The Names of God

Primary Old Testament Names of God (cf. Scofield note at Mal. 3:18)

Why study the names of God? See Ps. 9:10 (“know” - yada (H3045) is used for the most intimate of relationships.

The essence of Christianity is to have a category #1 love relationship with God.

This is only accomplished by knowing about God - what He likes, what He doesn’t like, who He is, what He did & does.

To learn about God, we must begin with the essence of God - this essence is always disclosed in association with the names of God.

1. Elohim (Gen. 1:1) - God’s official title (not a personal name of God)What He is - Emphasizes essence (Trinity). Cf. Gen. 9:12-17.

The first revelation of God (Gen. 1:1). Translated “God.” The meaning is the putter-forth of power; the strong one.

2. Jehovah - God’s personal name. The Redeeming & Covenant God.Who He is - Emphasizes person.

Translated “GOD” & “LORD.” Means “To Be” & “I Am That I Am.” The word is very closely connected with deliverance by

God (Redemption).3. Adonai.

Translated “Lord” or “lord.” Means “Master,” “Sovereign,” or “Owner” (cf. Gen. 18:12;

24:9, 10; I Pet. 3:6). A Hebrew could sell himself to another Hebrew, who

became his master, but not forever (Ex. 21:5, 6). He could become a slave forever by choice. Paul said he was a bond slave of Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:1 - cf.

Jn. 13:13).

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Names of God chronologically

1. Elohim - Gen. 1:1 (cf. II Pet. 1:3, 4).2. Jehovah (with Elohim) - Gen. 2:4.3. Jehovah - Gen. 4:1. (See Scofield note at Ex. 34:6.)4. Shaddai - Job 5:17 (used 31 times in Job) (Job comes between Gen. 11

& 12) - means “All-Sufficient.” (Cf. Heb. 13:5, 6.)5. El Elyon - Gen. 14:18, 19. (See Scofield note.) - In Ps. 91:1, “Most High”

is Elyon and “Almighty” is Shaddai. Christ is our El Elyon - Matt.28:18.6. Adonai (Lord) - Gen. 15:2 cf. Ps. 110:1 with Matt. 22:41-45 (kurios). 7. Adonai Jehovah - “Lord GOD” - Gen. 15:2.8. Angel of The LORD - Gen. 16:7 (see Scofield note at Jud. 2:1). He is the

Eternal Word through whom the invisible God speaks & manifests Himself (Jn. 1:1, 18).

9. El Roi (ro-ee) - “God who sees” - Gen. 16:13.

When God sees, he cares and intervenes. When God “sees,” he shows his concern and extends his protection. The word is used in a multitude of contexts:

1. physical sense perception with the eyes (e.g., Gen 3:6)2. seeing in a vision, receiving a revelation (e.g., Num 24:17)3. becoming mentally aware of, realizing, taking note of (e.g., Gen 16:4–5)4. experiencing an activity or state (e.g., Psa 16:10)5. the act of taking care of, looking after (e.g., Gen 39:23)1

10. El Shaddai - “All Sufficient God” (cf. #4) - Gen. 17:1 (see Scofield note) - the One who is able to overcome every obstacle; equal to every occasion (cf. Phil. 4:19; II Tim. 1:9). The all sufficient provider of nourishment, blessing, etc.

Ps. 46 - “This psalm relates to the time when King Hezekiah of Judah was surrounded by the army of Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Forty-six towns and villages in Judah had been sacked. Over 200,000 residents had been taken captive, along with much spoil. At least 185,000 troops surrounded Jerusalem, and it looked like only a matter of time before the city fell.

But proud Sennacherib did not reckon with the fact that Hezekiah’s God is the living God who will not be mocked. Hezekiah prayed, God spoke, and in one night the angel of the Lord defeated Sennacherib by killing 185,000 of his soldiers (2 Kings 18-19; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah

1 Larsen, K. W. (2016). El Roi. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

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36-37).”2

46:1 - “refuge” - machseh (H4268): refuge, shelter; a rock of refuge. “Refuge in vs. 7 & 11 is misgab (H4869): a secure height, retreat, stronghold; You can depend upon God when everything around you seems to be falling apart!

“Strength” - oz (H5797): strength, might.

“Very” - meod (H3966): muchness, force, abundance; expresses the idea of exceedingly, greatly, very (whether of magnitude or degree).

“Present” - matsa H4672): to attain to, find.

“Help” - ezrah (H5833): help, helper, assistance; support; military assistance.

“Trouble” - tsarah (H6869): adversary; anything which is narrow or confining; to be restricted; to be bound up; to be in a tight place; the strong emotional response that one experiences when pressed externally by enemies or internally by wrong decisions or passions.

God allows us to get into tight places so our faith will grow, and God will be glorified.

46:2 - “Fear” - yare' (H3372): to fear; to be afraid; to dread; the emotion of fear; the intellectual anticipation of evil; terror. Used of fearing God, but not in this context.

46:4 “River” - Hezekiah has built a tunnel through almost 2,000 feet of solid rock that ran from the spring of Gihon to the Pool of Siloam that provided fresh water to them that the Assyrian army knew nothing about.Cf. Jn. 4:14; 7:37-39.

Talk about all roads lead to Jesus, but all roads do not lead to heaven.

Jesus gives us:- The Breath (Spirit) of Life (Jn. 3:8; 20:22);- The Bread of Life (Jn. 6:48);- The Light of Life (Jn. 1:4, 5);- The Water of Life (Jn. 4:14; 7:37-39).

46:10 - “Be still” - raphah (H7503): sink down, relax; let go; to take

2 https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-46-our-sufficient-god

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your hands off of it;.

“Know” - yada (H3045): to know; to know by experience; knowledge gained by the senses; used for the most intimate of relationships (cf. Ps. 9:10).

We need to be dependent on hidden spiritual resources that come from God alone.

11. The Judge - shaphat (H8199): to judge, govern - Gen. 18:25; Is. 33:22; Acts 10:42.

12. El Olam - “Everlasting God” - Gen. 21:33 (see Scofield note) (Ps. 90:2; Is. 40:28) (cf. “Ancient of Days” [Attiq {H6268}: "aged," a part of a name of God & yom {H3118}: day]- Dan. 7:9, 13, 22). “The God of Eternity.” Stresses the unchanging character of God. His mercy (chesed) endures forever (olam) (Ps. 136:1…). Cf. Rom. 16:26.

