MOTIVATE

Someone who is near and dear to many of us has been on the decline. Unfortunately, it seems he’s fading fast; his influence is weakening and voice becoming softer; – you have to listen really closely to hear him anymore. It seems most days he just wants to stay secluded in private and avoid crowds.

And sadly, there are some that are celebrating his supposed downfall with their taunting and hatred. Their long discourses on social media are filled with outrageous lies and mocking insults. God only knows what is said behind closed doors. I think many are joyfully anticipating planning his funeral.

And while our friend has appeared to experience an ongoing season of retreat, it’s not permanent. Make no mistake, our friend is alive and has an inner perseverance that cannot be overpowered. While his interactions appear protected in private settings, there is coming a day when he will surface again for the world to see.

Who is our friend? His name is Truth.

Psalm 11:3 “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” We are witnessing the decline of truth leading to a breakdown of the culture’s immune system. It is not an exaggeration to say our nation and world is unhealthy in every measurable category.

Almost every hot topic in our culture stems back to discerning truth from fiction. Many of the same people who deny absolute truth and moral standards are those who appeal to a standard when they feel their ideas and desires are offended. If you’ve ever wanted something to change, or been angry at an action, or been grieved over failure, then deep down you know truth exists. But, sadly, people value outrage and relativism over objectivity and reality.

The Bible says the last days will be marked by difficult times, for people will be lovers of self, greedy, prideful, arrogant, violent, ungrateful, heartless, reckless, and unholy… always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2Tim 3:1-7).

• Ironically, it is the educated and academics who are ignoring understanding and truth.
• In the promotion of opinion, truth has become watered down to alternative facts.

In the promotion of opinion, truth has become watered down to alternative facts. Sadly, people value outrage and relativism over objectivity and reality.

When Pilate stood before Jesus and was ready to condemn Him to crucifixion, he cynically asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (Jn 18:38) And this question is still being asked today.

In a last message of our series on the names of God – I want to speak on the name of truth.

EXAMINE

God has over 60 names in the OT.[1] Our study on the names of God indicate that each name communicates about the character, the competency, and the compassion of God. God is known not just for who He is as The Almighty, but what He does in action.

• God is “Elohim,” which means “strong one.”
• God is “Adonai,” which means Lord or master.
• When God revealed Himself personally, His name was “YHWH” = “I Am that I Am,” or LORD.
• Additionally, last week we also reflected upon God’s name as “El Kabod” = God of glory. Glory is the weight and significance of who God is.
• Adonai Yeshua = The Lord is my salvation
• Today we want to reflect upon an additional name: Yahweh El Emet = LORD God of Truth. 

In Hebrew, the word “Emet” can be translated as either “truth” or “faithfulness.”

• The root word is from a verb, which means to make firm, or support.
• Further, it’s also related to another familiar word: “Amen.”
• Emet consists of three letters which the beginning is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet
  (aleph = foremost, premier),
  the end is the last letter (tav = cross),
  and the middle is a middle letter (mem = water). There are 22 letters in Hebrew, with 5 having a final form when placed at the end of a word.
  So, 27 total with 13 letters before the mem and 13 after, and mem is the 14^th letter = 2x 7 (perfection). It’s God not odd.  

Overall, such arrangement indicates that truth endures the beginning and the end (like Alpha & Omega / Greek letters) and encompasses the fullness of existence. And like truth, God is foremost with the Son of God on the cross being exalted, and the life-giving water being dispensed through the Holy Spirit.

The name Yahweh El Emet comes from a several different verses:

Psalm 31:5 “Into your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.”

Exodus 34:6 “And the LORD passed before Moses and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth”

Deuteronomy 32:4 “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”

Isaiah 65:16 “he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth”

Jeremiah 10:10 “the LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.”

Likewise, the NT has essential emphasis upon truth.

God/Jesus are of truth.

• John 1:14 Jesus was full of grace and truth
• John 7:28; 8:26 “He who sent me [Jesus] is true”
• John 14:6 “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• 1 John 5:20 “the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true”

Holy Spirit is of truth.

• John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13 “the Spirit of truth… dwells with you and will be in you… who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me (Jesus)… he will guide you into all truth”

God’s people must be of the truth.

• John 4:24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
• Acts 5 two individuals lie to Holy Spirit & their consequence is immediate death to stand before God.
• 1 Corinthians 13:6 “love rejoices with the truth”
• 2 Corinthians 13:8 “For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth.”
• Eph 4:15, 25; 6:14 “speak the truth in love… put away falsehood… stand & fasten on the belt of truth”
• 1 Timothy 2:4 “God desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
• James 5:19 “If anyone among you wanders from the truth, someone [should] bring them back”

Satan is not of the truth.

• John 8:44 “The devil was a murderer from the beginning, does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him… he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
• 1 John 1:6, 8; 2:4 “If we say we have fellowship with God while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth… If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us… Whoever says, ‘I know God’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Additionally, the translation range of this name is not just truthfulness but faithfulness.

• Psalms 86:15 “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in steadfast love and [EMET] truth /faithfulness.”
• Psalms 100:4-5 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His [EMET] truth/faithfulness endures to all generations.”

