Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is Present

Have You Ever Needed Someone Beside You?

There are moments in life when simply knowing someone is with you changes everything.

A frightened child becomes brave when Dad walks into the room. A difficult doctor’s appointment feels a little less overwhelming when a loved one sits beside you. Even facing a bully seems different when someone stronger is standing at your side.

Life hasn’t changed—but you’re no longer facing it alone.

How much greater is the comfort of knowing that the God who created heaven and earth not only sees us but desires to be with us? His presence brings courage to our fears, wisdom to our decisions, peace to our hearts, and confidence for whatever lies ahead.

I am so thankful that God reveals Himself in Scripture as Jehovah-Shammah—The Lord Is Present. It is a wonderful reminder that God doesn’t simply watch over His children from a distance. He delights in walking with us through every joy, every sorrow, every ordinary day, and every impossible circumstance.

The Most Wonderful Present

Today’s word is Present.

I love this word because I use it in two ways.

God is PRESENT with you.

His Presence is also His present—His gift—to you.

Never, never, NEVER trivialize His Presence.

It is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given His children.

Ezekiel’s Amazing Vision

Ezekiel was both a priest and a prophet who was exiled to Babylon near the Kebar River during the second deportation of Judah under King Nebuchadnezzar, where he served as God’s watchman for Israel.

He had the difficult assignment of warning Judah and Jerusalem of coming judgment (Ezekiel 1–24) and declaring God’s judgment upon the surrounding nations (Ezekiel 25–32).

God showed him heartbreaking visions of the terrible sins being committed inside the temple—and then Ezekiel witnessed something almost unimaginable.

He saw that the glory of the Lord had departed from the temple.

That breaks my heart.

Sin always robs us.

Hope in the Middle of Judgment

Even while announcing judgment, God never stopped speaking hope.

He promised,

Ezekiel 11:19 BSB

“…I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.”

It becomes easy to understand why Ezekiel’s name means “God strengthens.”

Twenty-five years into the exile, God gave Ezekiel an astonishing vision of restoration.

As the book closes, Ezekiel writes these thrilling words:

“…and from that day on the name of the city will be:

THE LORD IS THERE.”

Yahweh (Jehovah) Shammah

Ezekiel 48:35

Every time I read that verse my heart rejoices.

Then Jesus Came

Now let me take you to the Cross.

Ephesians 2:13 BSB

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

And then Paul reminds every believer:

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 BSB

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Oh, praise God!

Through faith in Jesus and His redemption at the Cross, God no longer simply dwells among His people. He dwells within His people.

What a wonderful, wonderful gift He has given us—the gift of His Presence!

You don’t need to beg Him,

you won’t even have to ask Him,

“Oh God, please be with me,” ever again.

He already is.

He is with you.

He loves being with you.

He created you because He delights in being with you.

Imagine that! The God of the Universe says He will never leave you. He keeps that promise.

From Genesis to Revelation we see God’s great desire to dwell with His people.

When Israel traveled through the wilderness, His glorious Presence rested over the Tabernacle in a cloud by day and fire by night. The Tabernacle stood right in the middle of the camp, reminding everyone that God desired to live among His people.

Then Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Through His redemption He made it possible for us to become God’s children so that His Spirit could dwell within us.

Oh, the magnificent gift of His Presence!

When You Don’t Feel His Presence

I know we don’t always feel His Presence.

But your feelings are not the measure of His faithfulness.

God’s Word is Truth.

Jesus promised,

“…surely I am with you always…”

Matthew 28:20

Whether you feel Him or not, He has never left you.

Turn Your Attention Toward Him

Although He is always with us, fellowship is enjoyed as we intentionally turn our attention toward Him.

It is through that daily relationship that we experience the sweetness, guidance, comfort, peace, and power of His manifested Presence.

Because He Is Present…

Because He is present…

• We can be confident.
• We can be victorious.
• We can be joyful.
• We can remain steadfast.

His Presence gives us courage.

His Presence empowers us to do what is right.

His Presence influences every decision we make.

Guard Your Fellowship

Sin dulls our sensitivity to Him.

It robs us of intimacy.

Sin is a thief.

Repent.

Repent.

What a glorious word!

There is wonderful freedom in turning from our way and embracing His.

Turn away from anything that grieves the heart of God.

Run toward the Lover of your soul.

One Day Jehovah-Shammah Will Be Fully Realized

I cannot end without taking you to one more glorious passage.

Ezekiel’s vision reminds me so much of John’s vision in Revelation 21.

Although John doesn’t use the name Jehovah-Shammah, he describes its ultimate fulfillment.

Revelation 21:2–4

2 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man,

and He will dwell with them.

They will be His people,

and God Himself will be with them as their God.

4 ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’

and there will be no more death

or mourning or crying or pain,

for the former things have passed away.”

What a glorious future awaits every believer.

Jehovah-Shammah.

The Lord is Present.

He is with you today.

And one day, every born-again believer will live forever in the fullness of His Presence.

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