Understanding That Name

Yesterday we were introduced to another name of God, Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the LORD our Righteousness.  Today we want to spend some time understanding that name and what it means to you and me........understanding how this name of the LORD is our strong tower.  Let's begin by returning to the book of Jeremiah, and let's read Jeremiah 23:1-6 again.  (Notice all the references to shepherds and sheep!  Does that take you back to our study of Jehovah-Raah?!)

Here are some questions for you to consider after you have read the passage:

• who were the shepherds?
• what had happened to "my flock"?
• what is the Lord going to do for His flock?
• who is the Righteous Branch?
• note everything you learn about the Righteous Branch

God had made a promise to David.....check that out in 2 Samuel 7:16.  What did God promise?  The Righteous Branch in Jeremiah 23 fulfills the promise of 2 Samuel 7.  This Righteous Branch would be the sinless Lamb of God who would save His people from their sins.  (See Matthew 1:21)

At Calvary, this Righteous Branch was "made to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  (2 Corinthians 5:21)  Jehovah-Tsidenu was made to be sin for you, for me, that we by believing in Him might be made righteous.  Hallelujah!

Think about that today.  Really think about it.  Meditate on it.  Ponder it.  This is a profound and basic truth of life.  We are made right with God through the sacrifice paid at Calvary by our Jehovah-Tsidkenu.  Are you right with God today?

"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."  (John 1:12)

"You shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." 
(Matthew 1:21)

"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  (Matthew 5:6 KJV)

A Big Word

I have a big word for you to think about today.  We have previously considered a really big word (mekoddishkem)......remember that one?  This word is not quite that long, but is a "big" word nonetheless.  The word is tsidkenu.  (I'm smiling as I picture the confused look on your face!!  What??!!!!)  If you're trying to pronounce it, the "t" is silent.  That may help.  But what in the world does it mean?  That's what we are going to discover as we consider the name Jehovah-Tsidkenu.  And one of the things we are going to discover is that not only is this a big word in terms of length or difficulty of pronunciation, but it is a BIG word in terms of what it means and how it applies to you and to me.

Let's begin with a very brief history lesson.  Remember all the way back to Genesis.  God made a covenant with Abraham (see Genesis 15).  Then later God remembered that covenant and delivered the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt.  They wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (because of unbelief.....see Hebrews 3:12-19).  Finally, with Joshua as their leader, they entered the Promised Land.  Then, according to Judges 2, "there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD nor the work which He had done for Israel.  Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD."  And so began about 350 years of each man doing what was right in his own sight, until finally Saul was annointed king.  But then Saul "rejected the word of the LORD", so God rejected him as king (see 1 Samuel 15).  Then God gave the people David, a "man after God's own heart", as their king.  After David, Solomon (his son) became king, but "his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God" (1 Kings 11).  After Solomon died, the kingdom was divided.....ten tribes became the nation of Israel, and the two southern tribes became the nation of Judah.  And that brings us (this was a whirlwind trip through time!!) to the prophet Jeremiah's day.  And that's where we want to pause in our journey.

God spoke through Jeremiah to say "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it."   Read Jeremiah 17:9-10 to see the full statement.  But knowing that the "heart is deceitful, desperately sick", did that mean things were hopeless?  It was in the middle of that judgment and failure that God revealed another of His names......Jehovah-Tsidkenu.  And with that revelation came a promise.....the promise of a new covenant.

Read Jeremiah 23:1-6 and then Jeremiah 31:33-34.  Then go to Ezekiel and read chapter 36, verses 26 and 27.  Spend some time thinking about those passages today, the "big" word (tsidkenu) and the BIG truth that the LORD is our Righteousness!  We can be right with God!  We can have right standing with God!  And not because of any sacrifices that we may make, because of any goodness within us or good things that we have done, but because the LORD is our righteousness!  Praise Him!

