20 Feb An Introduction to God (The Names of God) #13

Jehovah Shammah Meaning Overview

In this powerful sermon on God’s names, Pastor explores Jehovah Shammah – ‘The Lord is There’ – revealing how God continuously introduces Himself to humanity after the fall. Drawing from Ezekiel’s vision of the New Jerusalem, this message addresses the common cry ‘God, where are you?’ that echoes through times of trouble, loss, and despair. The sermon explains how Israel, having lost their Temple during Babylonian captivity, felt abandoned by God and hung up their harps by the rivers of Babylon. Yet God promised through Ezekiel that His presence would dwell in a new city. This teaching emphasizes that God is not distant or absent, but is a ‘very present help in trouble’ as declared in Psalm 46. The message challenges believers to move beyond seeking God’s location to recognizing His constant presence, even in the darkest circumstances. Through understanding God’s character and embracing our own God-given identity, we can walk confidently knowing that the Lord is always there, willing and able to help in every need.

Jehovah Shammah Meaning Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction: God Introducing Himself: Overview of the series on God’s names and His continuous self-revelation to mankind.
• 2:30 – Understanding God’s Character Through His Names: How God’s redemptive names reveal His willingness and ability to help in every situation.
• 5:45 – Embracing Our God-Given Character: Learning to be confident in who God made us to be through understanding His diverse nature.
• 8:15 – Introducing Jehovah Shammah: The meaning of ‘The Lord is There’ and its significance for believers today.
• 10:30 – Ezekiel’s Vision of the New Jerusalem: Examining the biblical foundation of God’s presence in the city with twelve gates.
• 15:20 – The Common Cry: ‘God, Where Are You?’: Addressing humanity’s universal question during times of crisis and despair.
• 18:45 – Israel’s Bondage and Loss of Hope: How Israel’s captivity led to hanging up their harps and abandoning worship.
• 22:10 – God as Our Very Present Help: Understanding Psalm 46 and God’s constant availability in times of trouble.

Scripture References

Ezekiel 48:30-35, Revelation 21:9-27, Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 137:1-6, Matthew 1:23

Key Takeaways

• God continuously works to introduce Himself to humanity through His names, revealing His character and willingness to help in every situation.
• Jehovah Shammah means ‘The Lord is There,’ assuring us that God’s presence is constant, not distant or conditional.
• When we cry ‘God, where are you?’ we’re often in spiritual bondage, feeling hopeless like Israel during Babylonian captivity.
• God is a ‘very present help in trouble’ according to Psalm 46, meaning we don’t need to conjure up His presence – He’s already with us.
• Learning God’s character strengthens our confidence in walking out the unique character He has given each of us.
• The New Testament begins with Emmanuel – ‘God with us’ – showing the progression from ‘God is there’ to ‘God is here.’
• We must avoid worshiping representations of God instead of God Himself, as Israel did with the Temple.

Jehovah Shammah Meaning Notes

This profound exploration of Jehovah Shammah addresses one of humanity’s most pressing spiritual questions: Where is God when we need Him most? Pastor begins by establishing the context of God’s self-revelation through His names, explaining how each name demonstrates not only God’s capability but His willingness to intervene in human affairs. The fall of Adam created a separation that required God to continuously reintroduce Himself to mankind, and the redemptive names serve this very purpose. The foundation scripture comes from Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the New Jerusalem, a city with twelve gates named after Israel’s tribes, spanning six miles in circumference. This earthly vision parallels the heavenly Jerusalem described in Revelation 21, though the heavenly city measures an astounding 1,500 miles square compared to earthly Jerusalem’s 10.5 miles square. The significance lies not in the measurements but in the final declaration: ‘The name of the city will be The Lord is There.’ This prophecy came during Israel’s darkest hour – Babylonian captivity when their Temple lay destroyed and their worship silenced. The imagery of hanging harps by Babylon’s rivers powerfully illustrates spiritual depression and the dangerous tendency to abandon worship during trials. Yet this very moment of despair became God’s opportunity to reveal a greater truth: His presence isn’t confined to buildings or circumstances. The sermon challenges the common religious mindset that views God as distant, requiring activation through human effort. Instead, Psalm 46 declares God as a ‘very present help’ – not potentially present, but actively present in every situation. This understanding transforms our prayer life and eliminates desperate pleas for God’s attention, replacing them with confident declarations of His faithfulness. The progression from Old Testament ‘The Lord is There’ to New Testament ‘Emmanuel – God With Us’ shows God’s increasing intimacy with humanity, culminating in His indwelling presence through the Holy Spirit.

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