The Names of Jehovah

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Have you ever wondered about the deeper meanings behind the names of God? In this message, we explore the profound promises wrapped up in the names Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rapha, and Jehovah Shammah. Discover how these attributes of God can transform your life and provide for your every need.

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The Names of Jehovah

Message Summary
Have you ever wondered about the deeper meanings behind the names of God? In this message, we explore the profound promises wrapped up in the names Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rapha, and Jehovah Shammah. Discover how these attributes of God can transform your life and provide for your every need.
Key Scripture
“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means ‘the Lord will provide’). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: ‘On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'”
Genesis 22:14 NLT
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Will Provide

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14 NLT

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.” So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together. When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Devotional: In this powerful story, Abraham’s faith is tested to the extreme. God asks him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, but at the last moment, God provides a ram as a substitute. This story is a profound illustration of God’s provision. Jehovah Jireh, “The Lord Will Provide,” is not just a name but a promise that God sees our needs and provides for them in His perfect timing. Just as Abraham trusted God, we are called to trust in His provision, even when the path seems uncertain.

Response Questions:

  1. How does Abraham’s faith challenge your own understanding of trust in God?
  2. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God as Jehovah Jireh?
  3. How can you actively look for God’s provision in your daily life?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the faith to trust in God’s provision, even when circumstances seem dire.
  2. Ask God to open your eyes to see the ways He is providing for you each day.

Day 2

Day 2: Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is Peace

Scripture: Judges 6:11-24 NLT

Then the angel of the Lord came and sat beneath the great tree at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash of the clan of Abiezer. Gideon son of Joash was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress to hide the grain from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!” “Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The Lord brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.” Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” “But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” The Lord said to him, “I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.” Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me. Don’t go away until I come back and bring my offering to you.” He answered, “I will stay here until you return.” Gideon hurried home. He cooked a young goat, and with a basket of flour he baked some bread without yeast. Then, carrying the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot, he brought them out and presented them to the angel, who was under the great tree. The angel of God said to him, “Place the meat and the unleavened bread on this rock, and pour the broth over it.” And Gideon did as he was told. Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and bread with the tip of the staff in his hand, and fire flamed up from the rock and consumed all he had brought. And the angel of the Lord disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” And Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the Lord is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.

Devotional: Gideon was filled with fear and doubt, yet God called him a “mighty hero” and assured him of His presence. In the midst of his fear, Gideon encountered Jehovah Shalom, “The Lord is Peace.” This peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of God in the midst of it. When we face our own battles, we can find peace by trusting in God’s presence and promises.

Response Questions:

  1. What fears or doubts are you currently facing that need God’s peace?
  2. How can you create space in your life to experience Jehovah Shalom?
  3. In what ways can you be a peacemaker in your community or family?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for God’s peace to fill your heart and mind, especially in areas of fear and anxiety.
  2. Ask God to help you be a vessel of His peace to those around you.

Day 3

Day 3: Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Who Heals

Scripture: Exodus 15:22-27 NLT

Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”). Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink. It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water.

Devotional: In the wilderness, the Israelites faced bitter waters, but God transformed them into sweet, drinkable water. Here, God reveals Himself as Jehovah Rapha, “The Lord Who Heals.” This healing is not limited to physical ailments but extends to emotional and spiritual wounds. God desires to heal us in every area of our lives, but it requires us to listen, obey, and trust in His ways.

Response Questions:

  1. What areas of your life need healing from Jehovah Rapha?
  2. How can you position yourself to receive God’s healing?
  3. How does obedience to God relate to experiencing His healing?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for healing in specific areas of your life, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.
  2. Ask God to help you listen and obey His voice, trusting in His healing power.

Day 4

Day 4: Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is There

Scripture: Ezekiel 48:30-35 NLT

“These will be the exits to the city: On the north wall, which is 1½ miles long, there will be three gates, each one named after a tribe of Israel. The first will be named for Reuben, the second for Judah, and the third for Levi. On the east wall, also 1½ miles long, the gates will be named for Joseph, Benjamin, and Dan. The south wall, also 1½ miles long, will have gates named for Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun. And on the west wall, also 1½ miles long, the gates will be named for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali. 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.’”

Devotional: Ezekiel’s vision of the new city concludes with the name Jehovah Shammah, “The Lord is There.” This name assures us of God’s constant presence, no matter where we are or what we face. In our moments of loneliness, doubt, or fear, we can find comfort in knowing that God is always with us. His presence is a promise that we are never alone.

Response Questions:

  1. How does the assurance of God’s presence impact your daily life?
  2. In what situations do you need to be reminded that Jehovah Shammah is with you?
  3. How can you cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in your everyday activities?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for a deeper awareness of God’s presence in your life.
  2. Ask God to help you trust in His presence, especially in times of uncertainty or fear.

Day 5

Day 5: Living in the Promises of God’s Names

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-9 NLT

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

Devotional: As we conclude this devotional series, we are reminded of the power and promise in the names of God. Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Rapha, and Jehovah Shammah reveal God’s character and His desire to be intimately involved in our lives. By living in the reality of these names, we can experience God’s provision, peace, healing, and presence in profound ways. Let us fix our thoughts on His truth and continue to seek Him in all things.

Response Questions:

  1. How have you experienced the different attributes of God throughout this week?
  2. What steps can you take to continue living in the promises of God’s names?
  3. How can you share the truths you’ve learned with others in your community?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the strength to live out the promises of God’s names in your daily life.
  2. Ask God to help you be a witness of His character and love to those around you.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

Opening Prayer: Begin with a prayer inviting God’s presence and guidance as you explore His Word and attributes together.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Jehovah Jireh: The Lord Will Provide
    • Context: The sermon highlighted the story of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22, where God provided a ram as a substitute sacrifice. This name of God emphasizes His provision in our lives.
    • Question: Can you share a time when you experienced God’s provision in a way that was unexpected or miraculous?
    • Follow-up: How can recognizing God as Jehovah Jireh change the way you approach your current needs or challenges?
  2. Jehovah Shalom: The Lord is Peace
    • Context: The sermon discussed how peace is not just an attribute but a person—Jesus. Philippians 4:7 was referenced to illustrate how God’s peace surpasses understanding.
    • Question: In what areas of your life do you need Jehovah Shalom to bring peace?
    • Follow-up: What practical steps can you take to invite God’s peace into these areas?
  3. Jehovah Rapha: The Lord Who Heals
    • Context: The sermon mentioned Exodus 15:26, where God promises healing to the Israelites if they obey His commands. Healing can be physical, emotional, or spiritual.
    • Question: How have you experienced God’s healing in your life, or where do you currently need His healing touch?
    • Follow-up: How does obedience to God play a role in experiencing His healing?
  4. Jehovah Shammah: The Lord is There
    • Context: The sermon emphasized God’s omnipresence and His promise to never leave us, as stated in Hebrews 13:5. This name assures us of His constant presence.
    • Question: How does knowing that God is always there impact your daily life and decisions?
    • Follow-up: In what ways can you become more aware of God’s presence in your everyday activities?

Scripture Reading: Encourage the group to read the key scriptures together:

Closing Prayer: Conclude with a prayer, asking God to help each member of the group to experience His provision, peace, healing, and presence in their lives. Encourage the group to continue seeking God in these areas throughout the week.

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