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I shall raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land.  In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, 'The Lord our righteousness.' "

Some Final Thoughts About Sheep

Webster defines a sheep as "a timid and defenseless creature".   Sheep are unintelligent (dumb!!).  They don't learn from mistakes.  They often repeat mistakes.  They tend to wander and go astray.  They are sometimes unable to find their way home to the sheepfold even when it's within sight.  They are defenseless.....no quills like porcupines or claws like cats or scent like skunks.  They need meticulous care.  They can't take care of themselves.  They need a shepherd.  In fact, they are totally dependent on the shepherd.

Can you relate?  Is there any point in that description where you think.....that describes me perfectly?

Here's the question to ponder today.......what practical difference does it make to you - to me - to be able to say "The LORD is my Shepherd"?

From "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,

Prone to leave the God I love,

Here's my heart. O take and seal it,

Seal it for Thy courts above.



What I Learned Today

I've been giving a lot of thought to sheep over the last couple of days.  I've been realizing just how much like a sheep I really am!  It's no wonder we as humans are compared in Scripture to sheep!  That God gives us this word picture to describe who He is and who we really are.  On the one hand it's hard for me to just admit that I'm that dumb.......but on the other hand, when I'm really honest with myself, I have to admit that I am!  I do really foolish things.  I make mistakes.  I don't always learn from those mistakes.  I need "looking after"!!  What about you?  Are you as thankful as I am to be able to say "the LORD is my Shepherd"?!

Today we're going to look at a number of Scriptures and see what we can learn about our Shepherd and the provision He makes for us.  Remember that yesterday we learned four basic needs of sheep.....to be free from hunger, free from fear, free from friction, free from pests.  Examine each of these passages to see what you can learn and how it applies specifically to you. Which of the four basic fears is the passage referring to? How do you need to reorder your attitudes, your thoughts, your behaviors to line up with what the passage is teaching you?  I have been challenged and blessed by these Scriptures, and I'm praying you will be too!

• 1 Peter 2:2
• Hebrews 5:13-14
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17
• 1 John 4:16-18
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Psalm 56:3-4
• Matthew 5:23-24
• Philippins 2:3-8
• 2 Corinthinas 10:3-5
• Philippians 4:6-9

As we think about what it means for us that the Lord is our Shepherd, think about this.  This is really the bottom line, the end result of knowing Jehovah-Raah........

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  (Psalm 23:6)

Thinking About Sheep

Yesterday we looked at John chapter 10 to see what we could learn about the Shepherd and the sheep.  We learned that the sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd and follow him.  Today we're going to think a little more about sheep, and we're going to do that by focusing our attention today on Psalm 23.  In this Psalm, we'll learn about what Jehovah-Raah (our Shepherd) does for His sheep.

Before we turn to Psalm 23, here's some interesting information about sheep.  In his book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Phillip Keller writes that sheep have four needs that must be met before they can rest:
freedom from hunger, freedom from fear, freedom from friction, and freedom from pests.  Remembering that we are often compared to sheep in Scripture, would you say that those needs are also true for us? 

Read Psalm 23 and think about those four needs.  What does the Shepherd do for the sheep? How are these primary needs of the sheep being met by the Shepherd?  What do you learn from this Psalm about Jehovah-Raah?  How does what you learn apply to your own life?

Think about that today, and tomorrow we'll look at some other Scriptures that show how Jehovah-Raah meets the needs of His sheep.

My Shepherd

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."  That's a familiar portion of Scripture, isn't it?  One you and I have probably quoted countless times.  But have you ever stopped to consider what that really means?  We're studying the names of God, and today we consider this one.....Jehovah-Raah.....the LORD is my Shepherd.  What does that first sentence of Psalm 23 really mean to you and me?  One of the modern paraphrases puts it this way.....Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything that I need.  I love that rendering of the verse.  What comfort that brings!  And note that the promise is everything I need, not everything I want! 

The image of shepherd and sheep is one we find often in Scripture.  And it's not a very flattering one for us, is it?  We as humans are often pictured as sheep (see for example Isaiah 53:6).  I don't really have a lot of firsthand knowledge of sheep......or any other livestock, for that matter.  I've never lived on a farm or a ranch.  I'm not a real outdoorsy girl.  But everything I read tells me that sheep are not very smart.  In fact, I've often heard them described as dumb.  See what I mean about an unflattering description?!  Even so, we would probably all agree (however grudgingly) that it's an accurate one!  How often have you done things, made choices, said things that could only be described as "dumb"?  Or is it just me??!!

