September 6
Ezekiel 47:1-48:35, 29:17-30:19; 2 Kings 25:27-30; Jeremiah 52:31-34
If we are honest, the final chapters of Ezekiel make for some very tedious reading. It speaks of the future temple and the future city of Jerusalem. But don't miss the last verse in this book, Ezekiel 48:35 reads, "All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE." The LORD IS THERE, also reads Jehovah Shammah. This is one of the seven compound names of Jehovah in the Old Testament, along with Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide (Genesis 22:13-14), Jehovah Rapha - The Lord who heals (Exodus 15:26), Jehovah Shalom - The Lord our peace (Judges 6:24), Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness ((Jeremiah 23:6), Jehovah Nissi - The Lord our banner (Exodus 17:8-15), and Jehovah Ra'ah - The Lord our shepherd (Psalm 23:1). How often we seek out others to offer imperfectly that which God offers perfectly. We seek out education and jobs to place our hope on provisions rather than Jehovah Jireh; physicians for healing who are merely vessels, rather than Jehovah Rapha; vacations, for some substances, etc. for peace when it can only be found in Jehovah Shalom. G. Campbell Morgan states so beautifully concerning Jehovah Shammah, "The name tells of complete satisfaction; that of God, and that of man. God is at rest among His people, His original purpose realized. Man is at rest in God, his true destiny reached." This future city is glorious and perfect because God will literally be there.
But before this time, we, His vessels must move forward. Once we have the Holy Spirit in us, we don't really belong here, but until God chooses to take us where we belong, we move forward intentionally not haphazardly. We read of this in 1 Peter 2:11-12, "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." As His sojourners we must steady our minds daily. Further, we have been brought from darkness to light for a reason, as we read in 2:9-10, "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
It is not about us. It is about Him, and as His vessels it also becomes about others. It's not about our rights, unless of course they infringe upon our ability to move forward as God would have us move for Him and His kingdom. If we have repented of our sins and accepted Jesus' payment for our sins, then we are His priests and thus sojourners. We need to move with intention daily, remembering God's names, for He alone gives us peace, meaning, healing, and purpose. Thank you, Jesus, for giving us that which we don't deserve, grace, and not giving us that which we do deserve, mercy.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: