Jehovah Samma (Ezekiel 48: 30~35)

Jehovah Samma (Ezekiel 48: 30~35)

 

³⁰  “These are the exits of the city. on the north side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits ³¹ (the gates of the city shall be named after the tribes of Israel), the three gates northward: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi; ³² on the east side, four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan; ³³ on the south side, measuring four thousand five hundred cubits, three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun; ³⁴ on the west side, four thousand five hundred cubits with their three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. ³⁵ All the way around shall be eighteen thousand cubits; and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.”

 

Intro)

In today’s verse of book of Ezekiel is the longest last piece of end part. In chapter 40-49 talks about size of Millennium kingdom in end of days in future, and how to offer and rules about it for different solar term. At the very end, it describes about people of Israel’s new land and division, and Jehovah Samma. God will be in Israel’s Sanctuary. At this point today’s church received salvation by Jesus Christ’s blood, but why the legal sacrifice and sanctuary has to come back?

 

 

2. This part seems hard to understand, and easy to lose interest to read furthermore, but if we see 3 points this will help you understand better.

1) First, many theologians conclude this does not mean salvation Jesus gave us is nothing, but bringing legal sacrifice and sanctuary is just to memorial purpose. This is like how we are still doing modification of Eucharist in church.

2) Secondly, we need to check that sanctuary is not built from human, but God made it for us. When God showed about sanctuary in prophecy he didn’t tell us how to make it, but in book of Ezekiel he told us to look.

This means temple that is not built by human being.

 3) In Israel, there were 3 sanctuaries in history. 3 sanctuaries are Solomon temple, Zerubbabel Temple, and Herod Temple. Israel says they are planning to build third sanctuary, then what Herod temple is it for the? They do not see Herod temple as new temple, but sees as expansion of some sort. Therefore, only first two temples have historical meanings. They have been in difficult situation to build a temple due to wars, but in situation where Arab’s power is in unbalance there might be a chance to build it. (Now let’s talk about meaning of last verse about Jehovah Samma will be there in Sanctuary.)

Body)

 

1. Meaning of Jehovah Samma

1. Knowing God’s name is important in Christian’s life. If you understand the meaning of name and it will help to create stronger and accurate faith. In bible God is known as many names it is because one name cannot describe God as whole.

Jehovah Samma means Jehovah is there, but this can bring misunderstanding of God’s being only there, but it does not mean he will be only there to keep the place. Like how president of United States has White house, but does not stay there at all time.

 

2. In Psalm 139: Author recorded story how he failed to look at the God. There is no place God cannot be there, but if it is special occasion God will be there.

 

3. In Genesis 39:3 says ‘And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.’ And also in 23 says ‘²³ The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,^[a] because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.’ Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, David, Moses, and Daniel were there, and it went well.

 

 

B. Grace of Jehovah Samma

 

1. If God is being with you, and then you can get salvation.

In Exodus chapter 3 there was Israel slave was prayed to God due to suffering, Then God went to Moses and told him that God himself will go down to where people of Israel are at. What is that mean? That means God will be with them as special occasion, and then he saved people of Israel.

 

2. David said although he passes through deep valley of death he won’t be afraid of harm may occur. In Psalm 23, this is because God is with him. David believed that God will help him even in deep valley of death.

 

3. What is nickname of Jesus who came to save human being? It’s Immanuel. Meaning of Immanuel is God is with us. God who is there anywhere came down for sinner is key point of gospel.

4. If God is with us we know how we supposed to live our lives.

Sometimes our lives is like dark path where we do not know where to go, but If God is there with us it is like a light who shines path way. Therefore, David once said God is my stick and lamp, and praised him with his life.

 

 

5. If God is with us we victor.
In book of Isaiah 41:10-13 it says ‘Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ “Behold, all those who were incensed against you
Shall be ashamed and disgraced;
They shall be as nothing,
And those who strive with you shall perish.
¹² You shall seek them and not find them—
Those who contended with you.
Those who war against you
Shall be as nothing,
As a nonexistent thing.

 

C) Then when & How God will be with us?

1. You need to accept his word.

God shares special relationships with people and he wants to maintain it. However, he does not desire to do it forcefully. He wants us to knock his door and open the door of our hearts. In John 1:12 says but as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:’

God is who will treat human personally. If God knocks our hearts let’s open it widely for him.

 

2. This mechanism works as God’s work. If God give us mission we need to do so, then God will be us, but if not we won’t have him with us. Who comply with his order will earn glory, but who does not earn nothing.

 

3. In book of 1 kings chapter 17 there is a story about how Sirbat the widow blessed. There was drought, so they didn’t have meal to give out, but one day God told her to give out last flour and oil to God’s servant Elijah the prophet. Seems like too much to ask, but Sirbat the widow followed his order and gave her last flour and oil to serve God’s servant. As reward God gave rain, and their land never dried.

 

4. You need to pray to earn God’s Grace.
In Exodus 3:7-8says ‘⁷ And the Lord said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. ⁸ So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites.’  God was there with people of Israel, because they prayed with such of effort.

In book of act chapter 2 God’s holy spirit comes in and be with people who were chosen, but before that faithful people gathered in Mark's attic and prayed with their maximum effort. When you pray with maximum effort and Holy Spirit will be with us then there will be God with us.

 

In Zechariah 4:6, 7 says ‘⁶ So he answered and said to me:

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
⁷ ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”

The problem is, are we capable of keeping presence of Holy Spirit?

 

We can see it in Peter. Before he receives Holy Spirit and after. Peter used to reject Jesus and cursed him, but after he was no longer afraid of death, and became man of faith who spread God’s gospel.

Samson had incredible strength, but after Holy Spirit left due to disobeying God’s word, he lost his eyes by enemies and became miserable.

 

We need to keep ourselves with the clarity to experience grace of God’s presence in future.


5. Lastly, when we find where God is there, God will be with us.

 In Old Testament ear God promised that he will be with them in sanctuary, therefore people of Israel goes Jerusalem temple on solar term.

6. Nowadays God is with us within community of church. In Matthew 18:20 says ‘²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

 

Of course, this does not mean the building, but place where men of faith gathered.

 

We gather in same place and same time in name of Jesus.

Therefore, this meeting is church. God said he look for people who praise him. If we are neglect on praising God and church service, we cannot earn God’s grace. Saint Paul recommended us to work harder when world is towards to the end of the world. So we need to praise the Lord for special grace.  

 

 

Con)

 

 Let us keep these words in our hearts to become men of faith, and earn grace of Jehovah Samma.

 

031917 Ik sun Ahn