Do you remember when you were a child, and somebody would take something from you?
Sometimes, you would say, “Hey, that’s not yours!”
Then the reply would come:
“I don’t think so, it doesn’t have your name on it!”
This is often a battle between siblings when both want the same thing, and there isn’t enough to go around. No doubt we’ve all heard that at least a few times in our lives! Many will recall repeatedly touching the disputed item while saying ‘Mine, mine, mine’!
There are scriptures in 1 Kings 11:36, telling us that God has chosen to put His ‘NAME’, on the location of the place we know as
JERUSALEM
The word ‘NAME’ in Hebrew is Hashem
and the holiest name of God also known as the ineffable/unspeakable name is
read in Hebrew from right to left above
Hey <Vav <Hey< Yod<
YHVH
with the letters
Yod Hey Vav Hey
(reading from right to left in English and is also sometimes translated as Jehovah.)
Below is a look at Jerusalem, its location and the place where Jesus/Yeshua will appear when He returns and where the New Jerusalem we all look forward to will be located.
Hebrew: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם Yerushaláyim
pronounced Yeh-roo-sha-la-yim
Looking at Israel from space and focusing in on the city.
In the verses shown below, God states that He has chosen Jerusalem and would put His name there.
And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there. 1Kings 11:36
And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD said, In Jerusalem will I put my name. 2 Kings 21:4
And he set a graven image of the grove that he had made in the house, of which the LORD said to David, and to Solomon his son,
In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put My name for ever: 2 Kings 21:7
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that My Name might be there; and have chosen David to be over My people Israel. 2 Chronicles 6:6
Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall My Name be for ever. 2 Chronicles 33:4
Located on a plateau in the Judean Mountains between the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea, is one of the oldest cities in the world.
It is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Israelis and Palestinians both claim Jerusalem as their capital, as Israel maintains its primary governmental institutions there and the State of Palestine ultimately foresees it as its seat of power.
During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times, and captured and recaptured 44 times.
The oldest part of the city was settled in the 4th millennium BCE.
In 1538, walls were built around Jerusalem under Suleiman the Magnificent.
Today those walls define the Old City, which has been traditionally divided into four quarters—known since the early 19th century as the Armenian, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Quarters.
The Old City became a World Heritage Site in 1981, and is on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Modern Jerusalem has grown far beyond the Old City’s boundaries.
In tradition this is where it is believed
Adam was created from the red dirt of the ground
and where Noah brought an offering after the flood.
Mt Moriah is also the place where Abraham met Melchizedek,
where Abraham brought Isaac to be offered as a sacrifice. Genesis 22. In Hebrew called ‘the akedah’.
Scholars have identified that the same mountain is actually the mountain of myrrh (Song 4:6). Myrrh is mentioned more than any other single plant in the Bible and it held great value for the owner.
Myrrh comes from the word ‘morr’ in Hebrew, the root can refer to something that is a little bitter.
It is used in the anointing oil (Exo 30:23-25) and also for perfume on the priest garment (Ps 45:8).
Esther was soaked with myrrh for 6 months (Esther 2:12). It was one of the gifts given to Jesus/Yeshua.
Mt. Moriah is named after the moriah plant that looks like a Menorah.
A 9 branched Chanukkah menorah
The plant name is similar to the root word for ‘Moriah’. The plant grows in Mt. Moriah. When it is squeezed, beautiful fragrance will come out. This is a picture of Jesus being crushed.
A 7 branched Temple menorah
The area on top of Mt. Moriah, the place where the temple used to sit, was in the shape of the letter ‘yud’
(the tenth letter of Hebrew alphabet).
This is the first letter of Gods Name, YHWH. Also the 1st letter for Jacob, Jerusalem, and Judah. So God put the first letter of His Name to things that are related or special to Him.
David bought the threshing floor
from Jebusite King Aranuah
David said he wouldn’t make an offering to God that cost him nothing.
Mount Moriah is also where the Temples were built. These were all at the same location!
