For reasons I really cannot explain, I am particularly drawn to this name of our God in this season of my life – Jehovah-shammah. In Hebrew, shammah simply means “there”.
We find this name for God used in reference to the earthly Jerusalem in Ezekiel 48: 35: “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”.
This would identify, to all who were Hebrews, that God dwelt in Jerusalem. It was His city and those were His people. Today I want us to think ‘outside the box’ about this name for God.
So many people are looking ahead to some event, some time in their lives, some potential disaster, some looming date and are wondering if or how they will survive it. Perhaps it is a doctor’s appointment or a court date or your child leaving home or your mate passing away or any one of a zillion things. There is something in your future that causes you to have a knot in the pit of your stomach every time you think about it. Be it real or imagined, this future occurrence causes you huge amounts of stress, angst and worry.
Jehovah-shammah. THE LORD IS THERE!! Our God is already in your tomorrow. He already knows how your future plays out and He has complete control over it. Jehovah-shammah. THE LORD IS THERE!! You can’t be in your future now, but He can. You can’t control the future events of your life, but He can.
In the Bible, wherever God’s presence appeared, His blessings flowed down on those who acknowledged, trusted and obeyed Him. God is THERE in your tomorrow and in my tomorrow. He simply desires that we trust His heart.