13. Jehovah Jireh - Gen. 22:14 - “The LORD will provide” (God’s provision) (I Kings 17; Phil. 4:19; II Tim. 1:9; I Thess. 5:24). Jireh is a symbolic name for Mt. Moriah at Jerusalem, where traditionally it is said that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him - See II Chron. 3:1 for the Temple Altar being at Mt. Moriah. The root of Jireh is raah - to see (see El Roi above). God, in His wisdom & sovereignty does not always provide the way that we think that He should! See Ps. 32:8.

14. El-Elohe-Israel - “El is the God of Israel” - Gen. 33:20 (see Scofield note); 32:28 (Josh. 8:30; Jud. 5:3; Is. 17:6; Ps. 59:5; Zeph. 2:9). Cf. Heb. 11.

15. El-Beth-El - “The God of the House of God” - Gen. 35:7 (see Scofield note).

16. I Am That I Am - Ex. 3:14.17. Jehovah Rapha - “The LORD Who Heals” - Ex. 15:26 (cf. Num.

21:5-9 & John 3:14, 15; Ps. 107:20). See Doctrine of Jehovah Rapha.18. Jehoval Nissi - “The LORD My Banner” - God’s leadership - Ex.

17:8-15 cf. 34:6 Scofield note; S.O.S. 2:4; Heb. 12:2. See Doctrine of Jehovah Nissi.

19. Jealous - qanna (H7067) (kan-naw) Ex. 34:14 cf. Ex. 20:5; Deut. 4:24; 5:9; 6:15.

a. Used solely of God, and in the context of idolatry - it shows the parallel between adultery & idolatry. Cf. Josh. 24:19 (qanno [H7072] [kan-no] - only occurs in Josh. 24:19 & Nahum 1:2) (vs. 14-24) & Jud. 2:7-19; II Cor. 11:2.

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b. The meaning of the word relates to jealousy especially in the marriage relationship. Adultery was punishable by death.

c. By marriage two people became “one flesh,” hence adultery was a severing of the body, considered to be a form of murder.

d. In the Old Testament, God is depicted as Israel’s husband, and, as such, is a jealous God.

e. Idolatry is spiritual adultery & merits death.f. God’s jealousy, when offended, results in judgment, but when

stirred by His grace results in eternal love.g. In grace, God has chosen, and is creating a perfect bride for &

through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, we are called the Bride of Christ.

h. God expects man to return His love. Love, however, is not simply an emotion - it is a structured relationship. To love God is to obey Him.

i. So, the word is used to denote a passionate, consuming “zeal” focused on God, resulting in the doing of His will & maintaining His honor in the face of ungodly acts of men & nations.

j. God is jealous for His Holy name (Ez. 39:25).k. An idol is anything that we place before God. An idol can be

money, or a job, a hobby, entertainment, what we read, a possession (such as a car or truck or motorcycle), a friend, our family, etc.

l. How are we doing with idols in our life?! Jms. 4:1-5.

20. The Commander of The LORD’s Army - Josh. 5:15.a. “Commander” - sar (H8269): chieftain, chief, ruler, official,

captain, prince.b. “Army” - tsaba (H6635): hosts, army, war, warfare. Cf. Num.

2:30, 32; 4:3, 23…, 8:24. Cf. I Pet. 2:5, 9.c. We tend to get our focus on the enormity of the tasks facing us

sometimes. d. Or, we may focus on the fact that we have the enemy on the run

(cf. 5:1). When either one happens, something is missing in our perspective or mindset as we focus on what lies ahead of us.

e. He is saying, “I am in charge here!”f. Don’t try to fight your battles on your own (see I Sam. 13:6!)!

They are really His battles! See I Sam. 17:47; Ps. 33:16-22; 44:6-8.

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21. Jehovah Sabaoth - “The LORD of Hosts” - Jehovah of The Armies - I Sam. 1:3 (see Scofield note).

a. Sabaoth comes from tsaba (H6635): hosts, army, war, warfare (see above).

b. Cf. Ps. 24:8-10; 46:7, 11; 68:17; II Kings 6:15-17; Matt. 26:53; Heb. 1:14.

c. Has an emphasis on His Omnipotence and Sovereignty. See the book of Haggai (14 occurances).

22. Wonderful - Jud. 13:18; Is. 9:6.a. In Jud. 13:18, “Wonderful” is pili or pali (pil-ee') (H6383 - TWOT

1768b): wonderful, incomprehensible.b. In Is. 9:6, “Wonderful” is pele (peh'-leh) (H6382 - TWOT 1768a): a

wonder; extraordinary, hard to be understood, unusual (see Ps. 89:5ff., Is. 25:1).

c. The root pl’ refers to things that are unusual, beyond human capabilities. As such it awakens astonishment in man. Used of acts of God, it shows a miracle that is so abnormal as to be unexplainable except as showing God’s care or retribution (cf. Ps. 78:4, 11, 12ff).

d. The function of God’s wonders is ultimately to make mercy available to the recipient, and not just to make a demonstration of power. Cf. Ps. 107:8, 15, 21, 31 - it is associated with chesed, showing that God performs “marvels of loyal love” (also see Ps. 31:21).

e. His birth was wonderful - He had a human mother, but not a human father; He was conceived of the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1: 31, 35).

f. His person was wonderful - He combined Deity & humanity in Himself, & lived among men as the God-Man, the unique person of the universe (I Tim. 3:16).

g. His teaching was wonderful - No scholar, sage, or philosopher ever taught as Jesus did; “No man ever spoke like this man.” (Jn. 7:46; 6:63); after almost 2,000 years, His teachings still influence multitudes.No teacher or philosopher has ever said their words would not pass away, but Jesus did (Matt. 24:35).

h. His character was wonderful - there has never been His like, nor will there ever be - He was never converted, was never penitent (He never had anything to repent of!) (Heb. 7:26).

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i. His works were wonderful - what power He manifested over the forces of nature, over the devil & demons, over disease & death! The world has never seen such a miracle worker (Acts 10:38).

j. His death & resurrection were wonderful - had He remained dead, there would be no redemption; no deliverance (Rom. 10:8, 9).

k. Both stages of His 2nd Advent will be wonderful (I Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 11:15-19; 19:1-21).

l. In Is. 9:6, “Wonderful” goes with “Counselor” (see next entry).23. Counselor - Is. 9:6.

a. Yaats (yaw-ats') (H3289 - TWOT 887): to advise, counsel; careful deliberation; plan.

b. “Counselor” goes with “Wonderful” - “Wonderful Counselor.”c. The child who is to come , on whose shoulders the government

of the world shall rest, is one whose plans, purposes, designs and decrees for His people are marvelous (“wonderful”).

d. Is. 11:2 shows that “counsel” is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Consequently, Jesus Christ is revealed as the counselor par excellance (being the best of a kind; preeminent; beyond comparison).

e. We must avoid walking in the counsel of the ungodly (Ps. 1:1; Deut. 32:28; Josh. 9:14).

f. All God’s counsels are faithfulness & truth (Is. 25:1), and He works all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11; Heb. 6:17).

g. God’s desire is to give us faithful counsel constantly all the days of our life (Ps. 16:7…; 73:24).

h. Because sin & unbelief have warped the mind of man, he is in constant need of guidance & counsel from above (I Kings 3:7-10).

i. Our Wonderful Counselor is able to answer our questions, solve our dilemmas, and relieve us of our perplexity!

j. However, His unerring counsel is one thing; the right use of it by us is an entirely different thing!

k. His counsel to us is imparted in at least 3 different ways:i. By Scripture - in the Word we have the mind of Christ (I

Cor. 2:16) which is our counselor (Ps. 119:24).1. The Word reveals the designs of Satan & the end of

the wicked (II Cor. 2:11; 11:3; Eph. 6:11; II Thess. 2:9, 10; Ps. 9:17).

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2. The Word manifests all the fullness of God’s grace for us (Eph. 1:3-14; II Tim. 3:16, 17).

3. Teaches us how to live & labor (Titus 2:11-14; Prov. 19:21).

4. Provides us with the best example in living (I Pet. 2:21).

ii. By Providence - by keeping our eye on the Father, we will be given counsel in the way that we should go (Ps. 32:8, 9; 143:8; Prov. 16:9; Ps. 107:23-31; Jonah; Ps. 23; I Kings 17; Esther [especially 4:14-16]).

1. A Divine Hand controls & governs everything (Col. 1:16, 17; Ps. 31:15; I Pet. 5:6, 7).

2. A Divine Voice assures the heart that all is well (Prov. 1:20, 21; Heb. 3:7, 8; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22; Acts 10:13-15).

3. A Divine Word is in exercise, providing assurance (Job 36:22; Rom. 8:28; Ps. 29; Mark 4:35-41).

Nowhere is this more evident than in our storms of life.

Nature is a mirror of our souls.

Remember the “Butterfly Effect.” The flapping of a butterfly’s wings in New York can contribute to the making of a tornado in Kansas. Cf. Hosea 8:7.

Our storms of life are made up of many little things - the hurts that we received as a child; being raised by abusive parents; being disappointed by someone we really looked up to; relationships & marriages blown to hell; trying to do the right things, but with the wrong attitude & motivation; walking in ways that go against the pattern & direction for which God created us; and on and on and on…

The older we get, the more these factors build up, until one day they explode upon us.

These storms can cause extreme destruction - both

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to ourselves, and to others. But, storms are about restoring balance.

Emmanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) said, “Before being reduced to order, it is very common for everything to fall into confusion or seeming chaos. This allows things that cling together poorly to separate, and when they have separated, the Lord arranges them in their places."

It is only the voice of God that can still the storms in our life - See Mk. 4:39. He is ALWAYS with us, no matter how harsh the storm.

God’s still, small voice comes to us after the storm passes (cf. I Kings 19:12).

iii. By the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26; 16:13; Rom. 8:14, 16; Is. 58:11; I Jn. 3:19-24).

l. See Col. 2:1-3; Ps. 34:6, 7.24. El Gibbor - “Mighty God” - Is. 9:6.

a. Gibbor (ghib-bore) (H1368): strong, mighty, champion.b. The Hebrew root gabar (H1396 - TWOT 310) is commonly

associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior. Jesus Christ is the true prototype of a mighty man of valor. Hero-God.

c. Gibbor is used in:i. Gen. 6:4 for “mighty” men.ii. Ruth 2:1 for “great” wealth - “wealth” is chayil (H2428):

strength, efficiency, wealth, army.iii. Joshua - translated “warrior” & “mighty” man of valor

throughout.iv. Ps. 103:20 for the strength of angels.v. See also Ps. 24:8; 45:3; Is. 10:21; 42:13; Jer. 20:11; 32:18;

Zeph. 3:17.d. The attributes which a warrior-king might be expected to posses

- wisdom, might, counsel and understanding - are attributed par excellence to God. See Is. 11:2 - “might” is geburah (H1369).

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25. Father of Eternity - ăbî-‘ab - Is. 9:6; Jn. 1:1-5, 12, 14; 3:16; Col. 1:15, 16; Heb. 1:1-3; 5:9 (“author” is aitios - the cause of; the originator of; the source of; the author of; “perfected” is teleioō - to consummate, reaching the end-stage, i.e. working through the entire process (stages) to reach the final phase (conclusion) - where we get the word “telescope”).

a. “Father” - abi’ (TWOT 4a) means originator or source.b. “Eternity” - ab (H5703 - TWOT 1565a) means in perpetuity;

continuing always in the future.26. Prince of Peace - Is. 9:6; Zech. 9:9, 10.

a. “Prince” - sar (H8269) (see above, “The Commander of The Lord’s Army” - Josh. 5:15): chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince. Has a military connotation. Freedom/Peace through military victory.

b. “Peace” - shalom (H7965): completeness, wholeness, soundness, welfare, health, safety, absence of strife, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, unity.

27. Jehovah Shalom - “The LORD Is Peace” - Jud. 6:24 (see Scofield note at Ex. 34:6).

a. “Peace” - shalom (H7965): completeness, wholeness, soundness, welfare, health, safety, absence of strife, peace, quiet, tranquility, contentment, unity.

b. Unless we are at peace with God, we can’t face the enemy with confidence & fight the Lord’s battles (see Jud. 6:23).

c. New Testament “peace” - eirēnē - properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God's gift of wholeness); peace of mind. See Matt. 10:34; Lk. 2:14; Jn. 14:27; 16:33; Acts 10:36; Rom. 8:6; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:3; 6:15; I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 12:14; II Pet. 3:14.

d. This kind of peace has its source in God (Jn. 14:27; 16:33).e. Peace is God’s wonderful gift, received by faith.f. The world bases its peace on its resources - God’s peace

depends on relationships.g. Unsaved people enjoy peace when there is absence of trouble -

Christian’s enjoy peace in spite of trouble.h. Cf. Matt. 11:28-30; Is. 26:3; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:15, 17 (vs. 11-22);

Col. 1:20; 3:15; Phil. 4:7, 9.i. Are you an overcomer, or are you just overcome?!

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28. Jehovah-Raah3 - “The LORD My Shepherd” - Ps. 23:1; 80:1; S.O.S. 2:16; 4:5; 6:2, 3; Is. 40:11.

a. Christ is the Good Shepherd - Jn. 10:11, 14 (vs. 1-18).i. “Good” - kalos (G2570) - beautiful, as an outward sign of

the inward good (agathos), noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so. attractively good; good that inspires (motivates) others to embrace what is lovely (beautiful, praiseworthy); i.e. well done so as to be winsome (appealing).

ii. “Shepherd” - ra’ah (H7462) (raw-aw') - A primitive root; to tend a flock.poimēn (G4166) - a shepherd; hence metaphorically: of the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men; properly, a shepherd ("pastor" in Latin); (figuratively) someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord) - even to the point of death (Is. 53:6).

b. Christ is the Great Shepherd - Heb. 13:20.i. “Great” - megas (G3173) - large, spacious; numerous, of

natural events powerfully affecting the senses, equivalent to violent, mighty, strong; eminent, distinguished; something higher, more exalted, more majestic; exceedingly great in the widest sense.

c. Christ is the Shepherd Overseer - I Pet. 2:25.i. “Overseer” - episkopos (G1985) - derived from G1909 /epí,

"on/fitting contact," which intensifies G4649 /skopós, "look intently," like at an end-marker concluding a race) – properly, an overseer; a man called by God to literally "keep an eye on" His flock (the Church, the body of Christ), i.e. to provide personalized (first hand) care and protection (note the epi, "on"). Though in some contexts G1985 (epískopos) has been regarded traditionally as a position of authority, in reality the focus is upon the responsibility for caring for others.

d. David, who wrote Psalm 23, knew from firsthand experience that the lot in life of the sheep depended on the character of the man who owned it.

e. “The LORD is my shepherd”

3 Excerpts from “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller

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i. Sheep can’t just take care of themselves - they require more care than any other class of livestock.

ii. Sheep have a mob instinct, fears, timidity, stubbornness, stupidity, and perverse habits - just like us! And yet, Christ chose us, lived for us, died for us, was resurrected for us, ascended for us, intervenes for us, and is coming back for us.

iii. Do I really belong to Him?Do I really recognize His right to me?Do I respond to His authority & acknowledge His ownership?Do I find freedom & complete fulfillment in His ownership?Do I sense a purpose & deep contentment because I am under His direction?Do I know rest & peace (along with a sense of exciting

adventure!) because of belonging to Him?f. “I shall not want”

i. The idea is that, because we are not lacking in proper care & management, we are utterly content in His care, and therefore we do not crave or desire anything more, regardless of our circumstances. I am completely satisfied with His management of my life.

ii. This does not mean that we will not go through hard times - it means that we know that He is going to provide everything that we need to handle those circumstances.

iii. It means that we are satisfied in spirit.iv. Psalm 68:19 “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with

benefits…”v. Psalm 121:3 “…He who keeps you will not slumber.”

g. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures”i. It is almost impossible for sheep to lie down & rest unless 4

requirements are met:1. There must be freedom from fear.

a. Sheep are helpless, timid, feeble creatures whose only recourse is to run.

b. The unknown; the unexpected produces panic in our hearts & minds - Only by having an awareness that my Shepherd is close by will give me freedom from fear.

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c. My Shepherd has everything under control! Cf. II Tim. 1:7; Heb. 13:6; & Ps. 4:8.

2. There must be freedom from friction with others of their kind (freedom from tension) (cf. Ez. 34:15, 16, 20-22).

a. We all seem to fight to be the “top sheep!” We butt others out of the way & quarrel & compete to get ahead (cf. James 4:1).

b. As Christian’s, we should be characterized by a serene sense of gentle contentment (I Tim. 6:6; Phil. 4:11; Heb. 13:5).

c. When our eyes are on the Shepherd, they are not focused on those around me - this is the place of peace.

3. There must be freedom from aggravation (freedom from pests & parasites).

a. Sheep can be driven to absolute distraction by flies, ticks, and other critters!

b. A good shepherd will constantly be working to free the sheep of these irritants (using insect repellent; dipping; etc.).

c. All of us have these irritants that are constantly pestering us & bugging us! The Holy Spirit is the anointing oil that brings us relief from these daily irritants.

4. There must be freedom from hunger.a. Many of the great sheep countries of the world

are dry, semi-arid lands.b. Green pastures in these dry areas don’t

happen just by chance - they are the product of diligent, hard, time consuming labor.

c. It requires clearing rough, rocky land - tearing out rocks, roots, & stumps; deep plowing; careful soil preparation; seeding & planting; irrigating; harvesting.

d. This will lead to an abundant life of joy, contentment, & victory for His sheep.

e. Sadly, because of our own perverseness, we often prefer to feed on the barren ground of the world around us.

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h. “He leads me beside the still waters”i. Our bodies are 55% to 60% water.ii. This fluid is used to maintain normal body metabolism - it

determines the vitality, strength, vigor, health, and general well-being of the “sheep.”

iii. Without a continuous supply of fresh water, dehydration sets in.

Signs of mild to moderate dehydration:

Thirst Dry or sticky mouth Not urinating much Darker yellow urine Dry, cool skin Headache Muscle cramps

Signs of severe dehydration:

Not urinating, or very dark yellow or amber-colored urine

Dry, shriveled skin Irritability or confusion Dizziness or light-headedness Rapid heartbeat Rapid breathing Sunken eyes Listlessness Shock (not enough blood flow through the body) Unconsciousness or delirium

iv. Without “water” serious damage to our tissues will be the result - we will become weak & impoverished.

v. Thirsty sheep become restless & wander off in search of water to satisfy their thirst.Augustine wrote, “O God! Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls are restless, searching, ‘til they find their rest in Thee.”

vi. If sheep aren’t led to clear, pure water, they will end up drinking from polluted pockets of water, which will many times have internal parasites that will eventually kill them.

vii. This becomes a frantic search for happiness (Jer. 2:13).

