Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There I.

Ezekiel 48:30-35 …and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there (Jehovah-Shammah). A. This speaks of the presence of the Lord as He dwells among His people. B. There is no greater thing than to have the presence of God. 1. Psalm 16:11 …in thy presence is fulness of joy; … 2. For New Testament believers, God not only is with us, but in us. a. Colossians 1:27…Christ in you, the hope of glory: b. II Corinthians 6:16 … for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. c. I Corinthians 6:19-20 …know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 3. He is a holy God and will not dwell with sin. a. Psalm 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

II. A little history: A. The divided kingdom: Northern Kingdom (referred to as Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah) after Solomon’s reign. B. Israel is captured by Assyrian empire (over 700 years BC) 1. Isaiah begins to prophecy Babylon captivity if no repentance (before Babylon is a world power) C. Babylonian captivity begins in 605 BC D. Ezekiel carried away in 597 BC: From Babylon he foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. III. The Lord’s reluctant departure from the temple; Jerusalem and Israel abandoning it to destruction A. He moves from the Holy place to the threshold (of the inner court). (Ezekiel 9:3 and 10:3) B. He then stands over the threshold to the outer court (Ezekiel 10:4). (He is departing reluctantly.) C. He then moves to the eastern gate of the outer court of the temple (Ezekiel 10:18-19). D. Finally He departs from Jerusalem (Ezekiel 11:23). E. He stands to pause at the Mount of Olives on His way out (indicating His reluctance to depart). (Ezekiel 11:23) 1. God’s departure (as always) was an absolute tragedy. a. Genesis 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive (contend) with man… IV. Even in His departure, He made them some promises: A. He would be with those who served Him while in Babylon. Ezekiel 11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. B. He would bring them back to their homeland. (Ezekiel 39:25-29) C. He would return to Israel. (Ezekiel 48:35 and Zechariah 2:10-13) 1. This return was fulfilled in part in Christ's first advent (coming). a. Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

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Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There 2. The complete fulfillment will be in Christ's second coming. V. History repeats itself: In Bible prophecy what happens in the Old Testament is often a picture of what will happen in the New Testament. (See a more complete listing in the History Repeats Itself section at the end.) A. In His first advent the same pattern as in Ezekiel unfolded again 1. He rides into Jerusalem (The triumphal entry Luke 19:28-40) 2. He’s rejected by His people John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 3. He reluctantly departs

Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it

4. He renounces Jerusalem

Luke 19:43-44

Luke 19:43-44 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 5. He resolves to come again John 14:3 …if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 6. (in the mean time) He resides in the hearts of His people (i.e. those who choose to serve Him) a. We are exiles in this world like they were in Babylon. b. This is the part that pertains to us right now. VI. Christ wants to dwell in you A. John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. B. He will not come uninvited or unwelcome 1. John 1:11-12 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 2. Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. C. Old pop song: Let Me Be There: Let me be there in your morning, Let me be there in your night, Let me take whatever’s wrong and make it right. Let me take you to that wonderland that only two can share; All I ask you, is let me be there. 1. This shows the problem with secular music: a. Christian music sings about and glorifies God, inspiring life with God. b. Secular music sings about, glorifies and inspires life without God 2. Secular media and music helps people feel good about ignoring the fact that God is calling, "Let Me be there": a. to hold your hand and guide you on your journey. b. to give you purpose and meaning in life.

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Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There c. To dry your tears and comfort you in sorrow. d. To carry you through your dark hours. e. To share your joys and triumphs. f.

To spend all of eternity together.

~ Additional Notes Not Used in Message I.

