Super-Superlative
and proclaimed, “YHWH, YHWH God, compassionate, gracious, long-suffering and great in goodness Exodus 34:6
YHWH, YHWH – Do you remember doubled giving (nathan used twice – March 12)? Did you know that Isaiah uses shalom shalom to speak of “perfect” peace? In Hebrew, doubling the word calls attention to the superlative form. So, what happens when God Himself doubles His name – Yahweh Yahweh. Well, for one thing it means that we better pay very close attention to this very unusual verse. When YHWH decides to give Moses a personal introduction to His character, He starts by proclaiming His absolute and total superiority over every other existing thing in the entire universe. He is not simply God. He is THE ONLY GOD, the Mighty One, the Highest of all, the Unsurpassed, the Magnificent, the Holy One of Israel. There is none who can compare to Him. Not one!
For the children of Israel, even for Moses, this declaration is extremely important. These people were being re-educated. They just spent more than 200 years in a culture of multiple deities. They were saturated with Egyptian thinking. God needed to brainwash them clean. He started with a demonstration of His superiority over every one of the Egyptian gods (that’s what the plagues are all about). Then He exhibited His power and majesty at Sinai. Now He provides Moses with a personal announcement of His character. It is starts in BOLD type. This is the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the One and Only God of all creation. This is proclaimed, not deduced. This is direct confrontation, not inner feelings. This is overwhelming holiness.
Are you trembling yet? Are you struck numb? Are you on your face before Him? Are you afraid for your life? The sheer audacity of Moses’ request to see God’s glory is mind-boggling. Moses must have had an unconscious death wish. He had no idea what he was asking, and it was only through YHWH’s gracious protection that Moses didn’t die on the spot. But that gives us a clue about the insensitivity that 200 years of wrong-thinking produces. Even Moses didn’t really understand the terrifying nature of God’s holiness. And if Moses didn’t get it, how much less aware are we?
Take a moment out of your oh-so-important life to put yourself in Moses’ place on that day. Reflect for just a second (you have that much time, right?) what it was like to have the glory of God pass by. Imagine the power of that voice proclaiming His utter uniqueness. Push aside the seeker-friendly, “God is my best friend,” white-beard Santa Claus caricature we have come to embrace and let your soul (not your mind) tremble before His awesome majesty. Let Him invade your carefully constructed chronos calendar. You will experience nuclear soul-fission. Your world will be blown apart, demolished, devastated. You will suddenly see your own total insignificance. It’s all about Him. It has always been all about Him. It will always be all about Him.
OK, one moment is enough. Any more would kill us. But one moment is all we need to re-set the compass of our lives. Forget the 200 years of seductive preoccupation with our plans and purposes. Listen to Him proclaim, “YHWH, YHWH” – and tremble.
Topical Index: YHWH, glory, Exodus 34:6, doubled, superlative
I need to be more in touch with the concept of being “afraid for my life”. God’s judgement is sure ai it is real and I know I lose sight of it under the assault of daily distractions that seduce me into believing God’s judgement is for others and I’m cool.
I really appreciate the reminder.
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CRAB
RARE
ARTS
BEST
YHWH YHWH – The number 4 (Lord | INRI | AMEN etc) has some interesting characteristics.
40 is used frequently in the Bible too. But 3 seems to get the most attention for some reason.
Edward F Edinger has some interesting things to say about numbers in the Bible.
Ego and Self, The Old Testament Prophets From Isaiah to Malachi is fascinating reading.
Not to mention the matrix.
there is absolutely nothing to add to this brother Skip… Through grateful tears I say- Amen and amen. The LORD-He is G-d!!!
Holy is the Lord God Almighty! I am awestruck. No mere human words can express…
It is so funny that this is what the word is for today. The other night we were having a fierce thunderstorm in the middle of the night. My 5 year old and 2 year old had climbed into bed with my husband and I. My 5 year old quickly went back to sleep, but my 2 year old wasn’t convinced he was even safe in my arms. I was trying to explain to him that thunder was just the sound of the lightening and that we were safe in our home. The clouds must have been very low because the sound of the thunder sounded trapped within our atmosphere. It was like a bomb was going off. All of a sudden it hit me that God was the creator of that awesome thunder. I have to admit it “got me.” We find it hard to hear God when He speaks in the “still small voice” but He was coming through loud and clear. I was also thinking about all the times we cry out for more of God’s Glory, not knowing that it is His mercy that He doesn’t give us what we are not ready to experience. But one day….we will see Him as He is….
