08-20-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                               ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

The foundation of our faith is not doctrine, but an encounter with God. Doctrines are simply the attempt to help us understand the God we've already encountered. In the Old Testament, encounters with God allowed people to know Him. Once they saw Him work, they understood more of who He is, and they could respond to Him in faith. These moments of encounter often resulted in the people giving Him another name. In fact, all the names of God in the Bible are simply a testimony of God's presence in people's lives. Knowing and understanding these specific names for Him will help us know how He wants to act in our lives today.

God is not a transcendent being who's unknowable; He encounters our very lives, meeting us in the real world. King David was one who knew the Lord well. He had many encounters and experiences with the Lord, and he took many of these real-life situations to the Lord in prayer. In those moments he found that God was everything he needed. Consider David's words in Psalm 23 as an outline of some of the biblical names of God that correspond to how He works in our lives: The LORD is my shepherd… Jehovah Rohi“The Lord our shepherd”  I shall not want… Jehovah Jireh“The Lord who provides”  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters… Jehovah Shalom “The Lord our peace”  

He restores my soul… Jehovah Rophi“The Lord who heals”  He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake… Jehovah Tsidkenu“The Lord our righteousness”  Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me… Jehovah Shammah “The Lord is there”  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies… Jehovah Nissi“The Lord our banner”  You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over… Jehovah Mekoddishkem “The Lord who sanctifies”  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  For generations, Psalm 23 has comforted people all over the world as they see how God cares for His people. This care is reflected in His names, which represent how He encountered His people in times past.

His names reveal His character and help us comprehend what kind of relationship we can expect from Him. He's a personal God, a covenant God, a God who desires a relationship with His people—a relationship that makes a difference in our daily lives. When we speak of encounters with God, we're at the same time talking about revelation by the Spirit of God. The Spirit is God's agent on earth to communicate truth to the spirit within human beings. He opens His people's eyes, gives us wisdom, empowers us for service, and stirs us into action. Just because God is active and working doesn't mean people understand or will respond in faith. The Holy Spirit must give us the ability to both recognize and respond to God.