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,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of Hosts,
He is the King of glory.
- Psalm 24:7-10
The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
- Zephaniah 3:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords,
the great God,
Mighty and awesome,
who shows no partiality
nor takes a bribe.
- Deuteronomy 10:17
For each month of my grandchildren's first year, I pray a grandmother's blessing over them. Today my third grandson Jeremiah David turned ten months old. My monthly blessing for him is based on one of the names of God. There are so many wonderful, amazing, beautiful names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to choose from. And today, the name Mighty God is very much on my heart.
I must admit that it was only recently that I encountered this particular name of God. Its implications astound me...
Mighty God is El Gibbor in Hebrew.
In studying Scripture, it helps to apply the Law of First Mention, which is to go back to the passage and original context where a particular word or phrase is first mentioned. God is first described as gibbor by Moses during his farewell address to the next generation of young Israelites who are about to enter Canaan, the Promised Land.
The generation that left Egypt about 40 years earlier had disqualified themselves from entering the land and at this point, most of them had passed away. From that generation, it was probably only Moses and the two spies Joshua and Caleb who were still around.
In his farewell sermons recorded in Deuteronomy, Moses urges this young generation to remain true to the covenant God had made with their forefathers:
In his farewell sermons recorded in Deuteronomy, Moses urges this young generation to remain true to the covenant God had made with their forefathers:
And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you,
but to fear the LORD your God,
to walk in all His ways and to love Him,
to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes
which I command you today for your good?
Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God,
also the earth with all that is in it.
The LORD delighted only in your fathers, to love them;
and He chose their descendants after them,
you above all peoples, as it is this day.
Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart.
and be stiff-necked no longer.
For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords,
the great God, mighty and awesome,
who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe.
He administers justice for the fatherless and the widows,
and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing....
You shall fear the LORD your God;
you shall serve Him, and to Him you shall hold fast,
and take oaths in His name.
He is your praise, and He is your God,
who has done for you these great and awesome things
which your eyes have seen. - Deuteronomy 10:12-21
(emphasis mine)
Gibbor means hero, champion, conqueror, warrior. Our God is a great God, mighty in power, and can be counted on to keep His covenant people in His loving care and protection.
Prophesying the birth of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) some three hundred years before His birth, Isaiah gives him the title El Gibbor.
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,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 9:6
- Isaiah 9:6
Young people in the world today do not need a buddy, they are looking for a hero, a champion, a model. Someone to lead the way, someone they can follow.
They need the clear guidance, the comforting presence of Yeshua HaMashiach.
They need the clear guidance, the comforting presence of Yeshua HaMashiach.
He is our El Gibbor.
In Psalm 24, David refers to God as Jehovah Gibbor Milchamah - "The LORD mighty in battle."
He has fought on our behalf, and He has won the victory.
An amazing combination of this name is found in Zephaniah 3:17. Our mighty God is the same God who rejoices over us with gladness and singing, and quiets us with His love. What a tender picture of strength and power, together with gentleness.
Joyful One with cousin Hannah
My precious grandson Joyful One,
As you turn ten months old today, I bless you this month with a heart that will trust God as your Jehovah Gibbor.
May you experience Him as mighty in battle, so that you need not fear of losing ground, because El Gibbor, the Mighty God, has already won the victory.
He is our God who fights for us, and victory is sure.
Father God rejoices over you, dear grandson. I pray that your heart will be comforted by His strong, powerful presence in your life circumstances.
Your parents are raising you well, and our whole extended family is standing by... making sure that you are surrounded by Godly models as you grow up.
May you hear God's songs in the night, and even in your waking hours. For indeed, Jehovah Gibbor rejoices over you with singing, and quiets you with His love.
You are so special to me, dear grandson. I ask today for El Gibbor's hand of protection around you every day of your life.
Love always,
Nana
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1 comment:
Beautiful grandson of yours sister Lidia...and also your wonderful prayer blessings over him. May you always be strong in the Lord's Mighty Power!
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