(Seven More Names)
Jehovah - Nissi
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord Our Banner (Exodus 17:10-15). We travel, advance, and fight under God’s banner of Kindness, Justice, and Righteousness. The Israeli army recognized the idea of fighting beneath God’s banner and when they soundly defeated the Amalekites they paused and took sufficient time out to build an altar of stone to the Lord and named the altar Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner.
The banner (flag) gives the faithful warrior a feeling of hope and a recognizable focal point as he engages in the conflict. It becomes the rallying place and symbol of courage, confidence, and clarity as the battle rages. It also becomes a trustworthy reference point to look back upon when needing to draw new confidence for future battles.
Jehovah - Rohi
Jehovah-Rohi: The Lord Our Shepherd (Ps. 23:1). “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want . . .” Throughout the scriptures the image of the good and true shepherd is used to forecast and illuminate the compassion, attentiveness, and faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah toward people on this earth. “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” (Mark: 6:34). “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.” (Hebrews 13:20).
My journeys around the world allowed me to learn many interesting things about the behavior of shepherds and sheep. I recall the guides in Israel and Palestine explaining to us about the way the shepherd, after a day of allowing the flock to graze and feed, would lead the sheep into the fold for the night. The sheep would instinctively check out the enclosure for openings in the fence line. When they were convinced that there was no way they could get out and that there was no way a predator could get in, they began to relax and settle in for the night. Traditionally, the shepherd, himself, would close up the gateway of the fold by laying across the entry. He would sleep there. He would become the gate. If a sheep decided to wander out of the fold, or if a predator endeavored to sneak into the fold to attack a sheep, each would have to deal with the shepherd first.
The imagery was very vivid in my mind as I learned about the behaviors of the shepherds and the sheep. I totally identified with the sheep. I recalled how as a young flock-member I resented being confined and penned up. I rebelled at the authority person parking himself in the gateway, knowing full well that he was there not to “protect” but to stymie and curtail the fulfilling of the adventure he knew I would have if I could just get out of that fold and freely adventure out beyond in the freedom of the world on the other side of the fence. The confinement became the challenge. I would figure a way to successfully get past the shepherd. I would find a way to achieve my happiness.
As the other sheep would begin to relax and lay down, I would nonchalantly wander up to the gateway where the shepherd would be guarding the entry. Then I would turn around and carefully pace back toward the rear of the enclosure. I would carefully count every step and calculate the distance. How far would I have to run, and at what speed would I have to be traveling to silently jump and fly right over that shepherd and make it over into the beckoning adventures of the outside? Late one evening I had my chance. I took it! Within seconds I was airborne over the gateway. My distance, trajectory, speed, decent, landing . . . everything. . . it was all so perfect. I asked myself why I had wasted so much time in the past miserably corralled in that pen by that shepherd? Now, at last I was free!
I had never been out in the territory at night. How does one know where one is supposed to be going in the middle of darkness? I found myself going slower and slower. That was stupid because I had a lot of territory to discover . . . so I kicked it into a higher gear and took off twice as fast. Now, I was really covering the distance. It all felt so good. But I couldn’t see where I was going. Oh well, I could figure all that out when it got light again. All the feelings were so new and exciting.
Ooops . . . Oh no . . . I didn’t see that ewe turn! I don’t think that at this speed I can keep from going down over that embankment! How did that happen? . . . Ouch, that really hurts . . . those prickly thorns are getting all wadded up in my coat and skin . . . Wool I’ll be! I’m stuck, I can’t wiggle! Who’s going to help me out of this mess? Oh no . . . I think that was the scream of a mountain lion . . . how did he figure out so fast that I was in trouble . . . now I’m really in trouble . . . My mamma once told me that their whole catty culture is built around eating the “fat of the lamb” and succulent little chops. Now I’m scared out of my mind!
Maybe if I yell out someone will hear me . . . it’s my only chance. My coat is all stuck in these thorns and that mountain lion is on his way to eat me! “Baa, Baa, does anybody hear me? OK, Baa, Baa, . . . I am a Baaaaaaaaaad, Baaaaaaaaaad little sheep, I gonna die. . .Will someone please come and save this Baaaaaaaad sheep?