The reality is that sheep are not terribly smart.  And since we have been compared in Scripture to sheep, where does that leave us?  Thankful to have a Shepherd!!!  Here's an interesting quote from Kay Arthur in Lord, I Want to Know You:  "Sheep are the dumbest of all animals.  They are helpless, timid, and feeble.  They require constant attention and meticulous care.  Sheep have little means of self-defense.......All the positive maxims in the world can't change the fact that sheep are sheep.  What makes the difference in sheep is the shepherd."

So, if we're like sheep......if we're prone to do dumb things......if we're not perfect.....if we're "helpless, timid and feeble"......how are we going to make it in life? We can make it because the Lord is our Shepherd.  God designed us so that we would see our need of him and that in Him, we would find all that we need.

Let's look closely at a passage of Scripture that will give us greater understanding of this truth.  You're going to get an opportunity today to put into practice some of the study skills you've learned along the way as we have journeyed together.  Turn to John 10:1-17, 26-33.  Read the passage carefully.  As you are reading, look for the following (this is a good time to get our your colored pencils and your notebook!):

• Look for key repeated words and phrases
• Look for any contrasts, comparisons, expressions of time
• Ask yourself the 5Ws/H  (who, what, when, where, why, how)

Make lists of everything you learn about:

• the sheep
• the shepherd
• the thief
• Jesus
• the Father

That's quite an assignment, isn't it?  Study well, and remember that we would love for you to share how God is speaking to you and what He is teaching you through the passage we are studying.  You can leave a comment below.

"We are the sheep of His pasture."  (Psalm 100:3)

"Our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is His name."  (Isaiah 47:4)

Yesterday we began to study this name of God, Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of hosts.  We looked specifically at how this name is used in 1 Samuel.  Today, we are going to look at how it is used by the prophets.  But first, let me share a couple of interesting things I've learned about this name.

The name "LORD of hosts" is not found in the NIV.  The NIV uses the name LORD Almighty instead of LORD of hosts.  This seems a little confusing to me, and perhaps a little inaccurate, to translate Jehovah-Sabaoth the same way as El Shaddai.  Of course, that's just my opinion, and I make no claim to be a Hebrew scholar.  But I just wonder why, when two distinctly different words are used in Hebrew, they are translated as only one name in English by the NIV.  Just something that made me wonder.....

Something else I found interesting is this:  as I mentioned yesterday, the name Jehovah-Sabaoth is used frequently in the prophets (specifically Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi).  But the name is not used by the prophet Ezekiel.  So I wondered about that, and this is what I discovered.  "This name of God belongs to a certain time in the experience of God's people......This is a name for those who find their resources inadequate in the midst of a struggle.  This is the name of God to run to when there is no other help - from our perspective.  This name is not for those who have ceased to fight.  Therefore, you don't find it in Ezekiel.  In Ezekiel's day, God's people were to settle down for seventy years of captivity."  (from "Lord, I Want to Know You" by Kay Arthur).  Hmmmm......that's something to think about, isn't it?  And perhaps an indicator that this is a name for us to cling to, to call on, in the culture in which we live, as we find ourselves in a "struggle" against a worldview, a world system that is turning from God.  As we seek to stand firm in our faith, where do we turn?  To Jehovah-Sabaoth!

It seems that this is a name to remind God's people (including us!  not just those "Bible people"!) exactly who God is!  Think about that today as you examine these Scriptures.  Ask the 5Ws/H (examples:  HOW is the LORD of hosts described?  WHO is the LORD of hosts?  WHAT is He over?  WHO is the host?  HOW are we to live in light of this name?)

