return is seen in dividing “a portion with the great,” and “the spoil with the strong.”  The spoils of victory are those won by a conquering King. At His second coming, Christ will overthrow all opposition and claim universal dominion. He will share all the wealth of the universe with His Bride, the church, as He reigns in power and glory!

Whose side are you on?  As a follower of Christ, I am assured of being on the winning side!

THE SILENT SERVANT

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:7-9‬‬)

We live in a day where people are very demanding concerning their “rights.”  Loud voices protest nearly everything it seems.  In some cases, there are legitimate grievances that should be addressed, and in others, the desire to legitimize preferences and perversions.

If there were ever a case to assert one’s rights, it would have been the arrest and trial of Jesus. From a human perspective, this was the greatest miscarriage of justice in human history. The only perfect Man who ever lived, who went about doing good with a heart of pure love, was seized by a lynch mob, made subject to an illegal trial, tortured by judge and jury, and condemned to die—although the highest official in the land declared, “I find no fault in Him.”  The cross that was meant for a wicked man named Barabbas became the cruel means of Christ’s death, while Barabbas was set free!

Yet, Jesus called for no lawyer. He did not appeal the verdict. He offered no defense for Himself. He did not seek an organized protest march by His followers.

Why?

He was not a bellowing bull at the butcher. He was not a squealing hog at the slaughterhouse. He was a Lamb—silently watching His blood pour out.

It wasn’t that He could not have done something, but that He would not do anything. Surely, the Man who spoke to a storm and demanded it to stop, could have called the same creation to open the earth and swallow His foes. He could have summoned the legions of angels to swoop in to His rescue. All they needed was a word. They were there in heaven, hands grasping fiery swords, ready to respond, but no call was given.

Why?

It was His mission to earth. He came to die for sinners like us. I am Barabbas—and so are you—Christ dying in my place, as Peter said, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” (1 Pet.3:18).

THE SUFFERING SERVANT

“Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:4-6‬‬)

No one has ever suffered as Jesus suffered. Crucifixion was one of the most torturous methods of execution ever devised. But, others were crucified—two men on either side of Him—who suffered just as much physically. Our Lord suffered hell—the punishment deserved by all of us—and not for His own sin, for He had none. He bore the full fury of the wrath of God for our sin—all of it!

We cannot imagine a holy Being who had never known sin becoming sin. We cannot fathom being Godforsaken by One who was eternally in fellowship with His Father. We cannot grasp what it would be to experience hell for all mankind of all ages as He did.

Jesus, the Suffering Servant was our substitute. Repeatedly, Isaiah reminds us, that it was “our griefs,” and “our sorrows,” He bore. It was “our transgressions,” and “our iniquities,” for which He suffered. It was to secure, “our peace” and “our healing,” that He abandoned His. Because we are “like sheep that have gone astray,” the spotless Lamb was excluded from God’s presence, so we might be included in it!

What wondrous love!  What amazing grace!  I think of the words of a song my late father wrote,

“Lord, take me back to Calvary;
Let me see Your wounded side,
Where You bled and died for me.
Let me hear, ‘It is finished,’
Salvation’s plan is now complete;
Lord, I pray, ever remind me;
Take me back to Calvary.”

THE SHUNNED SERVANT

“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (Isaiah‬ ‭53:1-3‬‬)

The life of Jesus on earth was marked by rejection. When the time came for His arrival, there was no room in the inn and He was born in a stable—no soft bed for a King, but placed in a manger of hay. The religious leaders hated Him from the outset of His ministry, ultimately demanding His execution. Though multitudes followed Him for the miracles He could do, the masses soon abandoned Him, at last crying out, “Crucify Him!”  Those of His town, looked at Him and scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter’s son,” and wondered what was the big deal.  His own family did not understand Him and wanted him locked away as a lunatic. One of His own would betray Him, the head of His disciples would deny Him, and all but John would run away when He needed them most.  Ultimately, the Gentile ruler would deliver Him to torture and death—the world’s verdict concerning Christ.

John wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:10-11).

His reaction to rejection?  Jesus wept. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!  How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  See!  Your house is left to you desolate;” (Matt.23:37-38). His tears were not for His own trials, but for the people who were choosing hell over heaven in rejecting Him—their only hope!

What will you do with Jesus?  Will you bow to Him and confess Him before scornful men?  Or, will you turn away, brush His claims aside, and reject Him?  That choice will determine where you spend eternity.

THE SOVEREIGN SERVANT

“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently; He shall be exalted and extolled and be very high. Just as many were astonished at you, So His visage was marred more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men; So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.” (‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭52:13-15‬‬)

It is a paradox so astonishing—that the Sovereign would also be Servant, that He would be a Lord and a Lamb, that from His submission would come His success, and the cross of Golgotha would lead to the crown of glory!  This is the story of Jesus—Son of God becoming Son of Man that sons of men might become sons of God.

Isaiah introduces this section of prophecy that highlights the Suffering Servant by reminding us that Jesus will also be the Sovereign Servant. Christ’s mission to earth to save us will be the theme of Isaiah 53 that follows. Oh, how He would suffer!  In the next chapter, Isaiah will describe the agony in such detail as though he was standing at the foot of the cross—remarkable revelation given 700 years before the event!

His face would be marred to the point of making Him almost unrecognizable. Strong men would punch Him with their fists. They would jerk His beard out with their hands. A crown of long desert thorns was hammered onto His head with rods. His face that ever looked with compassion would be transformed into a bloody mess by those without compassion!

Even here, we observe that it is the sprinkling of His blood that secures redemption from many nations.  Thus, in Revelation 7:9-10, we read of a great blood-washed throng:

“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”

Are you washed in the blood?  If not, today cry out to Jesus for forgiveness!  If you are, then it is your mission to share that story.

PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE SUN

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield...” (Ps.84:11a)

As the light of our sun brings life, illumines our way, and dispels the darkness, thus does God, our spiritual Sun.  He is the source of life—without Him we could not survive.  He shines to show us the way—without Him we would stumble and be lost.  He overwhelms the darkness of sin and death.  It cannot stand before the majesty of His glory!

The sun which is the star at the center of our solar system, is far from the largest, brightest, hottest star in the universe.  That cannot be said of God, the Sun. He is a Sun who eclipses all other suns.  Ancient peoples worshipped the sun, moon, and stars as gods.  Yet, these are all created things, and our Sun is the Creator of all things—the only true and Living God.

This is our seventh and final portrait of God in the Psalms.  There are others, but we will end our study here.  The big question is why do we have all these word pictures?  Because God is so great that merely a few words cannot adequately describe Him. Yet, it is imperative that we know Him, for we will worship something, and only the knowledge of the true God will save us.

Do you know Him today?

PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE ROCK

“He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.” (Ps.62:7)

David knew what it was as a fugitive to flee to a rock for refuge, when King Saul was trying to kill him, out of jealousy.  He knew, as a warrior, the solid ground a rock could give to stand against a foe.  As he wrote this Psalm, David painted a portrait of God as his Rock.  Ultimately, he knew that it was not a material refuge that he needed, but the spiritual refuge of God.  His salvation was not in seizing the high ground—as strategic as that was militarily—but, planting his life on the Rock of Ages.  As the old gospel song asks,

“Where could I go, oh where could I go?
Seeking a refuge for my soul
Needing a friend, to help me in the end
Where could I go, but to the Lord?”

Jesus told a story about two builders—one foolish man who constructed his house on a foundation of sand, while the other man—the wise man—built his house on a foundation of stone.  Then a storm came, battering both houses. The house with the foundation of sand was demolished, while the one anchored on the rock stood firm.

Is God your Rock of Refuge? Is He your strong and sure Foundation?