At that moment the awakened shepherd hears the voice of his errant, baaaaad sheep, jumps to his feet, leaves the other sheep in the fold and heads out to find the lost sheep. When he locates this thorn-punctured and bleating sheep he puts himself in peril, climbs down over the embankment, untangles my wooly coat from the thorns and hoists me back up to the trail. The shepherd then gently lifts this wounded sheep up on his shoulders and secures my feet on either side of his own head. The shepherd has found and saved the sheep that had become foolishly lost. Triumphantly, the shepherd walks back to the fold, enters the gateway, lowers this sheep to the ground and tends to my wounds. The kind shepherd then takes this young stupid sheep and nestles me down by my concerned mother and family members for some counseling and correction. This episode really shouldn’t happen again.
Thank you, Jehovah-Rohi!
Jehovah – Rophe
Jehovah-Rophe: The Lord Our Healer (Ex. 15:26). He is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of his people. His healing extends to both the body and the soul: in the body by protecting from and curing diseases, and the soul by pardoning iniquities. “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear, and keep his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord who healeth thee.” (Exodus 15:26)
“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” (Ps 103:3)
“He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Ps. 107:20). “Surely, he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5).
Have you ever been sick and faced certain death – and then felt the miraculous touch of the Healer Divine that restored you once again to full health? I have. I can hear ringing in my ears, the words of the team of three doctors who told me, “We can’t culture what you have . . ., and we don’t know what it is . . . we are running out of options! If there are plans you need to make, papers you need to sign, last minute affairs you need to take care of. . . you better do it, because your body systems are quickly shutting down!
Then, Jehovah – Rophe miraculously intervened. He drew close to me and touched me and healed me! I shall never forget it: neither in this life, nor in the next.
Jehovah – Sabaoth
Jehovah-Sabaoth: The Lord of Hosts (listed 285 times in the Bible): The Lord of the angelic armies with universal sovereignty over every foe, both spiritual and earthly. Jehovah-Sabaoth displays the desire and willingness of God to become intimately involved in directing and protecting his people. “He shall give his angles charge over thee to keep the in all thy ways . . .” (Ps. 91:11). He will accomplish what he determines to accomplish.
One night in a display of historic force the king of Syria sent a huge army of thousands of chariots, snorting horses, and wild-eyed soldiers to wipe out the army of Israel at the city of Dothan. The little servant of the prophet Elisha got up early the next morning and went outside. There were troops, horses, and chariots too many to count. He went back inside in a panic and hollered at Elisha, telling him of their eminent destruction.
“Don’t be afraid,” Elisha told him. “For our army is bigger than their army.” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord open his eyes and let him see the size of your army and the surety of our salvation!” When he went back outside the servant’s eyes were opened to God’s provision. Suddenly he could see the numberless forces of God’s mighty hosts, the countless horses, and the blazing chariots of fire for as far as his eyes could see. That day the overwhelming victory belonged to Jehovah-Sabaoth. (2 Kings:6).
Jehovah - Shalom
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord Our Peace: “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it ‘Jehovahshalom’” (Judges 6:24). The word Shalom carries with it the connotation of “to be complete” or “sound.” Also included is the idea of “the absence of strife.” The principle of peace is carried into the New Testament as seen in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth peace, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Jehovah - Shammah
Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord Who is Present: (Ezekiel 48:35). “. . . and the name of the city from that day shall be, ‘The Lord is There’” It was to become the symbolic name for the earthly Jerusalem, indicating that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins, but there will be a restoration and the Lord will be there, and his presence will be discernable. The Lord Jehovah is not just omnipresent, but it is his desire that his presence will be recognized, and his people will be equipped to sense and know his presence in their personal lives.
Jehovah - Tsidkenu
Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord Our Righteousness: (Jer. 3:6, also Jer. 33:16). “In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.” This concept is likewise carried forward in the New Testament: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:” (1 Cor. 1:30). It is God alone who provides righteousness to mankind through the person of his son, Jesus; who became sin for us, “. . . that we might become the Righteousness of God in him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom,
Let not the strong man boast of his strength,
Let not the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who would boast, boast of this; that he knows and understands me that I am the one who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on this earth and in these things, I delight, saith the Lord of Hosts” (Jer. 9:24).
Jehovah - Hoseenu Jehovah - Rophe
Jehovah - Jireh Jehovah - Sabaoth
Jehovah - M’Kaddesh Jehovah - Shalom
Jehovah - Makkeh Jehovah - Shammah
Jehovah - Nissi Jehovah - Tsidkenu
Jehovah - Rohi
Next Week: I BELIEVE . . . What is Truth? Part 1