So the elections are over and most of us would agree that the presidential campaign was one of the most negative campaigns in the history of the country. Both sides relied on name calling and other tactics to assign blame and attach scandal to their competitor. While we might think that this was the worst in history, that really isn’t the case.
There was one election for President, back during the time of the Andrew Jackson, that was similarly negative. Until that time in our country, most of the elected officials were from the East Coast and for the first time, a “westerner” from the region of Tennessee was soon to be in charge of the executive branch of our government. Jackson was thought to be a hick, from the rural west and people chanted some of the same stuff that they are saying about those who supported Trump. But the country survived and people had to get used to the idea that we have both rural and urban areas in our great nation. But the name calling was over the top. Of course, Jackson ended up with the nickname “Old Hickory”, referencing how tough he was to crack.
Sometimes, we don’t realize why people call others names. The real reason is that we try to assign attributes to each other and while most of the time they are intended to be negative, we can also use names to build up and recognize one another. Even terms like kind hearted, loyal, compassionate and slow to anger are traits that we call each other. But I don’t think anyone has had as many names attributed to them as God. In fact, Hebrew tradition and the Scriptures record more than 900 names and titles that have been used to describe our Creator.
Among the many names assigned to God, generations have referred to Him as El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty), El Elyon (The Most High God), Adonai (Lord, Master), Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah), Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner), Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd), Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals), Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There), Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness), Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You), El Olam (The Everlasting God), Elohim (God), Qanna (Jealous), Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace), Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts) as well as other names and titles too numerous to mention here.
The point is that all of these names, and many others, attest to the attributes of the Creator and other members of the Trinity. Our verse for this evening comes from 2 Chronicles and speaks to the healing that God is capable of. We are told, in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
That’s what we need now – for God to heal our land… My encouragement this evening is that God is ready, willing and able to bring us together. We just need to turn to Him. My prayer is that we will all reflect on the goodness of God and so many of the attributes that He possesses. By doing this, we will be on the road to recovery and healing. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…