Continuing my 2020 Lenten Journey- with personal thoughts and commentary by Martha McDuff Wiggins on the book “Lord I Want To Know You” by Kay Arthur.
Day 42a
Jehovah-shammah, The LORD Is There (Part 3)
“Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it” (Ezekiel 11:22-23).
It would be almost six hundred years before He would return to His temple. How deeply saddened He must have been.
The LORD did not completely wipe out His people though. After the seventy year captivity He allowed a remnant to return to the destroyed city of Jerusalem. They began the work of restoring the new city, rebuilding the temple, and later the walls of the city.
The new temple could never compare with the former glory of Solomon’s original temple. Nor could the new city equal the old Jerusalem. The people wept for the loss of the old, learning the hard lesson that sin costs and consequences.
The word Shekinah comes from the root word ‘dwell’ and signifies ‘the dwelling presence of the LORD on earth’. When the LORD eventually did return to the temple it was not in complete fulfillment of Ezekiel 48:35, it was not in His full Shekinah glory. However, through His prophet Zechariah, He later confirmed His intent to still fulfill the complete promise.
“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling” (Zechariah 2:10-13).
Later, He again expressed His intention, through the Old Testament prophet, Malachi.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty” (Malachi 3:1).
Malachi was the final Old Testament prophet. The people would wait to hear from the LORD again for four hundred years more
During the long time of His silence the children of Israel would cling to two very important truths, to both His name, Jehovah-shammah, The LORD Is There, and to His Word.
“I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word” (Psalm 138:2)
If we remember nothing else from this Study of His names, we should remember the LORD keeps His promises, His word, without fail… for the LORD, is unchanging and His love endures forever.
I divided this day into two parts, a and b. Our name is still Jehovah-shammah, The LORD Is There. It is the name the LORD himself used when He promised His people, those who love Him, that He would return and dwell in their midst. And He kept His promise…
He came to his own, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:11-13).
Let’s stop here. He came into the world and we knew Him not. I am so glad the LORD led me to this particular Lenten journey. The Study book ties it all together so beautifully, especially for Holy Week, as we shall see.
Mental action to facilitate your Lenten Journey:
Stillness before the LORD is something that doesn’t always come easy for me, and probably for many of us. Try to set aside some time this week. Choose a spot, inside or outside, that gives you a sense of peace or at least comfort. Turn off your worldly connections, maybe do a little spiritual reading or pray. Then stop and quietly invite Him to sit with you.
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Further action if so inclined:
Have you ever fallen on your face before the LORD in desperate fear or need? I have, and I wish that type of situation on no one. If you have, though, you know what it means to realize He is there.
When you realize He is walking right there with you and is totally involved in whatever your situation may be, you will find relief. You will find your fears and anxieties are unnecessary. Call out to Jehovah-shammah, The LORD Is There. He’s there already, you just haven’t recognized Him.
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