I'm going to give you a list of Scriptures to get you started.  If you have time, you might want to use your word study tools to find others:

• Malachi 1:10, 14
• Jeremiah 20:11-13
• Isaiah 44:6
• Zechariah 14:16
• Amos 5:14
• Amos 3:13-14
• Amos 4:13
• Isaiah 9:7
• Zechariah 8:3

Can I just tell you again how excited I am that you are on this journey with me?  I would love to hear from you......an insight you have gained from your study, how learning more about these names of God is making a difference in your life, how you are experiencing the name of the LORD as your strong tower.  Just leave a comment!

"The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold."  (Psalm 46:7)

Where Do You Turn?

In the last couple of posts, we focused our attention on Jehovah-Shalom, the LORD who is our peace.  We looked at a number of Scriptures related to this topic.  We saw the wonderful promise from God in Isaiah, "For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace."  This is Jesus, the One who reconciles us to God the Father, who gives us a peace that cannot be altered by circumstances.

Today we turn our attention to Jehovah-Sabaoth, the LORD of hosts.  This is the name to turn to when you are at the end of your rope, when you need deliverance, when you need strength to stand firm in a culture that is increasingly turning its back on God.  Let's see what we can learn as we get to know our God better by knowing His names.

The name Jehovah-Sabaoth is not used in Scripture until the book of 1 Samuel.  We will find it used much more frequently in the prophets.  For example, it is used 52 times in the fourteen chapters of Zechariah!

Let's begin by looking at some scriptures where this name is used.  Read each of the passages and note what you learn about Jehovah-Sabaoth.  We'll begin in 1 Samuel today.

• 1 Samuel 1:1-11
• 1 Samuel 4:3-4. 10-11
• 1 Samuel 17:42-47

We'll look at some other references tomorrow.  In the meantime, consider this verse as well:  "The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold."

Peace

We read in Judges chapter 6 that "Gideon built an altar there and named it The LORD is peace."  How true that is, as we will see as we examine some additional Scripture passages today.  But first let's review what we have learned so far in our journey together.....

• the name of the Lord is a strong tower.
• the name of the Lord is Elohim - Creator.
• the name of the Lord is El Elyon - God Most High.
• the name of the Lord is El Roi - the God who sees.
• the name of the Lord is El Shaddai - All Sufficient.
• the name of the Lord is Adonai - the Lord.
• the name of the Lord is Jehovah - the Self-Sufficient, Eternal God.
• the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Jireh - the LORD who provides.
• the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Rapha - the LORD who heals.
• the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Nissi - the LORD my banner.
• the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Mekoddishkem - the LORD who sanctifies.

And now we focus our attention on Jehovah-Shalom, the LORD is peace.  Are you in need of His peace today?  I certainly am.  I don't know what the circumstances of your life may be as you read this, but I'm sure we can agree that all of us have "stuff" that we are dealing with and trying to proces that can sometimes rob us of the peace and joy of life.  We live in troubling times.  You - or someone you know - may be dealing with something really heavy, whether cancer or bereavement or job loss or any number of other really difficult things.  I understand.  Even more important, God understands.  Let's see what the Word can teach us about Jehovah-Shalom and about peace.

Here's a list of Scriptures for you to examine.  What do you learn about peace, and about the relationship of peace to God?

• Leviticus 26:2-6
• Numbers 6:22-27
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Isaiah 48:18
• Isaiah 26:3 (read this one in the KJV if you can)
• Psalm 119:165
• Philippians 4:4-9
• Isaiah 9:6
• Romans 5:1

True peace is only found in Jehovah-Shalom.  And that peace is not determined or altered by circumstances.  I pray you are experiencing His peace today, regardless of your circumstances.

"Now the God of peace be with you all."  (Romans 15:33)

Pressing On

We are pressing on today in our study of the names of God.  The next name we are going to study is first used in Judges 6.  Read that chapter to find the name we are studying.

What is the context of Judges?  (see Judges 21:25)
How did this happen?  (see Judges 2:10-12)  Israel forgot God, forsook His ways, and followed other gods.

The immediate context of Judges 6 is that after 40 years of peace, Israel "did evil in the sight of the LORD", and as a consequence, God have them into the hands of Midian.  The result - fear, anxiety, loss of peace.  This brings us to the story of Gideon.  How does Gideon respond?  How would you have responded?  How do you respond when confronted with fearful situations in your own life? 

