JEHOVAH SHAMMAH

“The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there” (Ezek. 48:35NKJV).

The phrase, “The Lord is there,” is a translation of the words “Jehovah Shammah.” It is one of the great names of God found in the Old Testament. It is a wonderful name for the revived Jerusalem because of the great prosperity, purity, polity, and piety that will be hers in the future.

Prosperity – There is a glorious future in store for Israel as the ground will produce like never before. A river will flow out from the new Temple which will make the land extremely fertile and the waters full of fish (Ezekiel 47). When “The Lord is there,” we can expect genuine prosperity in the land.

Purity - The glorious future of Israel will be characterized by the purity of the people. The religious leaders will “teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy” (Ezek. 44:23). Whenever “The Lord is there,” you will find purity in character and lifestyles. Most folks do not want God around which explains the wicked conduct that fills our society.

Polity – In Israel’s glorious future, government performance will be at its best. Leaders will rule with integrity and efficiency. The land will be organized in tribal allocations in a most orderly fashion. When “The Lord is there,” government will function properly; there will be no wasteful spending, political scandals, and unjust courts.

Piety – In Israel’s glorious future the worship of God will be dramatically improved. A new Temple will be built and both leaders and folks will be faithful in worship. And there will be fidelity in worship, since worship will be according to the Word of God. No idol worship, no apostasy. This is assured by the fact that “The Lord is there.”

(Adapted from Analytical Biblical Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“When we have God in clear focus, His powerful presence eclipses our fear!”

Charles Rozell Swindoll (1934 -)

American Evangelical Pastor, Author, Educator, and Radio Preacher

Word Study

Empty conceit

In Phil. 2:3 we read, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves!” (NASB).

Empty conceit is the Greek word kenodoxía (κενοδοξία =ken-od-ox-ee'-ah). It is made up of two words: “kenos” which means empty, vain, hollow, groundless, and “doxa” which means glory, praise or opinion. The word is used only here in the NT and literally means vain glory, empty praise or hollow opinion. In classic Greek kenodoxía denotes a person with excessive ambition. In the Septuagint, kenodoxía speaks of boastfulness. In the New Testament, kenodoxía carries the idea of a highly exaggerated view of self. It is a passion for empty personal glory. Paul says believers are to have nothing to do with the pursuit of personal praise, which is the motivation or root cause of their selfish ambition.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt” (Deut. 7:18 KJV).

Did You Know…

The following eight synonyms for Scripture are given in Psalm 119: Law, Testimonies, Ways, Precepts, Statutes, Commandments, Judgments, Word.

Bible Quiz

Whom did the Lord Jesus call “brood of vipers?”

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Book of Hebrews, why is the Lord Jesus able to help those who are tempted? Because “He Himself has suffered, being tempted” (Heb. 2:18).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“MERCIFUL GOD”

"Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: return, backsliding Israel, says the LORD; I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful, says the LORD; I will not remain angry forever” (Jer. 3:12 NKJV).

1. Meaning – MERCIFUL GOD refers to God's compassion and lovingkindness.

2. Insights – Although Israel’s sin was very grievous to the Lord, He was ready, even eager to forgive, if the nation would but turn. Here we have an insight into the very heart of God; here we see there is forgiveness and mercy. While the forgiveness of God is ever available to all, we must respond to His call to turn from sin. Confession is a vital element in true repentance. There must be complete and sincere acknowledgment of sin. The promptness and completeness of our confession are answered by the promptness and completeness of God’s forgiveness. When people turn away from their sins and turn back to God, their repentance removes His anger and restores their relationship with Him

Did You Know...Christian History

Benjamin Keach was born February 29, 1640, in Buckinghamshire, England. He was a Particular (Reformed) Baptist preacher and author.

Keach worked as a tailor during his early years. He was baptized at the age of 15 and began preaching at 18. He was the minister of the congregation at Winslow before moving in 1668 to the church at Horsleydown ((Horse-lie-down), Southwark where he was the pastor for 36 years. Keach wrote 43 works, of which his “Parables and Metaphors of Scripture” may be the best known. He wrote a work entitled “The Child’s Instructor” which immediately brought him under persecution. As a Baptist minister, Keach’s crime was to publish a book of instruction for children; its doctrine did not conform to the teachings of the Church of England. Keach disagreed with the established church over infant baptism. He believed that only adults who understood what they were doing should be baptized. Keach was fined and pilloried in 1664. The pillory is a device made of a wooden or metal framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands.

Punishment did not stop Keach from writing and preaching. Neither did other arrests. He was fined several times and was taken to prison where he suffered many things. Nevertheless, his books and pamphlets sold well. In them, he championed baptism, education for children. Keach is also known for his introduction of hymns into the worship service of his congregation at Horsleydown around 1673. This decision eventually sparked a very public discourse on whether or not singing was appropriate in worship, and if so, on the types of song that God found acceptable.

In one of his tracts Keach wrote “What can render the state of a person worse than to be an enemy of God, Jesus Christ, and the power of godliness; and yet to think he is holy and a good Christian?” He went on to explain the difference between reformation (outward change) and regeneration (heart change). One of the proofs of regeneration that he listed is to hate sin so much that one would be willing to lose everything or undergo the greatest possible suffering rather than sin against God.

Keach’s church grew so rapidly that it had to be enlarged several times. He remained as pastor of this congregation until his death in 1704. This congregation later became the New Park Street Church and then moved to the Metropolitan Tabernacle of which Charles Spurgeon was the pastor. Keach is known to have written about 300 hymns, although none are commonly sung today. In his autobiography, Spurgeon included a short account of Keach’s life.

A Little Humor

Reason God created Eve - God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Where one goes hereafter depends on what he does after here!”