Studying God's Word

Some people are put off by the Old Testament because they see a vengeful God portrayed in its pages which does not square with their vision of the kinder, gentler Jesus Christ of the New Testament. The Bible is clear throughout that God is unchanging and that He is one God, not two. The God of the exodus who appeared to Israel by day as a column of smoke and by night as a pillar of fire is the same God who appears in the New Testament as the incarnation of Jesus Christ as the suffering Messiah.

Malachi 3:6 – For I the Lord do not change.

Numbers 23:19 – God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

I don’t see a stern and vengeful God at all when I read the Old Testament. I see a loving, kind, gentle and soft-hearted God. I see a God who is repeatedly scorned and rejected by His people yet He remains faithful and patient. God’s forbearance can be seen by His giving Israel numerous chances to obey his statutes. God could have ended history when Adam fell in the Garden of Eden but instead He came up with a plan to redeem fallen mankind. The Old Testament presents God’s love, mercy, grace, and patience on an epic scale. In the Bible God says He loves us but God’s actions in the Old Testament shows He loves us.

James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

With the possible exception of the book of Ester, every book of the Old Testament makes reference to the coming of Jesus Christ to redeem mankind. There are over 60 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Christ, the Messiah, and the man Jesus fulfilled them all as documented in history. Our God is the true God because, as the Author of history, He knows the end from the beginning and He proves it through prophecy. The Bible is one third prophecy (28%) and most of that is in the Old Testament. There are over 1,000 prophecies in the Bible, over 500 of which have been fulfilled as written. No prophecy has failed to be fulfilled at its appointed time. God gives us prophecy not only to prove that He is God but also to let us know what’s coming so we’ll be prepared.

The overarching theme of both the Old and New Testaments is crystal clear: from first to last it’s Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the key to understanding the Old Testament. At first this is not apparent to the average reader. It’s only after reading the New Testament that we are able to look back at the Old Testament and see Jesus clearly in its pages. Our salvation was the message of the Bible and Jesus was the divine vessel through which eternal life was made possible for us. The Old Testament was Jesus prophesied and the New Testament was Jesus fulfilled. We need both testaments to clearly see God’s redemptive plan for us.

The Son of God came down from heaven, took on flesh, and fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of His birth. There are many ways in which the Old Testament prefigures, anticipates, and predicts Christ and His crucifixion. You may notice that the Bible repeats ideas and themes in different contexts and settings. God does this to show His consistency and faithfulness toward us. The New Testament makes hundreds of references to the Old Testament and Jesus Himself affirms the Old Testament is all about Him. If we have faith in Jesus we must love and revere the Old Testament as part of the eternal Word of God.

Jesus said He didn’t come to do away with the Law but to fulfill it. The Old Testament covenant helps us understand the new blood covenant of Christ Jesus. As Christians we’re lucky we don’t have to look for God or guess why we’re here as do other religions. Almighty God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through general (e.g., nature) and special (e.g., Scriptures) revelations, and that He revealed Himself in person in the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:1-2 – Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.

Romans 1:19-20 – Because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so they are without excuse.

During His ministry on earth Jesus followed up by telling us exactly who He is. Jesus could not have been clearer:

John 10:30 – I and My Father are one.

John 14:11 – (Jesus speaking) – Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me.

15. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH – “The Lord is there” – This name for God appears in the last verse of Ezekiel. Shammah simply means “there” and is a reference to the second coming of Christ. It refers to a future, earthly Jerusalem, the city that our Lord Jesus Christ will rule from for 1,000 years as King of kings and Lord of lords. The name of the city from that day shall be, “The Lord is there.”

Psalm 73:25-26 – Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

When God gave Jerusalem this name He was assuring the people that He, Jehovah, would live there with them. God made us to live in heaven with Him where He will shower us with riches beyond our imagination. We are only visitors here on earth sent for His purpose. We are to seek out God, obey His commands, and witness for Christ to the glory of God.

John 14:2-3 – (Jesus speaking) – In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if i go and prepare a place for you, i will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

NOTE – Much of the information contained in this blog series on the names of God is from Kay Arthur’s book, The Peace & Power of Knowing God’s Name.

14. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU – “The Lord our righteousness” – This name for God was revealed in Jeremiah, a book of judgement. We are God’s children meant to dwell in heaven with our Father, but we must be righteous because sin cannot enter heaven. We must meet God’s standard of righteousness. The bad news is we can’t attain those standards on our own.

Romans 3:10,23 – As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The good news is God Himself will save us and forgive our sins. God will give us a new heart. God will also give us the Holy spirit to indwell us and cause us to obey God’s commands. We can be right with God because He is our righteousness.

Micah 7:9 – I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.

At the cross of Calvary Jesus took upon Himself our sins and, in return, gave us His righteousness through belief in Him. Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will make us right with God. The righteousness of God is always near as long as we have breath in our bodies. It is never too late to receive eternal life from a loving God if we believe in Jesus and ask God to forgive our sins.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 – Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a king shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

11. JEHOVAH-RAAH – “The Lord my shepherd” – In the Bible God compares Himself to a shepherd. God paints the biblical picture of a shepherd with his sheep as one filled with both tenderness and promise.

Psalm 23:1 – The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Isaiah 53:6 – All of us like sheep have gone astray.

The shepherd is there to protect his flock from harm and to see that all their needs are met. God is our shepherd because He does the same thing for us. Without a shepherd the sheep could not survive and neither can we.

John 10:27 – My sheep hear My voice.

Isaiah 40:11 – Like a shepherd He will tend His flock. In His arms He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Jesus is the Great Shepherd of His sheep. He is the One who came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus is the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd who will one day return in glory with eternal rewards in His hands.

Psalm 100:3 – Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and nor we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalm 28:9 – Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance, shepherd them also, and bear them up forever.

12. JEHOVAH-SABAOTH – “The Lord of hosts” – This means “a mass”, as in a mass of heavenly beings, the host of heaven. Jehovah-Sabaoth rules over all the armies of heaven and is Lord over all powers, principalities, and rulers in high places. In today’s terminology God would be called the commander in chief.

Isaiah 14:24 – The Lord of Hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand.”

This name for God was first used by Hannah in a prayer to the Lord before His tabernacle, (1 Samuel 1:11). Hannah turned to God when no other help was available. The moral of the story is we can turn to Jehovah-Sabaoth when we are over matched in our struggles and no other help is forthcoming.

Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Be of good cheer! God is mighty in battle and awesome in power. We can call upon God to come to our aid in times of conflict and spiritual warfare. The name of God strikes fear in the hearts of demons and makes the very pillars of the universe tremble.

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The best example of this was when David faced the giant named Goliath. David was not afraid because he knew the Lord of Hosts was with him. David felled Goliath with his sling and then cut off his head to the glory of God.

1 Samuel 17:45 – Then David said to the Philistine (Goliath), “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defiled.”

You can expect spiritual warfare to get worse because the enemy (Satan) realizes time is short. God is undefeated in battle. In any battle the victory is His! He’s the one in charge and you can trust Him to come to your aid. No one in heaven or earth – angels or demons or Satan himself – can stand against God.

Psalm 46:7 – The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

10. JEHOVAH-MEDODDISHKEM – “The Lord who sanctifies you” – It means, set apart, consecrated, or separated unto God.” A person is justified when they are saved unto eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This is a one time event.

Sanctification, on the other hand, is a lifelong ongoing process whereby God Himself, by His indwelt Holy Spirit, over time makes us into the image of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:16 – You shall be holy, for I am holy.

We are made holy by Almighty God; therefore, we are to strive to live a holy life in response to what God has already done for us. Once we belong to God we enter into His wonderful rest.

Exodus 31:13 – Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “Surely My Sabbath you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”

11. JEHOVAH-SHALOM – “The Lord is peace” – During a very dark period in Israel’s history God allowed Israel to be severely oppressed by Midian because of their disobedience. The Lord appeared to Gideon and told him to rescue his people from Midian. We all remember the story of Gideon who took a force of 300 men and defeated an army of 10,000 with the help of God. God gave Gideon His peace so Gideon built an altar to the Lord at that location and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace.

