As the Creator and sustainer of all things, God goes by many names. In the Old Testament, the Hebrews referred to God by various titles that described his actions, as well as his attributes. When I was in Assam last year, I spoke at a gathering about seven of the Jehovah names. They are all a foreshadowing of the office of Jesus Christ, whose death, resurrection and glorification gives us life.
Jehovah-Jireh - The Lord will Provide. He sees, he provides and he will be seen. This was used in Genesis, when Abraham told Isaac that God would provide a sacrifice. We know this to be a foreshadowing of the perfect sacrifice: Jesus. He is our substitute, our sacrifice and our means of salvation.
Jehovah-Rapha - The Lord Who Heals. At the waters of bitterness, God brought sweetness. Not only does God heal us from sickness and disease, but he is the healer of our souls. When we are in trouble he brings joy from sorrow. When Jesus' blood was shed, it was the end of all sickness. His precious blood brings healing to every situation.
Jehovah-Nissi - The Lord our Banner. When Joshua fought the Amelekites, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the battle. As he held his arms up, the Israelites pushed the Amelekites back. When he got tired, Aaron and Hur (meaning liberty), held his arms up throughout the day, so the Israelites would conquer. Jesus is the banner of the church; our leader and our rock of safety.
Jehovah-Shalom - The Lord our Peace. Gidaeon spoke this when God delivered the Israelites from their oppressors of that time, the Midianites. Jesus is referred to as the Prince of Peace. The Cross satisfies God's justice when it comes to our punishment for disobedience, bringing true peace. Only Jesus can produce the peace that passes understanding.
Jehovah-Ra'ah - The Lord my Shepherd. Jesus is the good shepherd who cares for his flock: the catholic church. The shepherd gave his life for his sheep that they may lie down in green pastures - that they may find their eternal rest in glory.
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our Righteousness. Adam was the one that welcomed sin into the world, stripping us of our righteousness in God. Jesus, called the second Adam, came to fulfil God's covenants with us and give us back that righteousness. It is only through the Cross that this can be attained. Jesus' perfect obedience to God throughout his life led to the perfect sacrifice - and our redemption into righteousness.
Charles Hadley Spurgeon said this: "Throughout his earthly life our Savior was spinning the fabric of our royal garment; and in his death he dipped that garment in his blood. In his life he was gathering the precious gold; and in his death he hammered it out to make for us a garment wrought of gold."
Jehovah-Shammah - The Lord is There. He always has been and he always will be there - here, with us. Immanuel, the name Isaiah said was the Christ's, is 'God with us'. Whatever the church experiences, whatever trials we face, God is there - Jesus is present. Our final resting place, the New Jerusalem and the New Earth are Jehovah-Shammah; He is there for us to worship throughout all eternity.
-Timotheos
Honouring God
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