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| He burns the shields with fire. (Verse 11) “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Perhaps the maker of the small plaque was thinking about Holy War and about how we are to trust God to fight our enemies. But the little pink flowers that wound around the words like a gentle vine would seem to indicate otherwise. But even if the plaque-maker didn’t get it, we do. It’s a comfort to me that “Be still and know that I Am God” means something more than quiet prayer. My life isn’t all pink, winding flowers. Contemplation in a garden is fine, but it doesn’t feel like reality when the enemy is breathing down your neck. But then again, if God is really going to fight for us, if all we really have to do when evil assails us is—be still, then maybe we truly can relax, and contemplate, and just . . . . . . . be. REST STOP #3: The “I Am” Statements in John In the gospel of John, Jesus is described by seven “I AM’s.” I am the good shepherd, I am the vine, I am the door, I am the way, the truth and the life, I am the light of the world, I am the bread of life and I am the resurrection. The “I am” phrase in Greek is intentional. Most Jews of Jesus’ time, out of reverence for the holy name of God, would avoid using “I am.” But Jesus is intentional, even to the point of explicit connection to Yahweh. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58) Jesus identified himself as YHWH. One way, then, to better understand YHWH is to reflect on these “I am” statements from John. Continued... |
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