EBG Preken

This morning we will begin a short summer sermon series on the names of God. We will look at seven names. Not because the number seven has any special meaning of complete-ness, but because there are seven Sundays left in the summer. It’s pragmatic.
When God reveals His name, he discloses something personal about Himself. We - as adults - have become all too accustomed to this and so we miss the special-ness of sharing your name. But think of that child - any child really - that when asked its name hides behind mom’s legs, looks away, or sheepishly barely whispers its name. Why? Because it is information about yourself - an identification - and it’s personal. Your name is your first identifier. Instead of being one among an unknown crowd of others, you have become known - by a name. When that name is called you respond, you look up, and you allow yourself to be interrupted by another.

In Psalm 9:10 (verse 11 in a Dutch Bible) David pens the following strophe:
And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

David connects knowing God’s name and trust. The personal nature of the relationship between God and His people is highlighted here. Knowing a person’s name marks the beginning of the relationship. As is so often the case in the Psalms, the poet states the same statement in two different ways to strengthen the point. “Put their trust in you” is parallel to “you have not forsaken”. God’s capacity and promise to never forsake is why we trust in Him. We don’t trust people that are prone to run when the going gets rough. You can’t count on them. It follows then that the other two statements in this verse are parallel: “Knowing His name” and “seeking you”. Let me illustrate: knowing my name marks the beginning of a relationship with me, but if you want to deepen that relationship you will look for me and use my name to find me among the crowd of others. Knowing God’s name is personal and marks the beginning of the relationship and we never tire of seeking Him.

In Exodus 3 we encounter Moses at the burning bush. Perhaps you think: again? Two months ago we looked at God’s question to Moses in chapter 4. We’re going to consider God’s introduction in chapter 3 this morning. This scene at the burning bush remains a solemn encounter between a prince of Egypt and the King of kings.

God introduces Himself in an impersonal way first: the God of your fathers - Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (verse 6) This introduction elicits fear (couple that with the fire that isn’t consuming the bush and the command to take off your sandals - fear is a pretty normal response). God explains His plan in verses 7-10 and answers Moses first objection (Who am I) in verse 11 and 12. Then Moses asks for God’s name in verse 13 and God’s answer is recorded in verses 14-15.

I am that I am
The personal name of God reveals some very real truths about His person and character.

Infinite in eternity
God’s identification as I am reveals that God exists and that He is in a state of being. Repeating the verb intensifies the continued state of being. God is. There never was a time when God was not. God reveals Himself as the God, who has always been and always will be. There is no direction in time that you may travel to find a change in the tense of this verb. God is.

Independent from creation
The restatement of the verb also highlights God’s independence. There is nothing that contributes to God’s being. Everything flows from Him, is dependent on Him, and is kept by His infinite power. We need God, but He does not need us.

Immutable in His character
The tense of the verb says something about His character. He is implies that he does not change. God does not identify Himself as “becoming”. He does not increase in knowledge, change point of views, or adapt to changing circumstances. An...

The Outline
After Elijah has his mountaintop experience, seeing God reveal Himself the true and only God in an impressive show-down with the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, we read this chapter. It begins with Jezebel’s response to the news of the slaughter of the prophets and she responds with an edict that Elijah is going to be dead “by this time tomorrow!”
And really, what happens next, you just don’t see coming… Elijah flees. He travels to the southernmost point in Judah, leaves his servant there and wanders into the desert.
God goes with Elijah and provides a hot breakfast and Elijah travels through the desert for 40 days and nights, finally ending up at the Mountain of God - Mt. Horeb. There he crawls into a cave.
This is where God asks His question: Elijah, what are you doing here?
Elijah’s response is: “I’ve worked hard for you Lord. The Israelites have broken Your covenant, pushed over all your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left and they want to kill me.”
And then God works on His servant.

