Jehovah Shammah: Embracing God's Ever-Present Love

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Presence Departs When We Choose Sin Over Him

Throughout history, God’s people have experienced the pain of His presence departing when they persistently chose sin and other priorities over Him. From Adam and Eve being driven out of Eden to Israel’s temple being abandoned by God in Ezekiel’s vision, the pattern is clear: when we pursue possessions, pleasures, or our own preferences above God, we distance ourselves from the One who created us for closeness. Even today, our choices—whether obvious or subtle—can create a chasm between us and God, leaving us feeling abandoned and spiritually empty. [13:37]

Ezekiel 10:18-19 (ESV)
Then the glory of the Lord went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have chosen something—whether a habit, relationship, or pursuit—over intimacy with God, and how can you begin to surrender that to Him today?

Day 2: Jesus Restores God’s Presence to Us

Though our sin drives God away, God’s love made a way for us to be brought near again through Jesus. Jesus, God in the flesh, came to dwell among us, experiencing the separation our sin deserved so that we could be reconciled to God. On the cross, Jesus was forsaken so we would never have to be, and when He declared “It is finished,” the barrier between us and God was torn down. Now, through faith in Christ, we have access to the very presence of God, not as a distant hope but as a present reality. [26:17]

John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: In what specific way can you thank Jesus today for making God’s presence available to you, and how might you express that gratitude in prayer or action?

Day 3: The Holy Spirit Makes God’s Presence Personal

God’s nearness is not just a theological idea—it is a living reality for every believer because the Holy Spirit now dwells within us. No longer do we need a temple or a special place to encounter God; our very bodies are His temple. The Spirit leads, guides, and intercedes for us, making God’s presence available in every moment and circumstance. This truth invites us to live with a continual awareness that God is not just with us, but in us, longing for deep relationship and daily fellowship. [30:26]

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.

Reflection: How can you intentionally acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s presence in you today, especially in a routine or mundane part of your day?

Day 4: Living in God’s Presence Demands a Response

If God is truly present and near, it should transform how we live—shaping our words, actions, and even our thoughts. Living “coram deo,” before the face of God, means pausing to recognize His nearness, canceling distractions that compete for our attention, daring to step out in faith, and praying under pressure. This is not just a Sunday reality but a daily invitation to let God’s presence redefine every aspect of our lives, from how we treat others to how we face challenges. [32:38]

Psalm 16:8 (ESV)
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to pause and proclaim God’s presence before you begin your usual activities?

Day 5: Turn Your Eyes from the World to the God Who Is Near

The call is to shift our focus away from the distractions and empty promises of the world and fix our eyes on the God who is always present, always faithful, and always enough. When we turn our attention to Him, we find the love, power, and security that nothing else can provide. This week, let your heart’s priority be to seek God’s presence above all else, trusting that He will meet you with grace and transform your life as you look to Him. [36:31]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Reflection: What is one distraction or worldly focus you can intentionally set aside today in order to turn your eyes and heart more fully toward Jesus?

Sermon Summary

Throughout this summer, we have explored the names of God, each revealing a unique aspect of His character and His relationship with us. Today, we arrive at the final name in this journey: Jehovah Shammah—“The Lord is there.” This name, found in the closing words of Ezekiel, is a promise that God’s presence is not distant or abstract, but near, real, and available to His people. Ezekiel’s vision comes after a season of deep loss, when God’s presence had departed from the temple because of Israel’s persistent sin and idolatry. The people felt abandoned, living in the aftermath of their choices, yet God’s final word is one of hope: there will be a city, a future, where God’s presence will dwell among His people again.

This longing for God’s nearness is not just ancient history—it is the story of humanity. From Adam and Eve’s exile from Eden to the Israelites’ loss of the temple, sin has always driven a wedge between us and God. We are quick to fill our lives with other presences—possessions, pleasures, power, and distractions—while God waits, longing to be close. Our modern lives are no different; we often find ourselves more desperate for a lost phone than for the presence of God. We may even wear the symbols of faith while our hearts are far from Him.

