Out of Zion

Dr. Susan Michael: Are you feeling a little weary today? Need some strength? Well, I've got some good news for you. Welcome to this week's Shabbat Shalom devotional when I try to share just a little inspiration, bring a little peace to the close of your very busy week.

Two weeks ago, I talked about the name of God and why religious Jews refer to God as "the name" or HaShem. Last week, I talked about another descriptive name of God where He used to describe Himself, which was El Shaddai, the Almighty God.

There are more than 100 what I call descriptive names of God in the Bible. To avoid confusion, I refer to the name, that Tetragrammaton, as "the name," and the rest of them I refer to as descriptive names. Most of these 100 descriptive names were assigned to God by His people, and they described one aspect of His character or were a reminder of one of His great events.

I also talked about the word for God which is El (E-L) and that it means mighty or strong one, but that it was a generic word for God used for any god. Many of the descriptive names of God are an extension of El, just like last week when we talked about El Shaddai, the God Almighty or the Almighty God.

This week I want to share a few more. El Elyon means "the Most High God." The word Elyon is derived from the Hebrew root for the word that means to ascend or to go up. The implication of this name is that God is the Highest One. He's not just exalted; He is the Highest One, the exalted One.

We read this in Genesis 14:18 where it describes that mysterious priest Melchizedek, King of Salem, as priest of God the Most High. It's used many times in the Psalms as well. Psalm 57:2 says, "I cry out to the Most High God."

Another descriptive name for God based on El is El Gibbor, which means "the Mighty God" in the sense of a warrior, a valiant, strong, and mighty God. This Hebrew word for God is used in one of the most famous verses in Isaiah, quoted in churches every year at Christmastime.

Isaiah 9:6 says, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, El Gibbor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." That is El Gibbor.

Then there is El Roi, the God of seeing or the God who sees. This name is ascribed to God by Hagar when she's alone and desperate in the wilderness because she's been driven out by Sarah. What is so interesting in this chapter is that the God who sees, El Roi, is also the God who hears. It's tied together because God sees, He also hears.

Genesis 16:11-13 says, "And the angel of the Lord said to her, Hagar, you are now pregnant and shall call his name Ishmael, which means God has heard, because the Lord has heard your affliction. Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You are the God who sees." The God who sees is close enough that He hears and He acts.

Another descriptive name for God is El Olam, the Everlasting God. God's nature is without beginning or end. It's free from all the constraints of time that you and I live in. The God who was, who is, and who is to come, from everlasting to everlasting. This is El Olam, the Everlasting God.

As I close, I want to share with you a verse of encouragement from Isaiah 40:27-29 about this Everlasting God: "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, my way is hidden from the Lord? My cause is disregarded by my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

As you take a break this weekend, reflect upon this Everlasting God. He is the God who sees you and your needs; therefore, He hears your cry. He is the God upon whom you can rely. He never grows tired or weary. He is everlasting, and He will give you strength. So with that, I wish you Shabbat Shalom.