CELEBRATING EL-GIBBOR

Gird Your sword on Your thigh, O MIGHTY ONE, in Your Glory and Your Majesty – Psalm 45: 3

Whenever you experience circumstances you think are too dire, that’s the time to fix your eyes on JESUS the Author and Perfecter of your faith (Heb.12:2-3). One of the best ways to do this is by meditating on the manifold truths inherent in Messiah’s majestic Names. El-Gibhor – “Mighty God” – is one of the names that describe the Messiah in the prophetic portion of Isaiah: “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, MIGHTY GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isa.9:6). In this brief but awe-inspiring verse are found four names for God that apply to the promised Saviour, the Messiah Jesus Christ!

The Hebrew word ‘gibbor’, meaning “strong, mighty” or “one who possesses power” described heroes like the “mighty warriors” of King David (2Sam.23:8), and Nimrod, “a mighty hunter before the LORD” (Gen.10:8-9). The term depicts action, bravery, courage, and might, all of which are qualities of gibbor in the compound name El-Gibbor, “the Mighty God”! In today’s war-weary world, we often shy away from using military language to describe God; but He reveals Himself in words that portray Him as a Great Warrior. This is His Revelation: “The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is His name” (Exo.15:3). As a powerful and mighty Warrior, the Messiah accomplishes, not only the salvation of His people, but also the destruction of His enemies, and shall rule His adversaries with a rod of iron (Rev.19:15).

Battles – physical and spiritual – have raged across human history and conflicts across continents. El-Gibbor points to the day when all of God’s enemies, physical and spiritual, will be vanquished and all of creation will bow at the feet of Jesus – Messiah and Mighty God. What greater comfort and confidence can there be as we engage in the battles of daily living? For the pilgrim that is growing weary and almost losing heart; for the sojourner facing seemingly insurmountable “mountains” of difficulty; for the wayfarer wading through life’s tough trials, El-Gibbor is the Mighty One to lean and rest on. Look away from the storms and into the serene and reassuring face of the Captain of your Salvation, Who alone is mighty to save. He will calm both the storm within you and the storms around you. He has sailed rougher seas than the one that you’re in right now!

“The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down” (Psa.50:1). Jeremiah testified “No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power (Jer.10:6 NIV). El-Gibbor is eternally “Mighty to Save” – “The LORD your God in your midst, the MIGHTY ONE, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). I celebrate El-Gibbor – JESUS, Who in His first advent came in meekness “to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Lk.4:19); but will return in majesty, as Mighty God, the divine Warrior Who conquers every foe, including our mortal enemies, sin, death, and the devil. All hail the power of Jesus’ Mighty Name! Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!