But God’s answer to our distance is not condemnation, but incarnation. In Jesus, God drew near—He became flesh and dwelt among us, experiencing our world, our struggles, and ultimately our separation from God on the cross. Jesus took on the full weight of our sin, experiencing the forsakenness we deserved, so that the barrier between us and God could be torn down. Through His death and resurrection, the way is opened for us to experience God’s presence—not just beside us, but within us through the Holy Spirit.

This reality demands a response. If God is truly near, if His Spirit dwells within us, then our lives must reflect that nearness. We are called to pause and acknowledge His presence, to remove the distractions and idols that compete for our attention, to step out in faith knowing He is with us, and to turn to Him in moments of pressure and need. Living in the reality of Jehovah Shammah transforms every aspect of our lives, calling us to turn our eyes away from the world and fix them on the God who is always there.

Key Takeaways

1. Sin is the great separator, driving God’s presence away not because He is unwilling, but because we continually choose other things over Him. Like Adam and Eve, and like Israel, we often prefer the presence of possessions, pleasures, or power, and in doing so, we forfeit the intimacy we were created for. The ache of God’s absence is a direct result of our misplaced affections and priorities. [14:21]
2. Our modern distractions reveal what we truly depend on. The anxiety we feel when disconnected from technology or comfort is often greater than our concern for distance from God. This exposes how easily we can live “Ichabod” lives—lives where the glory has departed—without even noticing, and challenges us to examine what truly holds our attention and devotion. [19:18]
3. Jesus is God’s answer to our separation. He did not remain distant, but entered our world, took on flesh, and experienced the ultimate separation from the Father on the cross so that we could be brought near. The tearing of the temple veil is God’s declaration that, through Christ, nothing stands between us and His presence any longer. [26:17]
4. The Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of God’s promise to be with us. For those who trust in Christ, God’s presence is not confined to a temple or a special place, but indwells us personally. This means we carry the presence of God into every moment, every conversation, and every challenge, and are never truly alone. [28:56]
5. Living in God’s presence requires intentional response. We must pause to acknowledge Him, remove the things that compete for our hearts, step out in faith because He is with us, and turn to Him especially in times of pressure. This is not a passive reality, but an active, daily pursuit that transforms how we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. [32:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Introduction to the Names of God Series
[03:00] - The Power of Remembering Where You Were
[05:44] - Ezekiel’s Defining Moment: God Leaves the Temple
[08:32] - The Consequence of Sin: God’s Presence Withdraws
[11:40] - The Promise of Jehovah Shammah
[13:37] - Sin’s Pattern: From Eden to Today
[15:11] - Spiritual Adultery and Separation
[18:03] - Modern Distractions and Ichabod Living
[19:18] - Personal Story: The Phone Outage and God’s Conviction
[24:02] - The Cross: Jesus Restores God’s Presence
[25:15] - God With Us: The Incarnation
[26:17] - The Veil Torn: Access to God Restored
[28:00] - The Holy Spirit: God’s Presence Within
[30:26] - Responding to God’s Nearness
[32:38] - Four Practical Steps to Live in God’s Presence
[36:31] - Turning Our Eyes Upon Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ezekiel 48:35 (ESV) — _The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”_

John 1:14 (ESV) — _And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth._

1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) — _Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own._

Observation Questions

In Ezekiel 48:35, what is the significance of the city being named “The Lord Is There”? What does this reveal about God’s desire for His people?
According to John 1:14, how did God choose to draw near to humanity?
In 1 Corinthians 6:19, what does Paul say about where God’s presence now dwells for believers?
The sermon described a moment when God’s presence left the temple in Ezekiel’s vision. What were the reasons given for God’s departure? [[08:32]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God’s presence is so closely tied to the choices and priorities of His people, both in Ezekiel’s time and today? [[13:37]]
The sermon compared our longing for lost possessions (like a phone) to our longing for God’s presence. What does this comparison reveal about what we truly value? [[19:18]]
How does Jesus’ incarnation and sacrifice change the way we experience God’s presence compared to the Old Testament? [[26:17]]
What does it mean for the Holy Spirit to “indwell” us, and how should that affect our daily lives? [[28:56]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to pause and acknowledge God’s presence at the start of each day. What would it look like for you to intentionally do this tomorrow morning? What might get in the way? [[32:38]]
Are there specific “distractions or idols” in your life that compete for your attention and affection more than God? What is one practical step you could take this week to “cancel” or minimize that distraction? [[34:09]]
Think about a recent time when you felt anxious or disconnected (like the phone outage story). Was your first instinct to turn to God, or to something else? How can you train yourself to seek God’s presence first in those moments? [[19:18]]
The sermon described “Ichabod living”—going through life without realizing God’s presence has departed. How can you recognize if you are living this way? What warning signs might you look for? [[18:03]]
Jesus’ sacrifice tore down the barrier between us and God. Is there any area of your life where you still feel distant from God? What would it look like to invite Him into that area this week? [[26:17]]
The Holy Spirit now lives within every believer. How does this truth encourage you as you face challenges or step out in faith? Is there a specific step of faith you sense God calling you to take, knowing He is with you? [[35:15]]
When you are under pressure or stress, what is your usual response? How could you make prayer your first response, asking “Jehovah Shammah, what would you have me do?” [[35:56]]