Judges 6:22-24 – Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.” Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace.

True peace, lasting peace, cannot be found in any other place than in a right relationship with God. No matter what your problems are you can have peace because God Himself is our peace. Learn to lean on God’s strength. When you need peace run into the shelter of His name. God is peace.

John 16:33 – These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.

John 14:27 – (Jesus speaking) – Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

9. JEHOVAH-NISSI – “The Lord is my Banner” – A banner in ancient times was an ensign or standard carried at the head of a military grouping. It was a rallying point in time of war. As long as the soldiers could see the banner of their king flying they fought on with courage and confidence knowing that they would win the day.

Psalm 60:4-5 – You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah. That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand, and hear me.

After the exodus from Egypt the first battle Israel fought was against the Amalekites. As long as Moses held high overhead the banner of God Israel was winning the fight. When Moses lowered the staff of God the Amalekites were winning. Israel finally won the battle by keeping God’s banner flying and Moses built an altar at the site. God was teaching Israel a moral lesson. Those who fight under the banner of God are assured of victory.

Exodus 17:15 – And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.

The Lord Himself is our banner . He is our confidence and shining assurance of victory. As children of God, there is a moral lesson in the above story for us today. The Christian life is warfare, and it will be constant warfare until we enter heaven so buckle up and get ready.

Ephesians 6:10 – Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.

The flesh is your first and constant enemy and your opponent is Satan and his demons. As the battle on earth rages between flesh and Spirit and you feel yourself losing ground take heart. Always look up to the banner of our king, Jehovah-Nissi, who fights for us. God will give us His strength so that we can be assured of ultimate victory over our foe.

7. JEHOVAH-JIREH – “The Lord will provide” – Abraham gave the Lord this name on Mount Moriah. God had directed Abraham to go there and offer up his son Isaac as a burnt offering to the Lord. At the last minute, God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son and instead “provided” a ram as a substitute.

Genesis 22:14 – And Abraham called the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

This was the same mount where God’s temple would later be built and the same mount where God would later “provide” His only begotten Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for all men. The spotless lamb of God was the only possible provision of Jehovah-Jireh for the sins of the world. What man could not do God did. Jireh means “to see”. Because He is God, when He sees, He foresees. Because God knows the end from the beginning and is omniscient He knows what we need and provides for us without our having to ask.

8. JEHOVAH-RAPHA – “The Lord who heals” – The God who made us and knows us is our Great Physician. Only God can heal our spirit and soul and give us peace. Sin is a mortal wound that only God can heal.

Exodus 15:26 – 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.

There is a direct correlation between sin and sickness, sickness of body, spirit and soul. Only Jehovah-Rapha can cure what ails us. Always seek first the healing power of the God before depending on modern medicine to heal you.

Jeremiah 17:14 – Heal me O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved. for You are my praise.

6. JEHOVAH – “The Self-Existent One” – The name Jehovah appears 6,823 times in the Old Testament. Jews regard Jehovah (Yahweh in Hebrew) as the most holy, most sacred name of God. The Hebrew root of the name Jehovah means, “to be, to become.” The name Jehovah speaks to God’s being or essence.

Isaiah 43:10-11 – Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no Savior besides Me.

Jehovah is the self-existent Creator who made the heavens and the earth. His name says, “I always have been, I always am, and I always will be.” Everything that came into being came from the self-existent God who simply spoke and brought the universe into existence. When Moses was conversing with God on Mount Sinai before the burning bush he asked God His name. God responded, “I AM WHO I AM”, which is to say, I am the self-existent one. God has no needs not provided by His divine nature. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Exodus 6:2-3 – And God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord (Jehovah).” I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name Lord (Jehovah) I was not known to them.

Everyone and everything in the universe had a beginning with the exception of God who has always existed. With the exception of God, nothing can exist without there being a cause to create the effect. God is the self-existent one who caused all things to be created (the effect) according to His will.