APPLY/THINK

So, what are the implications of Yahweh El Emet = LORD God of Truth?

We can trust His word.

We live in an age where we unfortunately must fact-check usually credible sources of information. The age of bias, partisanship, conspiracy, collusion, and outright deception is rampant.

We also live in a world of planned expiration. We know that over the course of time that things will not last.

• Batteries need replaced monthly… even car batteries are about 2-years.
• Bed Mattresses get lumpy or pokey.
• Copier has 3-years for maintenance end of life.
• Cars when first off the lot devalue, and will depreciate.
• Computers last about 5 years if you’re fortunate.  
• LED bulbs last longer than reg but still end ~10-20yrs.
• … even spam has an expiration date.
• Seriously, scientists know the earth and its resources cannot last forever… and while we should be good stewards with creation care, we will not prolong this globe one second past God’s predetermined time for it to be refined by holy fire.

We celebrate with our brothers in the Marines who have the motto: Semper Fi (Always Faithful), but more we celebrate the hymn which says, “Great Is Thy (God’s) Faithfulness!”

God’s faithfulness is equal to His truthfulness. God is a dependable source of information and a reliable friend.

• Psalms 33:4-5 “For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in [EMET] truth and faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”
• Ps 57:10 “For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your [EMET] truth /faithfulness unto the clouds.”
• John 17:17 “God’s word is truth” (cf. James 1:18)
• Titus 1:2 “God cannot lie” (cf. Ro 1:18, 25; 2:8; 3:4)

Unfortunately, we buy the lie that God is not trustworthy, and believe we should trust our heart.
Further, we believe that God is merely beneficial but not beautiful, and that our sins are merely wrong but not that wicked. These are the distortions we must guard against. And our only protection from buying lies is investing in truth.

We buy lies that God is not trustworthy, & believe we should trust our heart. We believe God is merely beneficial but not beautiful, & that our sins are wrong but not that wicked. These are distortions to guard against. Our only protection from buying lies is investing in truth.

dave_dwb

Proverbs 3:1-7 “¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, ² for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. ³ Let not steadfast love and [EMET] faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. ⁷ Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. ⁸ It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

We can express our vulnerability.

Most people resist sharing their feelings and expressing emotions. Some are raised not to cry and to avoid showing weakness. People don’t like their personal issues to become public, so they remain isolated and live in the shadows.

But, while these sorts of people mean well, they often don’t live well. They are lonely and hurt inside. Sometimes they’re depressed & bitter. And they miss out on God’s means of healing grace & helping hands.

• Proverbs 28:13 “Whoever conceals [troubles and] transgressions will not prosper, but one who confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.”
• Psalms 51:6 “Behold, You desire [EMET] truth /faithfulness in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.”
• Psalms 145:18-20 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in [EMET] truth /faithfulness. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. The LORD preserves all who love Him, But all the wicked He will destroy.
• 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

No shortcoming is too substantial, no struggle too sizeable, nor sin too scandalous for the faithful strength and forgiving grace of Jesus.

We can endure life’s challenges.

The Gospel’s narrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Mary was greeted by an angel with the news that she would be with child. This young woman did not understand why she was chosen. She did not understand how everything would occur. She did not understand the details for what it would mean to be the mother to the Son of God. She straightforwardly trusted God’s promises saying, “For nothing is impossible with God. Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:37-38). She also simply treasured God’s presence and praised God amid the challenges of parenthood, marriage, and family life (cf Lk 2:19, 33, 51; Jn 2:5).

We don’t see too much of Mary in the Gospels until the end of Jesus’ life. Can you imagine viewing the betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion of Jesus from mother Mary’s perspective? The Gospels record that Mary is present but undoubtedly distraught. And there’s a tender moment with Jesus hanging on the cross, looking out and seeing His mother with one of the beloved disciples (John), and Jesus says, “Woman, behold, your son” and to John, “Behold, your mother.” And from that moment onward, the disciple took Mary to his home and provided care for her (Jn 19:26-27). It’s an intimately personal and intrinsically profound moment.

We also see the last words of Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46), which is a quote from Psalm 31:5 “Into your hand I commit my spirit; You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of [EMET].”

In all, what we see in the Lord Jesus is God’s unflinching and unshakeable faithfulness. In life’s most daunting and frightening circumstances, Jesus is faithful and God is truthful. We can endure life’s challenges because Yahweh El Emet is with us.

We can trust His word.
We can express our vulnerability.
We can endure life’s challenges.

In life’s most daunting and frightening circumstances, Jesus was unflinching and unshakeable. Therefore, we can endure life’s challenges because Yahweh El Emet is with us.

dave_dwb

If we could have an advanced preview of Heaven, we would soar through the sky and beyond the universe above. Heavenly angels standing guard would confront us and then escort us to the door. Standing outside we would hear the celebratory chants and resounding chorus of saints singing one word: EMET! Truth. Amen! Yahweh El Emet. The LORD is Faithful.

Lamentations 3:22-24 ²² The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; ²³ they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴ “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

• Trust God’s truth. Treasure God’s faithfulness.
• Serve the Lord so we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

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[1] https://growinggodlygenerations.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/god-has-a-name.pdf