Sermon Clips

``If that's what Adam and Eve did, if that's what the people in Ezekiel's life did, if that's what we're doing today, is there an answer? Yes. And the answer is Jesus. Jesus is the answer. Because sin has driven God's presence away. But it is Jesus who delivers God's presence back to us. [00:24:28] (19 seconds) #CrossBridgesChasm

He goes to the cross not because he was far from God, but because we were far from God. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God. So he goes to the cross. And on the cross, he experiences being forsaken by the Father. At around three o 'clock, he utters one of the final words. He would say, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Hear the Godhead that was in perfect fellowship, in perfect communion. Now there's this barrier. There's this chasm. And Jesus experienced the chasm that you and I would experience for all of eternity when we are ushered out of the presence of God because of our sin. [00:26:19] (50 seconds) #JesusFulfillsPromise

You don't need a temple. You don't need to go to Jerusalem. You don't need to go to a cathedral to experience the presence of God. You don't have to come to church to experience the presence of God. Why? Because 1 Corinthians 6 .19 says, don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? He's in you. He wants to live in you. He wants to lead you and guide you. He wants to intercede on your behalf. He wants you to experience the fullness of the presence of God. [00:30:06] (35 seconds) #GodChangesEverything

If the God of the universe really indwells you, if the God of the universe is really right by your side, if the God of the universe is so close and his presence is so real, then it's not just an idea, it's a reality that we live in. It's going to change and redefine everything that we do. It's going to change how we wake up. It's going to change how we go to work. It's going to change how we relate and treat people, how we fight temptation, how we endure pressure, and how we face today and even tomorrow. It's bedrock to the Christian faith. To know that God is there should change everything that we do and everything that we say. [00:32:19] (42 seconds) #CancelCompetingDistractions

Would you cancel that which competes? Friends, what's keeping you from the presence of God? What's keeping you from praying? What's keeping you from reading God's word? What keeps you from fellowshipping with God's people? Whatever that is, what's that one thing that distracts you, that habit or sin that dulls your awareness of God? Would you please cancel it? Would you get rid of it? And would you, instead of getting something else, would you carve out that time, that attention, that priority to the presence of God? [00:34:35] (38 seconds) #JehovahShemaGuides

Would you dare to do something? Knowing God is with you. What one step of faith can you take this week? Because you know God's with you. That God says you're more than a conqueror in Christ. That he is with you even to the end of the age. What's one thing that you can do? That step of faith that you were unwilling to take. But knowing God is near and you're in his presence, that you're willing to do it. [00:35:27] (24 seconds) #FocusOnGodAlone

So this week, no doubt, some of us are going to experience some really difficult moments, some real difficult times. And in those moments where the pressure is at its worst, would you stop and pray and say, Jehovah Shema, I know you are here. What would you have me do? How would you have me act? What would you have me say? How would you want me to respond? [00:35:56] (26 seconds)

We need to turn our focus off of the things of this world and onto this God whose name tells us that He loves us, this name that tells us He's faithful, this name that tells us He is all -powerful, this name that tells us He is more than we could ever ask for or imagine, and He will take care of us if we will turn our eyes on Him. [00:36:48] (25 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does Jehovah Shema reveal about God's proximity?

How does sin affect God's presence in our lives?

In what way does Jesus restore closeness with God?