Book Review: The Names of God by Marilyn Hickey (Jehovah Nissi)

Hello everyone, welcome to our monthly book review for, The Names of God, by Marilyn Hickey.

Our review for May is the chapter on the name, Jehovah Nissi which means, Jehovah my banner.

God continues to speak to me as I work through this book, that describes the different characters of God, through His various names.

Exodus 17:15 mentions the name Jehovah Nissi, that the children of Israel were triumphant in, over the oppression of the Egyptians.  This chapter points to scripture and ties Old Testament to New Testament, showing that all scripture points to Christ, who was the spiritual rock in the wilderness that the children of Israel depended on for water (see 1 Corinthians 10:4). 

As the spiritual battle intensifies, this chapter lets us know, through scripture, that God is reminding us who the enemy is.  That God has already won and who our focus should be on.  I am tempted to say, it comes at a great time, as in, this week or this month, but the truth of the matter is that there is always something, because the enemy, Satan, changes his tactic in our lives when he is defeated in one area.  He just finds another area to focus on and attacks us from that angle.

I really love how this chapter, reminds us to focus on Jehovah Nissi - the Lord our banner, who is already victorious.

I have recently read several of the verses mentioned in this chapter and it has brought me comfort and renewed strength, meaning the strength to realign my focus on Christ. 

Psalm 118:6 - The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Romans 8:31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

This chapter is all about our strength being in Christ - not of our own, as our own strength will always end in defeat.  It contains beautiful reminders and promises.  I will share some.

Romans 8:37 -  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

John 16:33 - we can have peace, as Jesus has overcome the world

Hebrews 13:5  - never left or forsaken

1 John 5:4 - we have the victory in this world, in our faith

Ephesians 1:20-21 - Christ’s power above all principalities

Ephesians 2:6 - we are in Christ

John 3:14 - Christ is always lifted up - the Messiah

1 Corinthians 15:57 - our victory through Christ

2 Corinthians 2:14 - our triumph in Christ and the knowledge of God made known over the earth

This chapter also reminds us to not repay evil with evil, but do good. 

My daily verse was from Ephesians 5:1-2: Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

As the battle rages and you witness and experience people doing unsavoury things, by our own strength, it would be easy to repay evil with evil. But this chapter is a wonderful reminder that God is just - as in, God is just against all, having no favourites.  What He decides, we can trust, no matter how it looks, in our own understanding.

This chapter references verses from Joshua 7:7-9 about sin in the camp of Israel, which reminded me of a thought I had the other day, when feeling unjustly treated.  God does not bless sinful actions. We can’t be mean back to someone and expect God to bless it, even if a person is being malicious to us. God is perfect and just - sin has no place in His kingdom. What we can do is focus on the one who does have the power to do something about the problem.  Jesus Christ is our high priest and our advocate, who has promised to be with us until the end of the age (Matthew 28:20, amongst other places in the Bible).

Two people in a situation can pray to God for the opposite things, with the certainty that they are in the right. The wonderful thing is that God is just, knowing the depths of each and every heart and can act according to His just character, not our desires.  That gives me a huge sense of comfort as my prayers are lifted up with the desire for God’s Will to be done.  Praise the Lord!

There is a powerful analogy at the end of the chapter related to how we are covered by Christ’s sacrifice.  We would do well to read scripture and pray daily to remind ourselves that we do stand victorious in Christ, no matter what is happening around us, to us or in us. God has given us His precious word and prayer as resources to keep us in Christ.  He has also given us the gift of encouraging one another, as brothers and sisters in Christ. The Names of God, is a resource that offers encouragement, points to scripture and gives all the honour to God, through Christ Jesus.

I have only summarized some of the aspects of this chapter.  I encourage you to read or listen to it.

I’d like to include a Psalm the Lord recently put on my heart.  I was given Psalm 57:10, For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. Here is the complete Psalm.

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!For my soul trusts in You;And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,Until these calamities have passed by.

2 I will cry out to God Most High,To God who performs all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven and save me;He reproaches the one who [b]would swallow me up. SelahGod shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

4 My soul is among lions;I lie among the sons of menWho are set on fire,Whose teeth are spears and arrows,And their tongue a sharp sword.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;Let Your glory be above all the earth.

6 They have prepared a net for my steps;My soul is bowed down;They have dug a pit before me;Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;I will sing and give praise.

8 Awake, my glory!Awake, lute and harp!I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;I will sing to You among the nations.

10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,And Your truth unto the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Praise the Lord!

Whatever circumstance we are in, the chapter on Jehovah Nissi reassures us through many scripture verses, that God is with us in this fierce battle, fighting for us.  Our job is to make sure we put on the armour He has provided for us, as described in Ephesians 6:11-17, which I have read a few times in other podcasts.  If you have never read these verses or it’s been a while, read them today. 

I appreciate how Ephesians reminds us who is standing behind the people trying to hurt us - who the real enemy is, who uses people and circumstances to try and shift our focus away from Christ and get us to react in ways that do not honour God.

Thanks be to God for His Word, to keep us on the path of truth, until the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ, our King and Messiah returns, very soon.

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Book and thumbnail source: www.audible.com