Skip, An amazing word you sent! SO TRUE, SO TRUE!
Enclosed is a letter I wrote to believer I know back on March 8, 2009: thought you might resonate:
Dear Brothers & Sisters in the Lord,
For many months my heart has been burning with a message for the church. It is now time for it to be released. The Bridegroom is in His chamber ready to come forth but before we see revival and His ultimate return His wrath will be poured out on this nation and even around the globe. Get ready, get ready- a time of testing and trial is coming. It is being received with a great sense of urgency.
This message has come through many avenues; fasting, prayer & His word. It has been confirmed in emails and sermons from across the globe, in dreams and visions, and in the hearts of intercessors around the world. While God has spoken to me directly equating this time to those of Moses, the plagues and ultimate deliverance, and specifically that there will be a clear picture “that the people of Goshen belong to Him” He has warned me to tell the people who believe that we will be “raptured first and suffer nothing” that they are deceived in their understanding and therefore can not be ready for what is ahead.
I believe an email I received from a dear sister in The Lord this morning has said it best: “Remember Matthew 24. There’s a lot of bad stuff that happens before the end. It says believers will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. I believe that God is removing His hand of protection from our country and that this, in and of itself, represents a judgment against us (Romans 1:18-32). Satan is right there ready to step in and steal what he can; we Christians will be persecuted by our fellow Americans and we as a nation will be attacked by other nations.
The wrath of God has indeed been satisfied with respect to those who are under grace, but for those who are not?? We live among a people with rebellion in their hearts and blood on their hands, and without Jesus’ blood covering, judgment stands. The key I guess is to discern what is persecution and what is judgment. The church will be persecuted; the world will be judged. In spiritual terms there is a WORLD of difference between the two (the difference between ultimately being seated with Christ in heavenly places and being consigned to the pit of hell), but in practical terms, they can both leave a person dead!! Jesus says during the time before the end that many will turn away, that their hearts will grow cold. I believe it is dangerous to believe we won’t suffer, not only because the bible says we will, but because of the disillusionment that will set in if we’re expecting wine and roses and get a bitter cup instead. We must resolve, with God’s help, to stand firm until the end.
So to me, an appropriate strategy is: plan for the worst, hope for the best, expect the Master’s return, and be sure to be about His business so He will find you doing as He commanded when He comes!!”
As I have been speaking to people for these past few months the questions in the end are always: “Where do I go?” “What do I do?” My answer is always the same: “Go wherever He tells you to go, do whatever He tells you to do.” In practical terms we should have a disaster plan in place, prepare to help our family and neighbors where possible and share with everyone what God is saying, especially where it comes to the gift of salvation and the call to repentance and obedience.
A theme of true repentance, of reverence, or a turning our backs on everything in this world and turning towards the very heart of God runs through Isaiah 58 which has been at the heart of the message we have been hearing & living. My prayer today is that as you read this call to intercede and prepare the way of the Lord it will resonate in your heart and ring true as the very Words of our Lord.
We are preparing for a 40 day global fast. The Lord has given the day before Pentecost as the day the fast is to be broken. He is calling for a Festival to take place on that Saturday and for the following day- Pentecost Sunday for us to look for the Holy fire He is to send down on His church. The Lord has said to me: “thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision” Joel 3:14(NLT). His desire is for souls- thousands of souls to enter the Kingdom on that day- Pentecost 2009.
Here are the logistics: The 40 day fast will begin on Monday, April 20, 2009 and end on Saturday, May 30th- in a festival to the Lord. The details of what that looks like for you (what type of fast) and as a community (how the “festival” will be held) is something you must seek the Lord about. We have our hearts set on what He is requiring of us and are putting a plan into motion for our city (Bridgeport, CT). We would love to hear what the Lord says to each of you and pray that you will send this on to every believer you know around the world.
This fast is two fold. First and foremost for the believer to prepare ourselves for the battle that is coming and the souls that are waiting, to fully consecrate ourselves to the Lord. For us to be able to listen intently and intensely. It is also a time of seeking true repentance for ourselves and our world. It is a time of reflecting on and living out Isaiah 58. It is a time of oneness, not only with the Father, but also with each other. It is time to begin to live out Jesus prayer for us in John 17. That WE ARE ONE as He is One with His Father.
As with everything, this is simply your choice. I ask that you listen to His Voice and do whatever He calls you to do. Please pray for us as we pray for each of you to stand firm and know that He IS God!
Bridging the Gap,
Sue Warner along with
Pastor Scott Warner
The Bridge
http://www.godsbridge.com
203-767-2857