In Genesis 22, God instructed his faithful servant Abraham to do the unthinkable: “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Gen 22:2). Thus, both father and son began the climb up Mt. Moriah. Isaac, who was aware that they would be offering up a sacrifice on the summit, but did not know that he was to be that sacrifice, asked his father concerning this: “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen 22:7).

With great anguish of soul, Abraham answered: “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together” (Gen 22:8).

These words would have a twofold fulfillment. God did provide a lamb for Isaac (Gen 22:13–14).

God would provide a lamb for the world (John 1:29).

En route to Mt. Sinai, Israel was attacked by some fierce desert warriors known as the Amalekites. We then are told:

“And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi” (Exod 17:13–15).

This battle is significant, for it marks the first victory of Israel on its march after leaving Egypt. The prayer of Moses assured the victory (Exod 17:11).

The lyricist may have had the events of Exodus 17 in mind when he wrote:

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
    with the cross of Jesus going on before!
    Christ, the royal master, leads against the foe;
    forward into battle, see His banner go!

During the turbulent days of the Judges, the angel of the Lord appeared to a discouraged man named Gideon (Judg 6:12, 16, 24).

Jehovah-Shalom did indeed bring peace to Israel over the Midianites through this warrior and his 300 trumpet-blowing soldiers. Our Lord Jesus would, of course, become both the Bringer and Giver of peace. NOTE: The word Shiloh (meaning peace) in Genesis 49:10 is no doubt in reference to the Messiah (cf. Isa 9:6; Luke 2:14; Eph 2:14).

This is a reference to the captain of heaven’s armies. These armies are said to be composed of angels (Pss 68:17; 104:4; 148:2).

The great prophet Isaiah described his vision in which he was allowed to see Jehovah-Sabaoth—the Lord of hosts (Isa 6:1–3).

In Revelation 5, we read that John saw angels, “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”—an uncountable number.

In the New Testament, Christ himself is pictured as the leader of these angels. When Jesus was arrested, our Lord himself (the Lord Sabaoth) made an interesting comment when Simon Peter pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest. “Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt 26:52–53).

The first and second stanzas of Martin Luther’s great song, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” aptly bring out the mighty power of Jehovah-Sabaoth:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
    Our helper He amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
    For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe—
    His craft and pow’r are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
    On earth is not his equal.
    Did we in our own strength confide our striving would be losing,
    Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing.
    Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He—
    Lord Sabaoth His name, from age to age the same,
    And He must win the battle.

“The God who desires to set his people apart.” (cf. Exod 31:12–13).

This great name of God, first mentioned in Exodus, appears many times in Leviticus. To be sanctified is to be set apart, and that is what God desired to do for his people—to set them apart for special service.

In the New Testament we read how the Great Sanctifier set himself apart that he might set apart the sanctified (John 17:19; 1 Thes 4:3; 5:23).

Of all the compound names of Jehovah, this is probably the most easily understood title, for it refers to our ultimate shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ!

1. Jesus said he is the good shepherd, a reference to his death (John 10:11).

2. Hebrews said he is the great shepherd, a reference to his resurrection (Heb 13:20).

3. Peter said he is the chief shepherd, a reference to his second coming (1 Pet 5:4).

4. Perhaps, though, David said it best when he wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Ps 23:1).

During the Babylonian captivity, Jeremiah reassured those discouraged Jews in exile that God would someday both regather and restore his people to the Promised Land (Jer 23:3–6).

Here we are told the official name for the Messiah during the future Millennium will be Jehovah-Tsidkenu.

In the final nine chapters of his book (Ezek 40–48), Ezekiel describes for us the glorious features of the millennial temple and concludes by giving us the new name for the earthly city of Jerusalem in that day: “The LORD is there” (Ezek 48:35).

Of course the obvious meaning is that God himself will be in that city. The psalmist had this idea when he wrote Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea” (Ps 46:1–2).

The greatest thing about heaven is probably connected to the worst thing about hell. The worst thing about hell is not the terrible pain and the eternality, but rather that hell will be a place where Jesus Christ will be conspicuously absent throughout all eternity. On the other hand, the greatest thing about heaven is not the pearly gates, the ivory palaces, the jasper walls, or the streets of gold but that heaven will be where Jesus Christ is conspicuously present throughout all eternity. Jehovah-Shammah—the Lord who is present (cf. John 11:28). If rightly understood, Shammah may well be the most comforting of all the titles for Jehovah. In essence, it says, he is here, and he does care!

By this new name God introduced to Israel the terms of his heavenly “Medicare” health plan while they were on their way to Canaan. If only they had accepted this gracious policy. The Israelites were challenged to obey God, and God would instruct them in every area of life, including health and nutrition, in order to keep them from disease and illness (Exod 15:26).