The site of the 1st Temple
built by King David
and 2nd Temple
built by King Solomon
and the very place which was the site
Golgotha, ‘Gol-go-tha’, Hebrew for ‘the place of the skull’, just outside the city walls. John 19:17-20
where
Jesus/Yeshua was crucified
The elevation of Golgotha, Calvary at the North of Jerusalem interestingly is 777 metres. According to topographical maps the highest point of Mt Moriah.
Above: Skull Hill as seen in 1901 from the northern walls of Jerusalem’s Old City.
777 could also be seen as representing three areas of perfection in body, soul, and spirit.
How else might God put his name on Jerusalem?
It begins with a remarkable letter “Shin” in Hebrew alphabet and it is the 21st letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The Shin letter is shaped much like the English letter w.
It is pronounced like “Sheen”. It is the one letter that represents the unspeakable name of the one and only God “YAHWEH”. This letter holds great significance to the Hebrew People.
Shin (also spelled Šin (šīn) or Sheen) and literally means “teeth”, “press”, and “sharp”; It is the twenty-first letter of the Semitic abjads , including Phoenician Shin, and Hebrew שShin,
Shin also stands for the word Shaddai, a name for God.
One meaning of Shaddai is, “the keeper of the doors of Israel”, and also:
The letter Shin is often inscribed on the mezuzot placed on all the doorways of Jewish buildings. as God told the Israelites to do in Deut. 6:9.
Because of this, a Kohen (priest)
forms the letter Shin with his hands
as he recites the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers 6:24-26
Jerusalem was the place they came to offer their gifts and sacrifices. This is where the tabernacle was, (and the Temple built later), where sacrifices and offerings were made daily. There is great significance to this place.
God was known to Abraham in Genesis 17:1
Isaac and Jacob as
El Shaddai. in Ex 6:3
El = God is the strong or first authority
The word El is made up of E/alef and L/lamed
Alef Means Ox, bull, strength, leader, first.
Lamed means Staff, cattle, goad, prod, toward, control and authority
Shaddai means ‘almighty’
Shad =Breast – Dai = Sheds forth
and put together El Shaddai =
The Strong Breasted One -The Almighty God- Mighty to Nourish and Supply
To them, God was called the ‘Almighty God’.
The letter Shin is often inscribed on the case containing a mezuzah, a scroll of parchment with Biblical text written on it.
The text contained in the mezuzah is the Shema Yisrael prayer, the scripture portion from Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21; Num 15:37-43. which calls the Israelites to love their God with all their heart, soul and strength.
“Shema” in Hebrew and “To Hear” in English. It says ” Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord (KJV)”.
The mezuzah is situated upon all the door frames in a home or establishment. Sometimes the whole word Shaddai will be written on it. The exhibition of the Hebrew letter Shin is prominently displayed on the cover.
The sanctity of the home is symbolized by this small scroll and covering. It is a solemn reminder to all who enter and leave the home that the house is Jewish and those who live there are devoted to the ideals of the scripture passages appearing on the scroll.
Interestingly each home, so configured with the mezuzot, could be said to have the name of God on it.
So if we are called by His name and He has formed us, would He sign His name upon us? Isaiah 43:7 (KJV) Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Throughout Psalm 119 the letters of the Hebrew alphabet are listed. The letter Shin is posted at 119:161.
There is one other place God has chosen to write His Name.
The shape of the letter Shin mimics the structure of the human heart:
the lower, larger left ventricle (which supplies the full body) and the smaller right ventricle (which supplies the lungs) are positioned like the lines of the letter Shin Follow the curve going under the right and left ventricles, and the ‘finger’ going up in the middle.
Once again, the letter shin…
the first letter of Shaddai.
God’s Name is not only written in the land of Israel, but physically on our hearts!
Humanity has the undeniable mark of being God’s creation. Each of us have to choose whether to give our hearts totally to Him or not. But, when we do, and the enemy comes against us, God can in effect say, “You can’t have them, because My Name is written there!”
Keeping this letter in mind while looking at an old map…
To be continued.
Amazing conclusion coming in Part 2