Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord is There

Strictly speaking this is a name for a city rather than a title of God. It is so closely associated with God's presence and power that it has been equated with a name of God. We were created to both enjoy and to manifest God' presence.

Ezekiel 48:35 -It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.

As God's people continued to sin, He delivers them and dwells with them first in the form of a pillar of cloud and fire, then in the movable tabernacle in the wilderness, and later in the Jerusalem Temple. Tragically and finally, Ezekiel witnessed the glory of God departing from the temple because of their continued unfaithfulness. God is no longer there. Despite God's absence, the book of Ezekiel ends on a note of tremendous hope, predicting a time of restoration - found in Ez.48:35!

Now let's understand how God's presence affects us. Read Isaiah 43:2 -

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

Praise God that He is always with us, even in the midst of trouble.

Psalm 139:12 assures us that even in the darkness Jehovah-Shammah is there.

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called Immanuel, "God with us." In Jesus Christ, God fulfills His ultimate promise to dwell with His people, by indwelling His living temple of God and His presence will never depart. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Cor.3:16)

Here are some verses that help us understand that God's omnipresence is one of the most comforting of all God's attributes!

Psalm 16:11 ~ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 31:20 ~ Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Psalm 139:7-12 ~ Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?

If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.