Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there (5th Feb 2012)

Scripture Reading: 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 ."

 

 

Sermon: Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is there

The period of Ezekiel was the time of hardship, comparing the period of the King David and Solomon. After dying the King Solomon, the next king Rehoboam got a political mistake. Finally, Israel divided two countries; North Israel and South Judae. Afterward North Israel was occupied by Assyria and South Judae was occupied by Babylonia. Then all Israelites came to the period of the captive. It looks like political issue but there is true reason of their hardship. "Spiritual insensibility"! This is the core of the reason. Passing the peaceful period of David and Solomon, they are insensible to the existence of God. Some worshiped gentile gods or some worshiped gentile gods and Jehovah God together. More serious is pretending belief. some pretended to worship God very well in front of people but without all their heart and souls they did. Therefore, Bible says like this,

“Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.” (Ezekiel 10:18)

God left from where they were. So, Ezekiel chapter 1~ 32 consists of the contents that Jehovah are not there with them. However, From 32 to 48, there are the contents that Jehovah are there with Israel. The former is the curse on the other hand the latter is the blessing.

The reason is that for 70 years the Israelites never forget God. Even though they could not hear His voice and response, they wailed with grief and resentence toward the Lord their God. Most people say anywhere is no God because He can not response any painful shouts. Yes! Sometimes we can receive the kinds of question. Why are you believing in God? He can not speak, He is not shown to us. How are you trusting in Him? By our thinking, we could feel He is not existed with us. Sometimes, some say He was an imaginary creature for people's consolation. It seems to us it sounds resonable. But, Bible says to us very clearly. Look at the text, 19:3~4

"There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,"

Creatures made by God showed us His existing and His glory. Just we can not sense all because of our sins. The great point of Israelites is the endless prayers to the Lord in no answer of God to their sufferings. They really trusted in God who created and managed all in the world although they can not listen His voice and see His appearance. Their prayer was dependent on only God. By Ezekiel, God showed His will and prophet. By the word of God, Ezekiel had to pray for Israel's sin, during 390 days, sleeping on the left side, and for Judae's sin during 40 days on the right side. Sometimes, we can not handle our problems. It could be physical one or spiritual one. Who can help us? God always prepares helpers to pray for us. God miraculously links our tie of God's children. Whenever we are in suffering without any power, He makes the linked people pray and help for us. When the prayers are fulfilled, God surely is there. where? there! the temple and city of New Jerusalem!

Let us read verse 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 ."

There is God's existence in New Jerusalem for the Israel. The place where the Lord exists is blessed. Being with God! there is the Heaven! Heaven is where God exists. There, the Israelites are saved from all sufferings and possessed real peace.

Now where is God to us? To our lives, God is existing?

According to 2 Corinthians 6:16, "For we are the temple of the living God." We have to be with God. The living God must be in you and me. Everyone want to be successful. But success is not the last aim and not to be solved all thing. Why? Success is limited. What are we aiming for? It is a victory! Whenever we face all situations, we have a victory.

A Chinese Christian, Watchman Nee dreamed about sailing boat. He met a deadlock. He eagerly prayed to God, "please remove the deadlock, oh Lord" At that time, the Lord said to him " Remove the deadlock? I want you to pass over the deadlock by wave. Which one is more easier to you? Waiting for removing the deadlock? or passing over the deadlock?"

Yes, it is.. victory is more easier and blessing to us! When can we have a victory? God is in us. This is Jehovah Sammah, the Lord is there! This is clearly necessary to us! We do not need to wait long for vain success. Whenever we are living, we just get victories. Getting victories surely become true success in our lives.

So I want here, in this community, A house of prayer for All nations, the Lord our God exists. Even though here are so many people gathering or having good events, if here is no God, this community is empty and useless.

Now we are praying for having the name "Jehovah Sammah"! We have another name, "Jehovah Sammah!" This is the beginning and end of blessing to us. (Fernan, you are Jehovah Sammah! Renato, you are Jehovah Sammah!) These blessing will be permitted to us from now and forever.

Let's pray

Gracious God Almighty!

Please oh Lord be with us. Come and be with us. Your existing is just the most blessing. Jehovah Sammah is our name in front of you. We belong to you. Believing in this prayer should be accepted to you, in Jesus name we pray Amen.