Is the man carrying the Cross a mystery to you?  Do you know him, really?

Yes, it has taken me 2 weeks to complete introducing you to the 12 Hebrew Names of God (*).  So, as promised, here is Part 2.  With the aid of the Holy Spirit, I will continue identifying the remaining 6 Jehovah Names of our Creator that are referenced in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

As we acquire a deeper understanding of the Jehovah names for God, it is my sincere hope that you will be able to compare their characteristic performances to the life of God’s only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  For, as it is written in Colossians 1:15-16:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.” (New Living Translation)

So, with that being said, let us continue in our pursuit to acquaint ourselves with the Jehovah Names of God, in order that we might find completeness in knowing that God’s Son demonstrated in His earthly personage and His works, the splendor and glory of our Great Creator.

(May I suggest that before embarking on what is to follow below, that you take the time to review last week’s blog as a refresher course to broaden your understanding of God as Jehovah El-Shaddai.  Send up a quick short prayer and thank El-Shaddai for keeping you and your family and loved ones safe during this past week from the coronavirus that is wreaking havoc across this entire world.) 

7.     Jehovah-Nissi – (My Banner)  In ancient times, a “banner” did not necessarily represent a cloth flag as it does in today’s world.  But rather, a banner was a bare wooden pole with a shining ornament attached. This banner (pole) was used as a walking stick by Israelite men and represented God’s ability to deliver one from danger.  “Moses reflected this sentiment after a victory over one of Israel’s enemies:  “Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner.”  (Ex. 17:15)  So, whenever one of your enemies lift up their hands against a child of the King, (especially during a spiritual warfare) silently lift up your banner to Jehovah-Nissi, pray this Name and claim victory over your adversary.

8.     Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – This Name means the God who sanctifies, or the God who provides instructions to help you grow in him.  Since the people of God are called a royal priesthood, they are to take on the attributes and conduct of a priestly nation. We have been called out…set apart…hallowed…and made holy.  Just like God is set apart (Our Father which art in heaven, hollow be thy name…), you, too, are set apart in order to commune with Him.  Therefore, when you pray, ask the Holy Spirit (God’s teacher) to envelop your prayer requests, set yourself apart, select an appointed time, collect your sacred materials and get serious.  Pray God’s word back to him.  Ask Jehovah-M’Kaddesh to instruct, lead and guide you all the way.

9.     Jehovah-Shalom -The Lord is Peace.  If ever you needed to pray to God with this Name it is now during Covid-19.  Without a doubt, we are in a war with our governments (national and local) disputing each other as to how to approach this pandemic; how to relieve our first responders and medical staff; insensitive individuals not wearing their masks; thieves stealing life-saving medical supplies from warehouses and clinics, etc., etc., etc. In Judges 6:24 we read where the Lord of Peace used Gideon to rescue the Israelites from their overpowering enemies of war.  Gideon was victorious even though the Israelites’ sinful deeds brought this calamity upon themselves.  After Gideon’s victory, scripture says this is what he did.  “So, Gideon built an alter to the Lord there and called it The Lord is Peace.”  You should do likewise.  Sometimes children of God misstep and cause pain, destruction and suffering on themselves and others.  As we pray and repent, we can call upon the One who is peace…Jehovah-Shalom.  He alone can forgive us and bring peace and stability to every situation.

10.     Jehovah-tsidkenu – (The “t” is silent.)  The meaning is Jehovah our righteousness.  Scripture reveals in Isaiah 64:6 that all humanity has a sinful nature and our righteous acts are like filthy rags.  Therefore, in order to approach God’s throne of grace we must come to the Father by faith and in the Name of Jesus Christ.  For no man comes to the Father except by me. (John 6:44)  Because of this righteous Man, always end your prayers by saying, “In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”  This is your confession that you believe in your heart in the Trinity.

11.     Jehovah-rohi – Perhaps you did not know that you can began reciting the 23rd Psalms in this manner.  Actually, rohi means Shepherd.  “The Lord is my Jehovah-rohi and I shall not want.”  May I suggest that you grab your Bible and turn to this scripture passage and begin using this Name right now.  Try it, you’ll love it!

12.     Jehovah-shammah – The meaning of this name is Jehovah is there.  Allow me to define ‘Jehovah’ for you.  God’s first name reveals Him as a God in special relationship with man; absolutely self-existence; and One who is infinite and eternal.  God is everywhere.  God’s moral and spiritual attributes are also revealed in His Creation.  After Joshua led his people into the Promise Land and allotted up the land to the 12 tribes of Israel, Ezekiel, the prophet, later wrote concerning the territory; “And 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.’ “  While traveling around the world on my many mission trips I could use this name in so many villages I visited…Surely, Jehovah-shammah was there.

(*) NOTE:  For an in-depth study of the Names of God I used a paperback book by the same title written by Nathan Stone.

I would like to share with you a personal experience I had with Jehovah-M’Kaddesh. The God who provides instructions to help you grow in him.

I am not a public-school teacher by trade but I have performed many years as a bible teacher. However, when I first became a volunteer missionary, we all had to wear many hats when out in the field.  One year while performing mission duties in the Bahamas, I was assigned to teach a small group of young children:  some could read, and some could not.  I instantly realized that the kids were not well disciplined and by reading a bible story to them, I would have a hard time holding their attention.   For it was my intent to read, explain and acquire feedback from the students.  And as you know, a missionary’s job is to plant seeds of Wisdom about our Lord and Savior, no matter if the pilgrim is young or old or even speaks your language.

So, while the children were giggling and playing tag with each other, I began looking around the room for some supplies to work with.  To my surprise, there were none to be found:  no desks, black boards, chaulk, writing paper, hand puppets, toys…nothing!  I began to panic.  The children were getting out of control.  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spied a stack of small brown sandwich bags over in a corner.  The children were to use these bags to carry home any small gifts the missionary team had brought to hand out to them at the end of our trip.

In my spirit, the Holy Spirit whispered…So you want to become a missionary, do you?  And your intent is to travel to far off places and visit cities anew.  I don’t remember hearing you praying and asking God to equip you with instructions on how to meet obstacles while on your journey that might prevent you from effectively sharing the gospel.  Now go get those lunch bags and I will show you what to do.

The second thing the Holy Spirit had me do was to ask the children to get out of their seats and onto their knees and to use their chair as a desk.

Immediately, I realized that the bags had four sides and a boxed bottom.  The Holy Spirit whispered for me to give a bag to each child and one crayon.  I was to tell the story of Mary and Joseph traveling on a donkey, arriving at a stable, surrounded by animals, and a baby being born and placed in a manger.  (I now had four scenes that the children could draw with stick figures and circles.) They loved it and were very excited about their finished project because the Spirit told me to have the children open their bags and put their small hand up into the sack and retell the story by turning the bag around and displaying their art work on all 4 sides.  At the top of the bag I had them print the title of the story:  “Mary and Joseph and Baby Jesus”.

I had truly experienced Jehovah-M’Kaddesh.  And in the process, I learned never to doubt the Lord’s intervention capabilities again.  His instructions to me to forget about myself and to look to Him for guidance is a lesson I will never forget.

Scripture Lesson:

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