Ezekiel 48:30-35, YAHWEH-Shammah (1)

The context for this name of God probably needs a little explanation.  Ezekiel 40-48 is an interesting, rather detailed description of a temple and the political layout of Israel that has not yet been seen.  Most, myself included, see it as belonging to the Millennial reign of Christ.  Today’s reading describes the twelve gates into the city of Jerusalem at that time, when Messiah rules from David’s throne in Zion.  And the very last thing, after all the details, is to say: the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.  What is more important about Jerusalem is, YAHWEH-Shammah, The LORD is there. 

The Millennial reign is not the last chapter in the story of the kingdom of God; what follows is eternity, the new heaven and earth.  But it is the chapter where this sin-corrupted world and its inhabitants finally experience what God intended from the beginning.  Man, through Christ, will have dominion; peace and righteousness will be the norm.  And God will dwell with men.  The LORD is there.

God came to the Garden to visit with Adam and Eve, but that relationship was filled with enmity after sin.  Nevertheless, God’s desire to dwell with man never waned.  God worked to overcome the sin and guilt, promising a Savior and establishing the blood sacrifice. 

God had promised, before Israel ever entered the land, to appoint a city where He would put His name (Deut. 12:5).  Jerusalem was called the city of God (Ps. 46:4; 48:1,8).  But God’s dwelling was hampered by the idolatry of Israel.  It was not the way it was supposed to be.  But Ezekiel is telling us that the time will come when God will so much be “there” that the city will truly bear His name: YAHWEH-Shammah.

We would like to survey the history of God’s dwelling in Israel, and then show that Jesus Himself is the fulfillment of the name, YAHWEH-Shammah.

·       Exodus 15:17: In Israel’s birth as a nation, having escaped Egypt at the Red Sea, Miriam sang of God’s deliverance and the promise, You will bring them in and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your own dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.  Note v18: The LORD shall reign forever and ever.  The promise to dwell with Israel is joined to the promised to rule Israel. 

·       Exodus 25:8-9; 29:44-46: Miriam’s song mentioned the sanctuary.  This is a sacred place, devoted to God.  This is where God would dwell.  The first “holy place” in Israel was in the tabernacle, the “tent of meeting,” made at Mount Sinai and carried from place to place throughout Israel's wilderness wanderings.  In this setting God said, I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.  God must dwell in a holy place.  It cannot be any other way.