The Lord has always desired and promised to dwell among His people. A. II Corinthians 6:16 …for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. B. Some examples of God dwelling or desiring to dwell among His people: 1. Adam and Eve (God walked and communed with them in the cool of the garden.) 2. Many others who walked with God after the fall of man: a. Enoch (Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God…) b. Noah (Genesis 6:9 …and Noah walked with God) c. Abraham (Genesis 17:1…the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.) 3. Tabernacle of Moses 4. Tabernacle of David 5. Temple of Solomon 6. Jesus Matthew 1:23…they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 7. The temple of our body. a. I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? b. Colossians 1:27 …which is Christ in you, the hope of glory C. Some examples of the Lord assuring His people of His presence: 1. Israel: Exodus 13:20-22 (the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire) 2. Joshua: Joshua 1:5 (as I have been with Moses, I will be with you) 3. Gideon: Judges 6:12-16 (I am with thee thou mighty man of valour) 4. Solomon’s temple: II Chronicles 7:1-2 (the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house) 5. Those who would build the second temple: Haggai 1:13 (Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD.) 6. Jehoshaphat and Judah: II Chronicles 20:17 (Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.) 7. Psalm 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 8. Isaiah 41:10 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 9. Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

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Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There II. This name, as well as the events foretold in Ezekiel surrounding the name, have prophetic meaning: A. There was immediate direct fulfillment in Ezekiel’s day, in the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the Babylonian captivity, the return of some of the exiles after the 70 year captivity and the rebuilding of the temple. 1. We know this was not the actual prophetic fulfillment, though, because: a. the second temple did not have the glory of the first. b. only a fragment of Israel was re-gathered at this time. c. the second temple was also eventually destroyed. d. this was a picture of what was to come at the end of the age with the first Advent, the rejection, and the eventual return of Christ. B. There was a partial fulfillment in the first Advent of Christ. 1. In the first Advent of Christ, He was rejected and He reluctantly departed, as foreshadowed by Ezekiel. a. For all who received Him He is there, dwelling in the temple of our bodies. (1) John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (2) I Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? b. He will be there physically in His second coming, C. The complete fulfillment will take place when Christ returns. 1. He will again be “there” in Jerusalem. 2. There will be an actual and complete re-gathering of Israel at this time.  So the complete, prophetic fulfillment of Ezekiel’s vision is seen in the two Advents of Christ. D. To us the promise given by the Lord’s name (Jehovah-Shammah) means… 1. The Lord is coming. 2. Until He comes, He is with us. a. Hebrews 13:5 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. b. We should never take His presence for granted (1) When David had sinned he prayed: “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me”. (Psalm 51:11) Others who prophesied the judgment of God coming to Judah: Jeremiah 37:8 And the Chaldeans (Babylon) shall come again, and fight against this city, and take it, and burn it with fire. Isaiah 64:11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste. History Repeats Itself In Bible prophecy what happens in the Old Testament is often a picture of what will happen in the New Testament A. Jesus returned to Jerusalem in His first advent (coming) and the same pattern unfolded again: 1. Jesus entered the (second) temple (at the beginning of His ministry) (as God dwelt in the original temple) John 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

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Jehovah-Shammah – The LORD Is There

2. Jesus was rejected by His people. John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 3. Jesus predicted the destruction of the temple. Matthew 24:1 …and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 4. Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 23:37-24:2 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple. Luke 19:43-44 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, 44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. 5. Jesus was reluctant to depart from Jerusalem. Luke 19:41-44 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. 6. Jesus departure followed the Ezekiel path. a. He departed from the temple. Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple. b. He left the city (to be crucified). (1) John 19:20 …for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: (2) Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate(of Jerusalem). c. He lingered on the Mount of Olives before His final departure. Acts 1:9-12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. (From there Jesus ascended into heaven) 7. Jesus has promised to return. (as in Ezekiel 48:35) 8. Jesus' return will be the reverse of His departure: a. to the Mount of Olives. b. to Jerusalem to rule and reign. c. to the new temple. 9. Jesus' return is the hope of His people (as God’s returning presence was the hope of Israel) Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, & the glorious appearing of the great God & our Saviour Jesus Christ. 10. Jesus has promised to dwell with those who serve Him (as exiles in this world) (as He was with those in Babylon who served Him) a. Colossians 1:27…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory b. Hebrews 13:5 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee c. John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  Note: Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed after Jesus' departure in 70 AD as He foretold.

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