How can we find peace in a world filled with stress, strife, anxiety?  Think about that, and we'll continue tomorrow.

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth."  (Psalm 124:8)

Applying What We Have Learned

Shortly after Israel was redeemed as a nation, what was God's desire for them?  (Exodus 19:6)

What New Testament parallel do we find?  (1 Peter 2:9)

What is the purpose of our holiness?  Look again at 1 Peter 2:9 - "that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you...."  (emphasis mine).

God's call to holiness is primarily found in the Old Testament in the book of Leviticus.  (See Leviticus 11:44 as an example).

Jesus echoes this call to holiness in Matthew 5:48.  ("perfect" = complete, to reach the goal for which you were created)

What do you think of when you hear the word "holy"?  When someone is described as "holy"?  How does this compare to what the Bible calls holiness?

Let's focus our attention back to our topic.....The name of the LORD is a strong tower.  The name of the LORD is Jehovah-Mekoddishkem.  The name of the LORD is the LORD who sanctifies you.

How is this name a strong tower for you?  Have you tried and failed to live a holy life, to be holy?  Look at the name again....The LORD who sanctifies you.  The liberating truth is that it is God who sanctifies us, who enables us to live a holy life.  (See 1 Peter 1:2-3)

How does this impact my daily life?  Sanctification does not come from keeping the Law.  There is no sanctification without redemption.  God's way is not, once we have been redeemed, to take us out of the world, but to take the world out of us.  Look at 2 Timothy 2:21.  God does the sanctifying......we don't sanctify ourselves by keeping some list of do's and don'ts.  But because I have been redeemed and sanctified, because I have been declared/made holy by God, I now will choose to set myself apart (and even the will to do this comes from His sanctifying Holy Spirit, prompting me to pursue holiness.)

Ponder the words of this old hymn, then ask yourself some questions:  Are there some "lesser things" I should have done with?  Am I pursuing holiness?  Do I need to make some changes in my choices?

Rise up, O men of God!

(Note:  this is for "women of God", too!)

Have done with lesser things.

Give heart and mind and soul and strength

to serve the King of kings.

"A holy life will make the deepest impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns; they just shine."

(D. L. Moody)

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Some Questions to Ponder

The name of the LORD is a strong tower.
The name of the LORD is Jehovah-Mekoddishkem.
The name of the LORD is the LORD who sanctifies you.

Note that last statement.  I think it's a very important one.  WHO does the sanctifying?  WHO sets us apart?  WHO makes us holy?  Is it something WE do?  An emphatic NO is the answer to that question!!!  It is the LORD who sanctifies us!!  It is the LORD who makes us holy!!

What do you think about when you think of the word "holy"?  Is holiness an option? We're going to spend a couple of days pondering those questions.  Here's where we will begin.  Read the following Scriptures and see what you can learn about holiness and sanctification.  Read carefully and prayerfully.  Ask questions of the text (don't forget those 5Ws and the H!).  Make notes of what you learn.

• Exodus 31:14-15
• Hebrews 10:10-14
• John 17:15-19
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
• 1 Thessalonians 5:23
• Ephesians 5:25-27
• 2 Peter 1:4
• Leviticus 20:7-8
• Leviticus 29:26

That's quite a lot of reading and thinking for today.  Study well, and we'll continue tomorrow.

Priorities

"You can study for a lifetime and never mine all the precious gems of truth hidden in God's Word."  (Kay Arthur in Lord, I Want to Know You)

Here's something for you to think about today.  How important is God's Word to you?  Where does it fit in the priorities of your life?  How devoted are you to really learning what it says?  Are you committeed to "living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3)?  Before you rush to give an answer, consider carefully the priorities of your life.  (And please know that before I raise this question with you, I have already spent time considering how to answer it in my own life!)

The next name of God that we are going to spend time with is Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, the LORD Who sanctifies you.  Look at Exodus 19:2-6 and then at Exodus 31:12-18 (where the name actually appears). 
What do you learn from these passages?  What is the purpose of the Sabbath?

