Yahweh Shammah is the Hebrew name for God meaning, the Lord is there. This name appears once in the Old Testament and it can be found in Ezekial 48:35. It describes how the Presence of God fills the millennial Kingdom. Strictly speaking, Yahweh Shammah is a name for a city rather than a title for God. But it is very closely associated with God's presence and power and it has often been equated with the name of God. In the New Testament the name for God, Immanuel meaning, "God With Us" is closely associated with this Old Testament Name for God, Yahweh Shammah.
Yahweh Shammah-The Lord Is There
The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles.[a] And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’ Ezekiel 48:35.
Pronouncing The Name: yah-WEH SHAM-mah.
This is Day 15 of a 30-Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Understanding the Name Of God, Yahweh Shammah-The Lord Is There:
In the book of Ezekiel, the nation of Israel was in trouble again. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Israelites go through a continuous cycle of rebellion and repentance. God brought them out of Egypt and God's presence manifested as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. The Israelites saw many miracles during their time in the wilderness. It was a time marked by grumbling, rebellion, and repentance. It was a trend that continued until it reached a climax in the book of Ezekiel. During their times of rebellion, they would be punished by God. This punishment had the purpose of drawing them back to God. This cycle kept repeating itself.
When we arrive at the book of Ezekiel the Israelites were once more in the punishment stage. They had rebelled against God and done what was right in their own eyes. As a result, He allowed them to be taken captive for seventy years (Jeremiah 29:10). The glory of the Lord had departed from the temple (Ezekiel 10;18-19; 11:22-24) and it was a very unhappy time for this rebellious nation.
However, God gave them a promise of hope:
Ezekiel 37:21-28
Ezekiel And give them this message from the Sovereign Lord: I will gather the people of Israel from among the nations. I will bring them home to their own land from the places where they have been scattered. 22 I will unify them into one nation on the mountains of Israel. One king will rule them all; no longer will they be divided into two nations or into two kingdoms. 23 They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful apostasy. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
24 “My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever. 26 And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. 27 I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28 And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy.”
Ezekiel 48:35
“The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’
When God’s presence departed from the temple, it signaled to the Israelites and all who dwelt around them that God had removed His hand of protection from them. They would ultimately be scattered to the four corners of the earth and taken captive by surrounding nations.
The City Would Be Called Yahweh-Shammah
But God's love and mercy were always with the Israelites, continually drawing them back to Himself. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised a restoration of the nation and a return of His presence to Jerusalem. In that day the city would be called Yahweh-Shammah. That very prophecy came true when the exiles returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the walls. God’s presence returned to the temple in the form of a tiny baby, Jesus. He was brought to the temple to be offered back to God by his parents, Joseph and Mary.
More Scripture Treasure!
Wait until I show you this part of scripture treasure that you have read many times (especially during Christmas time or just after!)
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple and Simeon just happened to be in the temple that day. Why is that significant?
It is significant because God is always in the details, weaving Bible prophecy, and His promises together.
You will read about a man called Simeon. He was righteous and devout and he had been waiting and expecting for the promise of Ezekiel 48:35 to be fulfilled. Here is what it says in scripture:
Luke 2:22-30
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”, 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
God sent His Son and gave Him the name, Immanuel, "God with us." We will be looking at that name in a few days. Hold on tight to this truth, God is with us and He cares about all the details in our lives! He will never leave us or forsake us. He is the Lord that is there. He is involved in all the details in our lives if we surrender them to Him. He is the Lord who is there and He has a good plan for us.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Isaiah 43:2-3
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
Yahweh Shammah in Hebrew:
The name appears in the Old Testament only once in Ezekiel 48:35 to portray Yahweh's presence in the coming millennial kingdom. The word "Shammah" is derived from the Hebrew word "sham", which means "there" or "at that place". Yahweh-Shammah is the last name God revealed through His Old Testament prophets. In the historic setting in which it's given, this name reassured Israel that God had not abandoned them during their 70-year period of Babylonian captivity and that there would eventually be a restoration of Jerusalem and the Temple.
We now can enjoy God's presence continually by surrendering our lives to Jesus and following His way.
Applying the name of God, Yahweh Shammah to your life:
God is present and with you all the time. He is your Yahweh Shammah -the Lord is there.
He is with you when you get a bad doctor's report. He is there when you have to make major life-changing decisions. When you are lonely He is there. When you are tempted He is there. When you are joyful He is there. He is always there for us, offering His comfort, His love, His guidance, and His strength.
How does knowing God as Yahweh Shammah -The Lord Is There affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Yahweh Shammah to you?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Shammah impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Yahweh Shammah?
Praying the Name Of God, Yahweh Shammah:
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation -it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Yahweh Shammah, you are praying to God who is there in every one of your circumstances, the good, the bad, and the ugly ones!
Let's Pray:
Yahweh Shammah, help me to remember that you are there in every one of my circumstances. I am so grateful that You are in control. You have a good plan for my life. Help me to comprehend this truth that You promise to never leave me or forsake me. There is no place that I can go that is away from Your presence. Amen.
Names of God Bible Study
If you are intrigued by the names of God, you will love the Names of God study. Studying the names of God will impact your life. You will be encouraged by them and your faith can only grow deeper and stronger as you discover that God sees you as His treasure. He delights in you!
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage. Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Miqweh Yisrael-Hope Of Israel.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.