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viii. Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”

ix. John 4:10-14; 7:37-39; Eph. 5:18.x. With the “pastures,” we have the Word of God to feed on.xi. With the “waters,” we have the Holy Spirit leading &

guiding us - controlling us and filling up the deficiencies in our lives.

i. “He restores my soul”i. Even David, beloved of God, was, at times, cast down and

depressed.ii. He knew all about defeat, temptation, and frustration; of

bitterness, feelings of helplessness and no strength within himself (Ps. 42:6, 11).

iii. A sheep that has rolled over onto its back is called a "cast" sheep. It may not be able to get up without assistance. This happens most commonly with short, stocky sheep with full fleeces on flat terrain. Heavily pregnant ewes are most prone. Cast sheep can become distressed and die within a short period of time if they are not rolled back into a normal position. When back on their feet, they may need supported for a few minutes to ensure they are steady.4

iv. A “cast” sheep is a pathetic sight - lying on its back, its feet in the air flailing frantically, struggling to roll over and stand up, but failing miserably.

v. Gases begin to build up, expand, and cut off circulation to the extremities of the body.

vi. If the shepherd doesn’t show up within a fairly short amount of time, the sheep will die (see Matt. 18:12, 13).

vii. Sometimes, predators circling will show the shepherd where the sheep is that is cast down.

viii. Any cast sheep is helpless, close to death, and vulnerable (see Ps. 56:13 & I Cor. 10:12).

ix. Sheep can become “cast” by:1. Looking for a soft spot - the sheep that chooses the

comfortable, soft, rounded hollows in the ground in which to lie down often become “cast.”

a. There is a great danger in the Christian’s life in looking for the easy way; the soft way; the comfortable way in which there is no hardship,

4 http://www.sheep101.info/sheepbasics.html

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no need for endurance, no demand for self-discipline (see Mark 10:17-22).

b. It is when we think that we have it made that we are in mortal danger.

c. This is many times when our Great Shepherd will lead us to pastures that aren’t so comfortable - both for our good, and His good name.

2. It is very dangerous for a sheep to have too much wool - it can easily become “cast,” literally weighed down by its own wool (see Mark 10:23-27).

a. Wool is a symbol of warmth & comfort (Linen is a symbol of righteousness & purity [see Rev. 19:8]; it does not cause the wearer to sweat, so is a symbol of rest).

b. Wool & linen were not to be mixed in a garment (see Lev. 19:19 & Deut. 22:11).

c. Woolen garments were worn as outer garments, so depict the area of my life in which and through which I am continually in contact with the world around me.

d. Here is where I find the clinging things of possessions & worldly ideas that begin to weigh me down; drag me down; hold me down (Heb. 12:1).

e. If I want to go on walking with God, this is an area of my life that He must deal with drastically.

f. Getting sheared is not pleasant for sheep or shearer - the wool is many times filled with manure, mud, burrs, ticks, etc. But what a relief to finally be rid of all that load (see Heb. 12:1ff).

g. He has to take the sharp shears of His Word & apply the cutting edge to all that mess.

3. It is dangerous for the sheep to be too fat - overfat sheep are neither very healthy, or very productive.

a. It is the shepherd’s job to ensure that the sheep are strong, sturdy, & energetic - not fat, flabby, & weak.

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b. In Rev. 3:17 we see those who were fat & prosperous, but were in extreme danger.

c. The same is true in Jesus’ parable of the wealthy farmer in Lk. 12:13-21 (cf. II Cor. 9:6-15).

d. Material success is no measure of spiritual health. We may well need a special “diet” or “discipline” imposed upon us (Heb. 12). This will probably seem quite rough on us at first, but it will work for our good.

e. He will NEVER ask us to face more than we can stand (I Cor. 10:13).

f. What He does ask us to face will strengthen & fortify our faith & confidence in His control.

g. He is the Good & Great Shepherd, AND HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING!

h. God knows what He is doing with me! (See Heb. 13:5, 6.)

j. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”i. Just like sheep, we humans are ridiculously dedicated

creatures of habit.1. We walk the same trail over and over and over again,

until a simple path becomes a deep rut (a deep rut enclosed at both ends is a grave) (or a pit!).

As I get further & further along in this Psalm, I feel like I have jumped into a body of water that I thought was only ankle or knee deep, but it turns out it is thousands of feet deep, and I don’t know how to swim! Kind of like Ez. 47:1-5!

I think that I am learning more from this Psalm than anyone else - more than I ever intended to learn! Things that I didn’t particularly want to learn!

I have always had a problem with knowing the things I study theologically & categorically, but it seems to take years for me to understand them in reality in my own life - Dottie has always tried to tell me that I didn’t know what I was teaching because she could plainly see I didn’t know how to use it in my own life.

The majority of the suffering that I have gone through in life has been mental, and most of it self-induced!

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I am different; I have never really fit in anywhere. I am definitely not a people person. I have found that when I get around people, I can become the life of the party, but that is not where I really want to be, and I will eventually (probably sooner rather than later!) offend someone (or many someone’s) because of a glitch I have in my mind.

I have understood this a lot more since recently watching 2 or 3 shows of a TV series about these 4 geniuses that have formed a team hired by the government, and calling themselves Scorpion. Each one of them has a very specific genius skill set, but don’t relate very well to the people around them - in fact, they seem to torque other people off on a fairly regular basis!

So, they find a lady that relates really well with other people (who just happens to have a genius son who is around 8 years old - who also doesn’t relate well to people), and they bring her onto the team to help them interface with people.

That is very much the story of Dottie & me. In the past I have tested on the genius level (but I have no clue as to what my specific skill set is!) and have always had trouble relating to people on a long-term basis (I’m generally great short-term!). So, Dottie has been my interface with the real world - or, at least she has given it a Herculean effort! It has been a very frustrating job for her, as I usually don’t understand in reality what she is trying to tell me. 20 years later, the light bulb comes on, and I say, “Oh, that is what you have been trying to tell me!”

Oh, and by the way, I don’t even know how to relate well with my own kids. This gives me a constant & consistent heart of grief.

God is very much a God of provision, exactly at the right time and place. God’s provision for right now has been a book by Peter Chin titled, “Blind-Sided By God - Disappointment, Suffering, And The Untamable Goodness of God.” I am only part way through it, but have already gleaned much treasure from it. I won’t footnote quotes from it, but will be using a lot of principles found in his book. You can read the book and find out where I have quoted him! (Johnny got it at Ollie’s in VA.)

