Know the LORD

Before I begin my post, I must say how disappointed I am in myself for not finding the time to comment on each post I've read. I have wandered through a wide range of emotions in the readings this year and have been profoundly touched, blessed and taught. Just because I have not found time to comment does not mean I have not heard what you said. It is highly unlikely that I will ever forget this blogging experience.

"You will know that I am the LORD."

I counted seventeen such statements by the Lord in reading Ezekiel this week, and seventeen times I sensed in my spirit that God was trying to tell me something. As I pondered the phrase, "I am the LORD", I was reminded of the Bible study I went through last summer, KNOWING GOD BY NAME, about 35 of the names of God. The study had such a profound impact on my life, that I continued each month since to review the Scriptures introduced as well as the highlights of the study. The first week of study reveals truths concerning God's deity and the first day of the study is of Yahweh - LORD (always in all-caps). Mary Kassian opens the study with the fact that in ancient times, a person's name depicted something important about their identity, character, or life. She says, "It is not surprising, therefore, that when God spoke from the burning bush, Moses asked Him to reveal His name. Exodus 3:14 records God's name as "I AM" while Isaiah 42:8 identifies Him as "the LORD." But in the original language, the two phrases are exactly the same." She goes on to explain that these names are translated from the personal name of God, Yahweh, in the original Hebrew Scriptures. This is God's name that sets Him completely apart. Scripture confirms that Yahweh is a divine being who is self-existent (John 5:26), self-sufficient (Acts 17:25), self-directed (Job 36:22-23), eternal (Rev. 4:8), consistent (Ps. 102:26-27) and so much more. Yahweh is God's incredibly unique name, regarded by Jews to be so holy that they refrained from spelling it or speaking it outloud. They referred to Yahweh as "the Name" (HasShem), "the Extra-ordinary Name." "Yah" is the abbreviated form used in "Praise Yah" (Hallelu-jah) found in many of the Psalms.

So - what does it mean to know this extra-ordinary Yahweh, I AM, LORD? Can we "know" God by "knowing" all about Him? The definition of "to know" is to perceive, to understand, to discern, to be familiar with, to be aware of. So God was telling His people in Ezekiel (as well as His people today) that His greatest desire is for us to perceive, to understand, to discern, to be familiar with, to be aware of Him as our Yahweh, I AM, LORD. The study asks the question, "How does the fact that the LORD is "I AM" impact you?"

I came to the realization that in reading Ezekiel and being saddened by how desperately wicked God saw His people, that He was actually calling me to be different - to draw near to Him and let Him teach me about His ways and His character. I was reminded of something Anne Graham Lotz says in her book on Revelation. In speaking to the church of Ephesus (2:1-7), Jesus seemed to be talking to me. I quote from her book: "Jesus says, 'I've noticed, I KNOW. Thank you for all you are seeking to do in My Name'." In Jesus' tender and humble way He was encouraging me. As I read on, however, I felt His conviction. "He said, 'Yet I hold this against you, you have forsaken your first love'." Somewhere along the way, without my conscious awareness, my work for Jesus has overtaken my worship of Jesus. I've become so busy I no longer have time for extended prayer and Bible reading. When I do pray, I'm primarily focused on requests, not on Jesus and my relationship with Him. When I do read the Bible it's not just to listen to His voice speaking to me personally.

Tenderly, yet firmly, Jesus pointed out the fact that over this summer I have fallen away from a love relationship with Him. Brokenheartedly, I repented and I am letting Jesus lead me back to Him as my first love. My journey is different from Anne's and yours will be different as well. I think the questions we ask are the same. Jesus tells us in Rev. 2:5 to, "Turn back to me and do the works you did at first." What works? Works I did when I was first born again? Works I did when I first began to serve You? We ask our questions then we wait and listen.

Jesus is leading me into the most deep and profoundly intimate prayer time I have ever had with Him. He is calling me to, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you: Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matt. 11:28-30). So, each morning (when I am able), I yoke myself with Jesus and let Him lead me in His Word and wait and listen. It takes discipline and focus, but I am learning to let Him teach me. Regrettably, this is not the first time God has had to get my attention back to my first love, but I pray it is the last. My prayer for us as we continue through Ezekiel is that when we again read, "You will know that I am the LORD" our hearts will be drawn to Jesus who is our great I AM and surrender our hearts afresh to His marvelous love and work in us rather than being saddened by the sorry plight of God's straying people.

This is the principle that Anne Lotz shares in her book that I pray I never forget: "Our love for Christ is more important to Him than all of our service to Him. Strict obedience and service alone are not enough. Love for Jesus must come first. Jesus said the first and greatest commandment is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Our worship of Christ must always come before our work for Christ."

Almighty LORD, Yahweh, please give your people a strong desire to love You with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength!