Jehovah Shammah – The LORD is There
God’s Presence
This is too glorious, too wonderful to believe! I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you. Psalm 139:6-12 LB
Queen Elizabeth joined Jesus in heaven on September 8, 2022. I can only imagine her joy, for she often spoke of her faith in Jesus Christ. Consider some of her quotes, collected in Our Faithful Queen: 70 Years of Faith & Service.*
“To many of us our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.” (2000)
“For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role-model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ’s example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none.” (2014)
“Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.” (2011)
Queen Elizabeth is now with Christ, but His presence was evident in her life. She claimed Him as her Saviour, and she followed His teachings.
The Lord desires for each of us to have a relationship with Him. The presence of the entire Trinity is shown in John 14: 23, 24, and 26. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. … the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (ESV. Emphasis mine.)
In Ezekiel, the priest is shown by the LORD what Israel will be like in the Millennial Age when the Lord reigns over the earth. In Ezekiel 48:35, he states that the name of Jerusalem “from that day shall be THE LORD IS THERE,” or Jehovah-Shammah.
The LORD is there, the LORD is here. We can never get away from God. As David stated in Psalm 139, the Lord’s presence is everywhere. It is reassuring to know that we can never be lost from God’s Spirit, not in life, nor in death. Even when we try to hide from God, He seeks us out. He knows everything about us, and He loves us anyway!
Let’s think of what God’s presence means to us. Queen Elizabeth listed a few names of Christ and a few of His attributes in the quotes above. How many more can we add?
Dear Lord God, Thank you for being Jehovah-Shammah, the LORD who is ever-present both now and in eternity. I will never be alone, for You are with me. I am so grateful. In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.
*https://haventoday.org/blog/10-surprising-things-queen-says-jesus/
Top photo of Windsor Castle by Kris Schulze on Pexels.com is also shown complete below.
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Thank you for joining me and for reading my devotional blogs. I hope and pray that you will be touched by God in a special way each time you visit. Blogs usually post every other Thursday. Past devotionals are archived for your convenience.
Kathryn Breckenridge 