Names of God: Jehovah-gmolah

 

This is a name of God that I believe many of us might realize we find hard to trust in when we really think about it. The name of God is Jehovah-gmolah and it means the Lord our Recompense.

We see this name of God in the book of Jeremiah

 

For the destroyer is coming against her, against Babylon, 
And her mighty men will be captured, 
Their bows are shattered; 
For the LORD is a God of recompense, 
He will fully repay.

Jeremiah 51:56

When we look at the context of this passage we know that it was at this time that God was using the nation of Babylon to judge the children of Israel for their disobedience to Him. He was using this Babylon’s rebellion to Him to discipline Israel’s rebellion. Then what we see here in Jeremiah 51:56 is God assuring His children that after He had disciplined them He would then indeed deal with Babylon.

Is it not laid up in store with Me, 
Sealed up in My treasuries? 
‘Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, 
In due time their foot will slip; 
For the day of their calamity is near, 
And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ 
“For the LORD will vindicate His people, 
And will have compassion on His servants, 
When He sees that their strength is gone, 
And there is none remaining, bond or free. 
“And He will say, ‘Where are their gods, 
The rock in which they sought refuge? 
‘Who ate the fat of their sacrifices, 
And drank the wine of their drink offering? 
Let them rise up and help you, 
Let them be your hiding place! 
‘See now that I, I am He, 
And there is no god besides Me; 
It is I who put to death and give life. 
I have wounded and it is I who heal, 
And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 
‘Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, 
And say, as I live forever, 
If I sharpen My flashing sword, 
And My hand takes hold on justice, 
I will render vengeance on My adversaries, 
And I will repay those who hate Me. 

Deuteronomy 32:34-41

God was giving Israel an opportunity to call on these god’s they chose to worship instead of Him… and when they realized that these gods could not save them, God knew they would call on Him.

How awesome it is that God is willing to take us back.

Sometimes we let other gods come before our God and we disciplined, sometimes we just need sifted like wheat, sometimes we are being used by God to teach another how to trust Him in a hard time, sometimes we are being prepared for something that is coming later…  sometimes bad things happen, sometimes people are not so nice, but in all the sometimes God tells us to trust Him at all times.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 

Be of the same mind toward one another; 

do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. 

Do not be wise in your own estimation. 

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. 

Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 

Never take your own revenge, beloved,

but leave room for the wrath of God,

for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. 

“BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM,

AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK;

FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:14-21

Here’s a little example of being overcome with evil:

 

As you watched that video I am sure you laughed… it’s pretty funny.

But the reality is that in the real world what you see is absolutely no redemption. There is no peace. There is no forgiveness. There is no end to the “get backs”. It just keeps going one. One hurting the other right after the other.

Have you been there?

Have you been overcome by evil?

Have you been hurt by the evil of another and instead of returning good to them you were overcome by their evil and returned evil for evil.

At some point someone has to choose to stop the endless cycle of evil… and it can only be stopped by choosing not to return evil for evil.

But Jesus was saying, “ Father, forgive them;

for they do not know what they are doing.”

And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

Luke 23:34

How grateful I am that Jesus chose to return good for my evil…

And now as His redeemed I am told to go and do likewise. He is my example. And here is the thing… if I am the Spirit filled child of God and am being hurt by someone who knows God not then whose responsibility is it to be the one that says enough is enough? Yes, that’s right. It’s mine. Those who know God not fall in the “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” category.

However if you know God… you know exactly what you do

                      and you know exactly what you are to do.

You just have to choose to do it.

You have to choose to trust in Jehovah-gmolah.

Do not say, “I will repay evil”; 

Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Proverbs 20:22  

Comments