Even though I am well aware of the fact that the Word of God says that we will go through suffering in this life, when suffering hits us, whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or whatever, the pain of it makes us instinctively pull away from other people.

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Physical isolation then leads to emotional isolation, even from God. We begin asking, “Why are you allowing this to happen? Where are you God?!” Questions that never have a satisfactory answer, and only deepens the profound isolation that we feel. In the end, we feel physically, emotionally, and utterly alone.

As we try to function from this deep, dark area, we begin to become suspicious of others, even those who deeply love us, and react to them. It is easy to jump to wrong conclusion when you make decisions alone in the dark.

Look at the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) - did he perhaps see his father as an angry man? A man who would not be generous or forgiving? That the best he can hope for is that his father would only allow him to stay as a servant?

The reality is exactly the opposite - the father is not angry, but has been constantly scanning the horizon in the hope that his son might return.

Isn’t this the way we think when we are in the pits of despair? Surely I must have done something to deserve this suffering. I am unworthy. I can never be accepted by the Father.

But in God’s sight we are not the failures that we think we are, but are beloved children, and WE ALWAYS WILL BE!

Lesson learned: You cannot see clearly from the bottom of a pit! This is why the prodigal misjudged his father so deeply.

When we are in a pigsty, alone, suffering, it is so easy to make deeply inaccurate assumptions about our own situation, AS WELL AS THE SITUATIONS AND MOTIVATIONS OF OTHERS.

We become convinced that no one has ever had to go through what we are going through; no one has ever had it as bad as we do; no one cares.

Alone, alone, alone!

Here is a truth about suffering - hardship & pain are not designed to make us more alone in life, but less alone.

See I Pet. 4:12.

Look at the camaraderie a group of warriors has - that camaraderie is based on the pain that they have shared on the battlefield. It has formed them into

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a Band of Brothers. It is a bond that many times is stronger than blood, marriage, or common interests. Or, at least as strong, just of a different character.

The strongest relationships humans can have with one another are forged through suffering. See Heb. 5:8; 2:9-18.

Another quote from Chin’s book hit home - “I have this terrible habit where in the moments I know I am most wrong, I act instead as if I am most right. I have come to realize that moral outrage has little, if anything, to do with actual morality.

We have all developed a belief system based on the things that have slowly seeped into our minds throughout all our stages of growth through our parent’s beliefs, countless books, movies, TV shows, where the good guy always gets the girl, and the bad guy gets exactly what he deserves!

But, just how true are these parabelief systems that we have developed in our minds?

Suffering has a way of separating what we say we believe from what we truly do believe - and the gap between the 2 can be of epic proportions!

Suffering shakes us with such brute force that our true thoughts & true beliefs are laid bare - anything we are just paying lip service to gets trashed, unable to hold fast in the midst of such turmoil.

This is when we feel emotionally betrayed by God.

But, when we see the truth, we realize that God has never promised us health & wealth - He has tried to prepare us for suffering through His Word, WE JUST WEREN’T PAYING ATTENTION!

See Is. 43:1-3.

Now, we come to the crux of the matter - I must realize that I am not the Holy Spirit, nor will I ever be the Holy Spirit.

But, understand my background. I was raised in the 1940’s & 50’s in what was mostly a secular family. Very much a Leave It To Beaver family

Even though we did not go to church, we were raised to follow certain standards. One of them was that you might cuss like a sailor, but there were certain words that you never said in front of woman and children. The

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problem with this was that if you did cuss like a sailor there would be times that you, without thinking, would break this rule! I know that I did cuss like a sailor (after all, I was one!) (I had an extremely filthy mouth - worse than a lot of other sailors - a fact of which I am not proud), and I did break this rule more than once, under extremely embarrassing circumstances.

Another standard that we had was that ladies were something to be really cherished (held up high) and protected (especially against people who broke standard number one!). Many fights have started as the result of a guy trying to protect the honor of the lady that he was with!

All that being said, I want you to know that I am not interested in creating a group of legalists (Whoa! This is one of the areas that my 2 belief systems come into conflict!).

Rooty, toot, toot; we’re the boys from the institute…

I am not the Holy Spirit (as much as I subconsciously might think I want the job!), and never will be.

If you have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you have the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

Understand that what I am about to say is from my background and the things that I have learned over the last 75 years. Any of the applications I make may not be your applications. I only ask that you consider them carefully and ask the Lord to give you discernment as to whether or not there is any value in them. Your background and circumstances may lead you to a totally different conclusion.

Remember that God does not want us judging one another (Rom. 14:1-12).

And, above all, remember that the Bible teaches us the necessity of brokenness (Job 17:1; 30:24; 31:38-40; Ps. 34:18; 51:8, 10, 17; 69:20; 147:3; Is. 57:15; 61:1; 66:2; Jer. 23:9; Ez. 21:6, 7).

What is it that needs to be broken? Pride, self-will, stubbornness, sinful habits, and rebellion. All things that we cling to as, “my precious!”

If you truly want (theory or reality?) to serve God, you will be broken by God. His great joy is in making broken vessels whole again. See Heb. 13:20-22.

And, the direction that God is dealing with me might be totally opposite from the direction that He is dealing with you (I may be struggling to give up a

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standard that can’t be supported from Scripture; you may be struggling with embracing a standard that can be supported from Scripture).

Henry Ford once said, “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”

Flying into the wind helps you to gain altitude - attitude determines altitude!

Your view of today will depend on whether you are viewing it from the lens of the past, or the lens of the future.

If you view today with the lens of the past, it will definitely color your view of the future.

Above all, remember that God does not desire to do us harm.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

So, fasten your seat belts and hang on tight - here we go!

2. We graze the same pastureland until it becomes a barren waste loaded with disease and parasites (and we don’t even notice it happening - just like turning the heat up slowly on a frog in a pan of water) (example: the violence, language, & sex in the movies and TV we watch or the books we read).

a. This has long been a burden of mine - what I see the young people of today, even in the church, putting into their minds via TV, movies, & books.

b. The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is a lie of the devil! Words can be very damaging; they can even destroy. Words very much have meaning.

c. And, it isn’t only the young men this is happening with, but with the young ladies also.

d. Have you noticed how the young ladies of today no longer have the deep respect that young men used to have for them?

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You can’t get rid of the thingsthat you put in your mind.

Check out the reviews,then ask WWJD?

But everyone says, “Oh,they are only words!”

They are being defeminized.

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e. It is because they have become “just one of the guys,” not someone to be shielded & protected by the knights in their life.