Exodus 31:13 says "I am the LORD who sanctifies you."  What does that mean?  The words sanctify, holy, set apart, and saint come from a common Hebrew root qadash.  God made the Israelites holy, set apart, unto Himself.  What does that have to do with us?  We have been redeemed, made righteous, set apart unto God.  The observance of the Sabbath was to remind the Israelites that they were a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession."  How seriously did God take the command to observe the Sabbath?  Read Exodus 31:14-15 again.  Observance of the Sabbath was a perpetual covenant between God and His people, a sign between God and His people (Exodus 31:16).

Think through all we have learned today.  What does this command to the Israelites to observe the Sabbath have to do with us in the twenty-first century, with those of us who live under the New Covenant?  Think about that today.  For us, is it a matter of strict observance of Old Testament Law?  Is it a matter of principle?  Of priorities?  What does this teach us about what God wants our lives to be?

Oswald Chambers wrote (in My Utmost for His Highest) "We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to us to decrease. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God."

So, as we begin to examine the name Jehovah-Mekoddishkem, let's think about that.......that God's ultimate purpose for us is not our happiness but our holiness.  And let's spend some time examining whether or not our choices, our schedule, our priorities reflect our cooperation in that purpose.

Think about it......

Some Things to Think About

"Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt, how he met you along the way and attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear when you were faint and weary; and he did not fear God.  Therefore it shall come about when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your surrounding enemies, in the land which the LORD your God gives you as an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you must not forget."  (Deuteronomy 25:17-19)

Some important words there......"remember" and "you must not forget".  Remember the Scriptures we looked at earlier in the week and what happened when Saul disobeyed God and did not blot out the Amalekites.  Look also at Numbers 14:42-45 and Judges 6.

Compare those passages to Exodus 17:13...."Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people."

Here are some things to think about:

• Why is the outcome in Exodus 17 different from the other examples?
• Look back at Deuteronomy 25:17-19 again.  What was Amalek's strategy?
• From the examples of defeat in Numbers and Judges, when are we most likely to be attacked and defeated by the "Amalekites" in our lives?
• Read the account in Exodus 17 again.  How was the battle won? (look at verses 11 and 12)
• When we are tired from the battle, where do we turn?  (Look at Hebrews 13:5 & 2 Corinthians 4:16-17)
• What lessons do you learn from these Scriptures that you can apply to your own life?

Remember and never forget that the name of the LORD is Jehovah-Nissi, and that the name of the LORD is a strong tower!

"For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."  (Romans 15:4 NASB)

"and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD's and He will give you into our hands."                 (1 Samuel 17:47 NASB)

"Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit', says the LORD of hosts."  (Zechariah 4:6 NASB)

Victory!

By now you may be wondering how all this stuff about Amalek has anything to do with understanding the name Jehovah-Nissi!  Let's think about that today.

We've spent some time examining Amalek as a picture of the flesh, and thinking about the flesh as our constant enemy, one we continually battle.  Think about Saul and what we learned in
1 Samuel.  Saul did not fully obey God and it cost him dearly.   Instead of destroying the king of the Amalekites, Saul took him captive, only to eventually become a captive of the Amalekites himself.  In fact, it was an Amalekite who caused Saul's death (see
2 Samuel 1).  This is a picture of the warfare that we face in our lives as Christians.  There is a constant battle going on between flesh and Spirit.  How do we win the war?  By looking up!  By rallying under the standard, the "banner" of our Jehovah-Nissi!  By keeping our eyes fixed on Him!

We are not alone on the battlefield!  The LORD is our banner!  The flesh is in opposition to the Spirit, but it is the LORD's battle!  Victory depends on His banner being lifted up!  The lesson here for us is this:  Apart from Him, we can do nothing!  (See John 15:5)  When we abide under the power, the standard, the banner of Jehovah-Nissi, we can have victory!  Put on the full armor of God today, dear friend, and face the day under the banner of Jehovah-Nissi. 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen."  (Ephesians 3:20-21)