Divine Titles And Their Significance / Part Two

Series – December 2014 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Divine Titles
AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE / Part Two

To show how fully the wonderful name of Jehovah is linked with covenant blessing, we will now consider the Scriptures where a second name was added to Jehovah . We will see that one blessing after another comes to men through our Lord’s Manhood, His wondrous life, and His atoning death on the cross.

Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD Will Provide
This combination is found in Genesis 22:1-14. There we read that God tested Abraham, commanding him to take Isaac, the child of promise, whose name meant laughter, his only son, miraculously born, to offer him up for a burnt offering. We remember that Abel offered an offering of the firstlings of his flock and Noah, when he came out of the ark, took of every clean beast and fowl and offered burnt offerings to the L ORD . But Genesis 22 was the first occasion when it was indicated that there should be a human sacrifice – surely an offering prophetic of the sacrificial death of our Lord, the only begotten Son of the Father.

Just at the critical moment, when Abraham was about to slay his son at the bidding of God, his hand was restrained and Isaac was spared. At this point in the story we read: “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide [Jehovah-Jireh]; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the LORD it shall be provided’” (Gen. 22:13-14 NKJV). This scene took place on Mount Moriah. Centuries later we find Jesus, the Jehovah of the Old Testament, dying on the cross of shame at Jerusalem in sight of Mount Moriah in fulfillment of this prophecy uttered by Abraham.

Earlier in Genesis 22 we read that Isaac asked a question which must have wrung his father’s heart with deepest anguish. There was the wood and the fire, but where was the lamb for a burnt offering? Abraham’s prophetic answer was that God (Elohim) would provide a lamb for a burnt offering. How gloriously was that seen when John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, beheld Jesus coming to him and exclaimed, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). Still more wondrously was it seen when our blessed Savior died on Calvary’s cross for God’s glory and to procure [obtain] salvation for all who put their trust in Him. Jireh added to the word Jehovah presents to us what is in the mind of God for the blessing of poor fallen man – even the whole story of how a covenant-making God would implement His approach to men at the cost of the death of His only begotten Son.

Never shall we be allowed to forget this. In the vision of the holy city come down from heaven, a symbolic presentation of the Church in relation to the future millennial age, we are reminded that the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. The glory of God and the Lamb are the light of it and the Church itself is the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9-22:5).

Jehovah-Ropheka:The LORD Who Heals You
We read, “I am the LORD who heals you” (Ex. 15:26). Here we have translated into English the Hebrew title Jehovah-Ropheka [also Jehovah-Rapha or Jehovah-Rophi]. Disease is the fruit of sin. If our Lord is to deal with the fruit righteously, He must deal with the root – necessitating the cross with all its suffering and woe.

In healing others, our Lord’s life must have been wonderful. But every time He healed a leper, every time He made the lame to walk and every time He made the blind to see and the deaf to hear, He must have been deeply conscious that in doing so only His sacrificial death on the cross could meet the root question of sin and justify His relieving poor, suffering humanity of its sad fruit. By these miracles in the sight of men He proved His power on earth to forgive sin. We read: “‘But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins’ – He said to the man who was paralyzed, ‘I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God” (Lk. 5:24-25).

Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD Is My Banner
In Exodus 17:8-16 we read of Amalek fighting with the children of Israel at Rephidim. Moses ascended to the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand, accompanied by Aaron and Hur. When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. Moses’ arms got tired, so Aaron and Hur sat him on a stone while they propped up his hands till the setting of the sun. Joshua, therefore, defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

In this story we have a beautiful type of our Lord’s intercession on high for His people, fighting as they are with the enemy – the flesh [as seen in Amalek, but His intercession is also for His own regarding the world and the Devil]. Yet how vivid is the contrast. Moses’ hands, tired, needed to be propped up. But our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, living after the power of an endless life (Heb. 7:16), has no weakness or failure. What brings failure and humiliation to us is our failure to avail ourselves of the wonderful resources we have in our Lord for our support in the fight. There is nothing but victory with Him.

We read that in consequence of this victory over Amalek, “Moses built an altar and called its name The-LORD-Is-My-Banner [Jehovah-Nissi]” (Ex.17:15). Under such a banner, only victory is possible.