Warning:

Parents, you train children in their younger years in the way that they should go (Prov. 22:6); you teach them standards. When they become young men & young women, you can only pray that you have trained them well - YOU ARE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT! However, you are responsible to maintain certain standards within your home, but do not become legalists.

Young adults - you are going through very trying times in trying to discover yourself & who you really are. In addition to raging hormones and emotions that you don’t understand, you are under a lot of peer pressure to conform to a certain way of thinking. If you want true joy in life, then determine right now that you desire to follow your Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ (WWJD?) NO MATTER WHAT. And, realize that us old people used to be your age, and have learned a thing or two as we have journeyed through these many years of life! Most of us are more than happy to sit down and talk with you to help you along on this hazardous journey called life!

3. GIGO (garbage in, garbage out).4. Outward ruts come from inward ruts. How about the

rut of no self confidence because of what has happened in our past? Or, the rut of rebellion because of unfair treatment from our parents? Or the rut of worry? Or the rut of …?

a. We develop survival skills which may be necessary for a time, but which eventually become sin.

b. Not doing what God wants us to do is sin, and sin takes away confidence.

c. We make decisions based on what we think other people are going to think of us instead of making decisions based on what we know God wants us to do.

d. We then begin to fear not measuring up - we begin to worry (lack of trust), play the blame game, get angry, fear losing control.

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Yes, I am a romanticist!

We are supposed to be different from the world. The world should see that our standards are not like their standards.

Don’t force guidance on them. Unasked for advice is usually construed as criticism!

You are our upcoming leaders!

Or, bitterness, resentment, controlling…

The rut gets deeper each time we bring it up.

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5. All this comes about because we don’t constantly trust in the Lord. We haven’t surrendered all to the Lord. Unbelief is sin! (Heb. 3 & 4.) (Prov. 3:5, 6; Ps. 37:3-8; 62:5-8).

6. Read Gen. 6:12**; Ps. 14:2, 3*; 53:2, 3*; II Cor. 11:3***; Gal. 6:7-9****; Eph. 4:22***-24, 29******; II Tim. 3:8*****; II Pet. 1:4****; Job 15:15, 16*.

a. *Alach (H444): to be corrupt (morally); to become filthy.

i. Your morality will determine your doctrine.

b. **Shachath (H7843): perhaps to go to ruin; to be marred or spoiled; to be perverted.

c. ***Phtheiró (G5351): to destroy, corrupt, spoil; to cause or experience moral deterioration.

d. ****phthora (G5356): destruction, corruption.e. *****kataphtheiró (G2704): to destroy entirely;

(from G2596 /katá, "down, according to," intensifying G5351 /phtheírō, "corrupt") – properly, corrupted all the way down (thoroughly degenerated); utterly corrupted.

f. ******sapros (G4550): rotten, worthless, useless, corrupt, depraved, putrid.

7. We need to be “kept on the move” - our Shepherd knows what is good, and what is bad for us in our “pasturelands.” He knows exactly the right ones to lead us too.

8. But, we sheep are very stiff-necked & stubborn - we want our own way (Is. 53:6). And, we want our own way so much, that we make a deliberate choice over and over again, even when we know it will lead us to pain and destruction.

a. Einstein said (widely credited, but not documented), “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results!”

b. Our pride & self-righteousness is really destructive self-determination.

c. We cling to the same habits that we have seen ruin other lives - just in different forms - for

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example, the son of an alcoholic may become a work-alcoholic.

d. See Prov. 14:12 & 16:25.e. However, our Shepherd desires to lead us in

the ways of abundance (Jn. 14:6 & 10:10).f. Mark 8:34 gives us the choice we must make

daily, but is certainly is not the way we want to choose!

ii. Heavy stuff, this being led in paths of righteousness - and we haven’t even really looked close at what righteousness means!

1. We have a choice available to develop a pure heart before Him.

2. Ps. 51:10; Prov. 4:23; 16:25; 30:12; Matt. 5:8; Rom. 12:2; 13:14; II Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:29; Phil. 2:5; Col. 3:5; Titus 2:12, 13; Jms. 4:7, 8; I Pet. 1:14-16; I Jn. 1:5; 3:3.

k. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”i. For our Lord Jesus Christ, it was no shadow of death that

He battled against - it was the valley of death itself (Heb. 2:14).

ii. His battle is detailed for us in Ps. 22 -1. “Groaning” (vs. 1) - a roar like a lion; a human cry of

distress or anguish as Divine wrath was being poured out upon Him.

2. “Daytime” (vs. 2) - the 1st 3 hours on the cross.3. “Night seasons (vs. 2) - the 2nd 3 hours on the cross.4. “Worm” (vs. 6) - this is the coccus ilicis worm from

which the crimson dye from the crushing of the worm was used to dye the crimson drapes in the Tabernacle.

a. He became “red like crimson” so that we could be made “white as wool” (Is. 1:18; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 2:9).

5. “Shoot out the lip” (vs. 7) - shows bitter animosity, aggravated assault, & emphatic denunciation.

6. “Shake the head” (vs. 7) - shows their uncontrolled anger.

iii. HE IS RISEN!

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iv. For us, death is but a shadow (II Tim. 1:10; I Cor. 15:54, 55).

1. “Shadow” - tsalmaveth (H6757): death-like shadow; deep shadow; black gloom; deep darkness.

v. He is with us ALWAYS! (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5).vi. No matter what the predators & storms of life bring:

Disappointments, discouragements, frustrations, dilemmas, dark, difficult days - They can all be the road to higher ground in our walk with God.

vii. As C.S. Lewis said in his story, The Horse & His Boy, “Onward & Upward!”

viii. LORD, this really seems rough –1. But I KNOW that in the end it will prove to be the

easiest & most gentle way to get me moving to higher ground!

2. This can turn our panic, our fear, our misgivings into a quiet confidence in His care for us.

3. Rom. 8:28 is still true for us!ix. It is in the valleys that the streams give their refreshing

coolness.1. It is the valleys of life that God Himself gives us

refreshment from His cooling waters.2. It is a refreshment & peace that passes all

understanding.3. Only then can the refreshing, cool waters of blessing

flow out from us to other’s through the valleys that have been carved & cut into our own lives through agonizing, intensely painful experiences. (II Cor. 1:3, 4)

l. “I will fear no evil”i. “Fear” - Josh. 8:1; 10:25; Ps. 27:1, 3; II Tim. 1:7.ii. “Evil” - ra' (H7451): adversity; bad; evil; misery; distress.

m. “For You are with me”i. Ps. 138:7; Is. 43:2.ii. That is why we can have dying grace - Job 5:17-27.

n. “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”i. A rod was for defense & a staff was for direction.