For many this story may have a ring of familiarity in it. Why did Elijah end up here? How does he go from victor to victim in the space of a few hours. What happened?
What happened is the point and the backdrop for this entire story. King Ahab happened. This Jewish king should have been so impressed by the display of God that he went home and got right with God. Elijah, who outran the chariot, by the way, expected an edict that would read similar to the edict the king of Nineveh published when Jonah prophesies there. “Everyone wear sackcloth and seek the face of God and perhaps He will save us from calamity!” Instead Elijah gets a message that his days are numbered.
Elijah is dealt some severe disappointment and disillusionment. His hope for the nation has been a good hope, but things aren’t going to play out like Elijah had envisioned.
So… does this sound familiar to you?
Something that you thought God was going to do that He didn’t?
Maybe you were expected God to do the miraculous and heal a sickness. Maybe you were hoping that all your efforts to evangelize that co-workers or family member would result in their salvation. Maybe you did most everything right and expected your kid would follow God with all his heart. But instead these good hopes didn’t materialize.
Disillusionment is a real thing and it can happen when God’s plans are not our plans and we discover that we were holding on to our plans just a bit tighter than to God’s.
The question God’s asks Elijah, is the question He asks us and moments like that… What are you doing here?
Because you end up there, because you’ve lost your way and need to get back in step with God.

The lesson for Elijah is as follows:
First he goes back to the beginning. 8
He tells God how he is feeling. 10
Listen for His voice. 14
Be obedient. 15

Elijah ends up back where it all started… the mountain of God. This is where God met Moses. This is where God and His people started.
God asks His question the first time and Elijah doesn’t hold back. He thinks he is the only one left, even though in chapter 18 Obediah informs him he has been secretly taking care of 100 prophets (1 Kings 18:13).
God comes to Him in a small voice and His question hasn’t changed… Elijah, what are you doing here?
After repeating his complaint, God basically says: “Okay, that’s enough.” And gets Elijah back into service. How? By showing Him the next step in His plan. Not all of it… just what’s next. Get up, anoint some kings and train the next prophet.
What does Elijah do? He obeys. Did he feel like it yet? Who knows. I tend to think he may not completely, but he goes. And he and Elisha develop a very neat relationship. And Elijah’s end? Impressive - chariots of fire!

We can get disillisioned and disappointed when things don’t happen...

The Outline

The King (2 Chronicles 26)
King Uzzia was elected king by the people at 16 years old. At such a young age he was instructed by the prophet Zechariah (verse 5) in the fear of the Lord. This must have been a tremendous privilege for this young king - to have someone that helped him to continue to fear God. He reigned 52 years - a very long time and verses 6-15 chronicle his achievements as king.
The turning point in the story comes in verse 16. When he had become strong - it went to his head. An episode in this king’s life that changed him and his reign forever. He thought he could act as priest and burn incense before the Lord. The priests (80 of them) warned him not to do it and the king burned in anger toward them. And while the priests were watching him, leprosy started to grow on his forehead.
The end of his life was one of seclusion - away from the temple and the palace - and his son ruling in his stead.

The King of kings (Isaiah 6)
This is the situation that forms the backdrop for Isaiah’s vision. The king has died. His rule had lasted 52 years. He had made a tragic error in judgment. This attitude toward the things of God was reflected among the people.
It was at this moment that Isaiah is ushered into the throne room of God and has a spectacular vision of the Lord, high and lifted up.

Majesty (verse 1)
What a difference with king Uzziah, who had tarnished his kingly majesty. The King of kings is still on His throne and the train of his robe fills the temple. That’s impressive
Holiness (verses 2-3)
Seraphim are guarding the holiness of God. They were created so that they do not look upon the holiness of God and they call out a warning. In the Hebrew language there is no punctuation, so where we would use an exclamation point, in Hebrew you would repeat it. The strongest way to say something in the Hebrew language is to repeat it three times. God is holy, Holy, HOLY! And even though it may not always seem like it, the whole earth is full of His glory.
Sovereignty (verse 8)
This last scene contains our question. But understand what is happening here. God is clearly shown as ruling and reigning in the affairs of men. He asks whom they (a veiled reference to the trinity) might send and Isaiah is quick to answer that he is willing. He then receives a commissioning to speak to a people that will not want to listen.


This vision of the King of kings teaches us much that ought to encourage us in the times we live in. In turbulent political times, like a Brexit from the EU and a call for a referendum in the Netherlands… it is this scene in Isaiah 6 that lifts our focus from the earthly to the heavenly. God is still on his throne.
Isaiah’s response is really a pattern for us to follow.

His first response is to acknowledge his own sinfulness. 5a
Secondly, he considers the people he lives with: unholy 5b
God is unapproachably holy 6
God sanctifies Isaiah. 7

God’s holiness shows our unholiness. But He doesn’t leave it that way, but chooses to make us holy. And then he chooses to accomplish His work through us. And the call - or question - still rings today… Whom shall we send? Who will go for us? What will your answer be?