Jehovah-Shalom:The LORD Is Peace
In the times of the judges we read that the Midianites severely oppressed the children of Israel. When they cried in their distress to the LORD, He sent a prophet with a comforting message. Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, a young man who was threshing wheat by the winepress to hide it from the marauding Midianites. The Angel of the LORD, Jehovah Himself, astonished the young man by saying, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor” (Jud. 6:12), and He then commissioned him to be the deliverer of Israel from the yoke of the Midianites.

Gideon, seeing that the One who spoke with him was the Angel of the LORD, asked for a sign, which was granted. Gideon prepared a young goat and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour. These he presented to the heavenly Visitor, who touched them with the point of His staff. Fire rose out of the rock, consuming the animal and the cakes: and the Angel of the LORD disappeared out of his sight.

When Gideon, discovering that the heavenly Visitor was the Angel of the LORD, was fearful, the Angel of the LORD calmed him, saying, “‘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 [Jehovah-Shalom]” (Jud. 6:23-24).

Can we not carry this thought into the New Testament and bless God for the peace of God which passes all understanding, strengthening our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus? Consequently when our minds dwell on what is honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report, we can count on the God of peace being with us (Phil. 4:4-9).

Jehovah-Raab:The LORD Is My Shepherd
How universally known and cherished among Christians are the opening words of the well-known Psalm 23: “The LORD [Jehovah] is my Shepherd [Raab].” The thought that the LORD is our Shepherd is a great comfort! What care He takes of His sheep and how patient He is when they stray from His sheltering and guiding hand. These words have comforted multitudes of tried saints in Old and New Testament times. Many books have been written on this Psalm and yet the theme is inexhaustible.

Is it not wonderful that Jehovah Himself is our Shepherd as we journey through this desert, through the valley of the shadow of death? The Good Shepherd has not only died for us, but He lives for us. The Great Shepherd is risen from the dead (Heb. 13:20) and covenants to care for us every step of the journey home. The saint of God can triumphantly sing, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps. 23:6).

Jehovah-Sabaoth:The LORD Of Hosts
The LORD of Hosts occurs over 300 times in the Old Testament. It is the one exception among these different combinations that finds its place in the New Testament (Rom. 9:29; Jas. 5:4). This gives rise to the use of the word Sabaoth, which is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Tsaba (Host). Though scattered throughout the Old Testament, Isaiah has 60 occurrences of this beautiful title. It carries the thought of mighty, irresistible power and a resource in the hands of the LORD.

Twice, in Psalm 46:7 and 11, we read: “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” How happy to be assured that we have Jehovah, the LORD of Hosts, with us. Nothing short of omnipotent power is on our side, and the God of Jacob is with us. If God could have patience with a wily one like Jacob, will He not be patient with us who come so far short of what we might be?

Jehovah-Tsidkenu:The LORD Our Righteousness
When our Lord comes to reign in righteousness over this sin-ridden world with its sad history of blood and tears, we are told what His name will be. “This is His name by which He shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer. 23:6). “In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS [Jehovah-Tsidkenu]” (Jer. 33:16).

How sweet to realize divine righteousness has been established through the atoning death of our Lord so blessing can flow to needy sinners. As we see all the unrest among the nations and various groups threatening the world with their anti-Christian propaganda, how good to know that the Lord will set up His righteous government in this world. Where the United Nations fail, our Lord will succeed, bringing peace and security to this troubled world. A groaning creation cries aloud for the Prince of Peace.

Jehovah-Shammah:The LORD Is There
This title is found in the closing words of Ezekiel’s prophecy. We read: “The name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE [Jehovah-Shammah]” (Ezek. 48:35). Jerusalem has indeed been a burden for the nations and will yet be in a surpassing degree (Zech. 12:3). What cannot be accomplished by man’s planning, parliaments, congresses, armies and alliances will be effected in a moment when our Lord takes up the reins of government. Peace is coming to Jerusalem, which has been the scene of the conflicts of ages. Once the Prince of Peace is present, how restful everything will be!

Even now individually we can have the presence of the Lord with us – and what calmness of spirit that gives. What a grand word to close this series of combinations with: The Lord is there!

By A. J. Pollack

Look for Part Three of this Series next month.