1. The rod conveys the concept of authority, power, discipline, & defense against danger (the old western six-shooter was called a rod!).

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2. The staff speaks of all that is longsuffering & kind - it is a symbol of the concern & compassion the Shepherd has for His charges.

3. The Word of God is the “rod” (II Tim. 3:16, 17).4. The Holy Spirit is the “staff” (Jn. 14:16; 16:13).

o. “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies”i. The Spanish word for table is “mesa.” ii. Mesas are a favorite place for shepherds to take their

sheep for grazing. iii. But, even mountain tops can have many hidden dangers.iv. The shepherd has to go ahead & prepare the mesas to

remove any poisonous plants that might kill the sheep. v. And storms - there will always be storms in this life.vi. Our “Promised Land,” along with all its mountaintops, will

also have “giants” for us to battle for the rest of our lives. vii. Cf. Josh. 14:6-15.

p. “You anoint my head with oil”i. Sometimes, it is the small irritants (the “mosquitoes,”

“gnats,” “flies,” etc.) of life that drive us up the wall and torment us to distraction - and not only us, but everyone around us!

ii. A good shepherd will make up an ointment made up of things such as linseed oil, sulphur, and tar to anoint the sheep’s head with (in Bible times it was olive oil mixed with sulphur and spices).

iii. The application of this ointment must be continuous.iv. This speaks of the continuous need for us to be under the

controlling ministry of the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit can build the attitudes of Christ into our lives (see Rom. 8:1, 2).

v. “Scab” is another problem - it is an irritating & highly contagious disease common among sheep.

vi. It spreads by sheep rubbing their heads together - sheep love to rub heads in an affectionate & friendly manner.

vii. Most of the contamination that we suffer as Christians comes through our minds.

viii. Our minds become molded & infected through peers, television, radio, movies, books, newspapers, and advertising (cf. Rom. 12:2).

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ix. The thought patterns of people today have become increasingly abhorrent. The tendency is more & more toward violence, hatred, prejudice, greed, cynicism, & disrespect for that which is noble, fine, pure, & beautiful (see Phil. 4:8).

x. The only cure is the anointing of the head with oil.q. “My cup runs over”r. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my

life”God’s sheepdogs!

i. “Surely” - Hebrew ak (H389) adds emphatic emphasis to what follows. Denotes an absolute certainty.

ii. “Goodness” - towb (H2896) - part of the Loyalty Hexagon.1. Deals with things of great beauty; pleasant;

agreeable; good; noble; happiness; moral goodness.iii. “Mercy” - chesed (H2617) - the center of the Loyalty

Hexagon.1. Primary focus is God’s loyal love, or His covenant

loyalty.2. Deals with fidelity to covenantal obligations - what

God has promised, He WILL DO!3. It is faithful loyal love in action.

iv. “Follow” - radaph (raw-daf) (H7291) - to pursue; chase. “The Hound of Heaven” by Francis Thompson.

v. Are goodness & mercy truly a part of my life? I must ask myself what I am radiating to others that I come in contact with:

1. Do I leave behind peace in other’s lives - or turmoil?2. Do I leave behind forgiveness - or bitterness?3. Do I leave behind contentment - or conflict?4. Do I leave behind joy - or frustration?5. Do I leave behind love - or animosity?6. Do I see sinners with the compassion of Christ - or

with the critical eye of censure?7. Am I willing to overlook faults and weaknesses in

others and extend forgiveness as God has forgiven me my failings?

vi. The only real, practical measure of my appreciation for the goodness and mercy of God to me is the extent to which I

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am, in turn, prepared to show goodness and mercy to others.

s. “And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”Cf. Ps. 27

t. Christ has undershepherds - Eph. 4:11; I Pet. 5:1-4.29. Elohim Tsur - “God Our Rock” - Ps. 78:35; 18:31; Ex. 17:6; I Cor.

10:4. Cf. I Sam. 7:12 - “The Stone of Help.”30. Jehovah Tsidkenu - “The LORD Our Righteousness” - Jer. 23:6;

33:16 (cf. Rev. 21:2); Ps. 97:2; Is. 64:6; Rom. 4; 8:15-21; I Cor. 1:30; II Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:6, 9; II Tim. 4:8 (cf. Gal. 5:5); II Pet. 1:1; I Jn. 2:1

a. God the Father is not our righteousness - He demands +R in order to be satisfied (propitiated) (Ps. 11:7; Is. 53:11).

b. God the Holy Spirit is not our righteousness - He is the revealer of +R (John 16:8).

c. The context in Jer. 23 talks of a Branch of Righteousness in vs. 5.d. Judah was quickly heading to its fall & the Babylonian captivity.e. This judgment on the people would not defeat God’s purpose &

promise to establish One out of Judah to sit on David’s throne forever (I Kings 2:4).

31. Jehovah M’Kaddesh - “The LORD Who Sanctifies” - Ex. 31:13 (cf. 19:5, 6 & I Pet. 2:9); Lev. 20:7, 8.

a. We are sanctified by God the Father - Jude 1; John 17:17 - through His love & mercy He separates the believer for Himself.

b. We are sanctified by God the Son - I Cor. 1:30, 31 & 1:2 - here we have the position of the believer.

c. We are sanctified by God the Spirit - Rom. 15:16 - deals with power & progress.

d. We are sanctified by the Blood - Heb. 13:12; 10:10, 14 - because of all Christ endured on our behalf, we must be not only separated from sin, but to God.

e. We are sanctified by the Truth - Jn. 17:17, 19; 15:3 - cf. Ps. 119:9; I Tim. 4:5.

f. We are sanctified by Faith - Acts 26:18 - faith is the channel through which all divine blessings become ours.

g. We are sanctified by Prayer - I Tim. 4:5 - prayer represents consciousness of need & divine ability to meet that need. “Ask & you shall receive.” (Matt. 7:7, 8)

32. Jehovah-Shammah - “The LORD Is There” - God’s abiding presence with His people - Ez. 48:35 cf. Rev. 21:22 & 22:3; Matt. 28:20.

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See Ps. 139 (we can never journey to a place where He cannot reach - Is. 43:2; Ps. 46; Heb. 13:5).

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