Names of God – Pt 20
“In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.” Psalm 44:8
Immanuel – God With Us (Isaiah 7:14)
First of all a very Merry CHRISTmas to you and yours in The CHRIST of CHRISTmas! No this is not CHRISTmas in June, it’s simply that our first Name of God this week is The Name that makes everything possible for us.
It is an incredibly unique Name and the most personal Name of all as it encompasses all that God did in sending Himself in the form of His Son to us and what we celebrate at CHRISTmas and hopefully throughout our lives in Him!
The Name is first found in Isaiah 7:14 and is not only given but defined…it is “IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US!” How powerful and reassuring is this Name! Those under the Old Covenant could never know fully what this meant until in the fullness of time God came in the form of Christ as a Babe, The Highest of Kings in the lowliest of settings to redeem us, to save us, to set us free (Galatians 4:3-4)! Think about that…not just at CHRISTmas time but always!
Isaiah’s prophecy came true in that perfect timing as read in Luke 2:4-7 and Matthew 1:21-23 where God gave Him the Name Jesus…God Saves and literally the Name “IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US!” Not just with us…He became us to save us!
Think about this with regard to this name…if Christ never came as IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US none of the other Names and related character of God would mean anything. Savior, Shepherd, King, Lord, Healer, Redeemer, Father, Counselor, Friend, Prince of Peace and on and on would mean absolutely nothing because it was in His coming to us, as us, that He could restore and redeem us back into a right relationship with Himself.
Without IMMANUEL we would have nothing because we would have no relationship with our great God. Because He came and because he became us we can know Him and have all that He is and that He gives to us!
Thank You, Father, for coming to us in Jesus as “IMMANUEL – GOD WITH US to save us. Without IMMANUEL in the manger there would be no empty cross or empty tomb. Praise God that He came and Merry CHRISTmas in June!
El Yeshuati – God my Salvation (Isaiah 12:2)
Having explored the Names of God found in the Advent and Incarnation of Christ as expressed in Isaiah’s beautiful and reassuring prophecy in 9:6, we continue with the great prophet as he reveals more of God’s Names to us. The next one we will look at is in Isaiah 12:2 and should remind us of what we all need more than anything…”El Yeshuati – God my Salvation!”
The Book of Isaiah is generally broken up into two segments… Chapters 1-39 and then Chapters 40-66. The first section is largely prophetic warnings during the last days of the Northern Kingdom of Israel for them to turn personally and collectively (nationally) back to God. Woven in these dire warnings is the Hope of the coming Messiah and ultimately that Savior and Salvation of Israel (and all peoples – all who believe in Christ).
This is where we find Isaiah proclaiming that thanksgiving in Chapter 12 and in particular thanks to “El Yeshuati – God my Salvation!”
As already pointed out, Isaiah is not only calling the people of Israel to repentance for past and present sin but pointing them to the ultimate Salvation found in Christ who is “El Yeshuati – God my Salvation!” Yeshua is the Hebrew Name for Jesus – God Who Saves.
This is found no more poignantly or powerfully than in Acts 4:12 when Luke declares that it is in the very Name of Jesus alone that we find Salvation! How much more plain does it need to be stated that Isaiah proclaims one of God’s Names as literally Salvation and then Christ’s Name is given as the only Name for Salvation. PTL!
Paul takes it to the next level in 1 Corinthians 3 when he’s writing about how we are to live out that salvation in right living and states in vv. 10-11 that the entire foundation for this “saved life…and living” is found in no other than Christ.
Have you received Jesus Christ as “El Yeshuati – God my Salvation?” Are you daily walking in that salvation in the only Name that it can be found…Jesus Christ?
El Mishpat – God of Justice (Isaiah 30:18)
The final Name for this post is one that we all love to know but often have difficulty receiving it according to God’s design and perfect Truth. We desire it our own way as is evidenced by the success of many movies and stories that proclaim the world’s idea of this character trait.
This Name of God is revealed in Isaiah 30:18 as “EL MISHPAT – GOD OF JUSTICE.” Referring back to our own and the world’s concept of justice we find it rooted in our own selfish will and desires. God’s Justice is rooted in His perfect righteousness, holiness and wisdom and includes His perfect grace and compassion. While it is not always easy we can always trust His Justice just as Isaiah shared with the Israelites in the southern kingdom of Judah when they were seeking protection and justice in Egypt knowing the Assyrians were coming against them.
Isaiah declared that God is “EL MISHPAT – GOD OF JUSTICE” and that is where they (and we) should seek true justice and protection.
Christ is our “EL MISHPAT – GOD OF JUSTICE” as He came specifically for that purpose. He came as God in the flesh so that in sacrificing that flesh…dying on the Cross…He made us Just before God The Father. He satisfied God’s wrath against sin…our sin…so that we could stand justified is God’s presence. God in Christ became both Just in what He did and justifier in making us holy and righteous for all who believe in Christ. He truly is our “EL MISHPAT – GOD OF JUSTICE.”
Are you believing in your own sense of justice as those in Judah were doing by choosing Egypt over God? Are you trying to justify yourself in any way by the Law and your fleshly desires (Egypt)? The Only way we are just before a perfect God of Justice is in Christ as “EL MISHPAT – GOD OF JUSTICE.” Place your trust in Him as He has already made you just before God by His grace as you believe by faith. He alone can save, protect and make things right and just for you and for all who believe in Him.
He not only is the Only One that can save us but He is the Righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:1, 8)…the God of Justice!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – So, Merry CHRISTmas in June? No always because of Immanuel – God With Us in Christ who became us. Why is this so important because as He is also El Yeshuati – God My Salvation and in Yeshua or Jesus, we have the only Name whereby we can be saved. To wrap it up we find God as El Mishpat – God of Justice. What more Just Judge can we have…He is The Righteous Judge in Christ, who became us to save us!
Love and Lordship…Action Item –
- Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- Write down what each of the Names of God in this post mean to you.
- God becoming Human in Christ and to become My Salvation and My Judge. How does this combination of Names reassure you of all that God is for you?
- Which of these Names speaks most powerfully to you and why?
Contact us at Love and Lordship to find out more about how you can know God the Father, Christ His Son and The Holy Spirit and The Lord God.
Check out this week’s Love & Lordship Mentoring Minutes