Elohim Khayim: Dwelling with the LIVING GOD

Elohim Khayim: אֱלֹהִ֥ים חַיִּ֖ים

El Khai: אֵ֥ל חַ֖י

We’ve looked into the word LIFE a lot on this blog. One of the earliest postings was on LIFE (khai) and we revisited life four years later.  We’ve looked at numerous LIFE phrases, including the Tree of Life (ets khayim), the Path of Life (orakh khayim), the Fountain of Life (m’qohr khayim), the Fountain of Living Water (m’qohr khayim mayim), the Light of the Living (b-ohr ha-khayim), and the Land of the Living (b-eretz khayim). But as we continue to look at particular words found in Psalm 42:1-2, this week we’re focusing on the phrase “the Living God”. Let’s take a look at how this phrase was presented:

Psalm 42:1-2

[David:] As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God [l-El khai]; when shall I come and appear before God?

Living God, Lifeless Idols

There seems to be a great emphasis on Yahweh being a “Living God”, in comparison to the rigid, lifeless, statue gods of the neighbouring pagan cultures of the Egyptians, the Hittites, the Canaanites, and the Philistines, to name a few.

YHWH spoke to Isaiah, saying: “Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save” (Isaiah 45:20b). There was no life in a cut down block of wood, and there was no breath in idols created by human hands. The Psalmist put it this way:

Psalm 135:15-18

The idols of the nations are nothing but silver and gold, the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

they have eyes, but they do not see;

they have ears, but they do not hear, nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.

Those who make them will become like them, yes, everyone who trusts in them (will become like them).

For centuries people worshipped lifeless idols, and the Living God, YHWH, was pitted against a pantheon of useless gods. During Paul and Barnabas’ mission to Lystra, they healed a man and the townsfolk assumed that Barnabas and Paul were the gods Zeus and Hermes, visiting them in the flesh.

Acts 12:8-15

And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. Moreover, the priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard about it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men, of the same nature as you, preaching the gospel to you, to turn from these useless things to a Living God [Greek: Theon zonta], who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them.”

Powerless inanimate objects could do nothing, and so the writers countered the lifeless idols with an emphasis that their God was the one and only Living God:

Jeremiah 10:10a

But YHWH is the true God; He is the Living God [Elohim khayim] and King everlasting!

This Living-God-emphasis was repeated all through the Bible. It was a constant reminder that the God of the Hebrew people was no stagnant god. This God moved and breathed and interacted with His people in profound and unique ways. 

God interacted with Moses at the burning bush and revealed His Name. When Moses had proven that he could face YHWH and live, the people were happy to let Moses be an intercessor. They didn’t want to face the Living God, fearing for their lives. They suspected they would meet death rather than life if they came in contact with the Living God, and so they justified their reason for avoiding God’s presence: 

Deuteronomy 5:26-27

“For who is there of humanity who has heard the voice of the Living God [Elohim khayim] speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?”

The answer was clearly Moses. He faced the Presence of God and lived to tell about it, so the people told him to face YHWH alone and report back to them. They feared their own death and refused to stand in front of the Living God.

Although they didn’t want to face the Living God, they were always happy to have His help. Joshua understood that God was a powerful, vibrant God, full of life and He relied on this Living God to interact with them, and creation, in order to rescue them. Joshua announced that God would move the waters as soon as the priest’s feet touched the riverbed. Life and water was at the hands of the Creator, and He did not disappoint:

Joshua 3:10

And Joshua said, “By this you will know that the Living God [El khai] is among you, and that He will assuredly drive out from you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. And it will come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of YHWH, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, that is, the waters which are flowing down from above; and they will stand in one heap.”

This living Creator God was an active God, just as Joshua promised. He pushed aside the waters of the Jordan River so the people and the Ark of the Covenant could cross into the Promised Land, safe and secure.

Warning: There’s Power in the Living God

The Israelite people have had enemies all throughout their existence. One of their early opponents were the Philistines. Goliath stood as their intercessor warrior, willing to fight Israel’s bravest soldier to decide the battle’s fate. The unlikely choice to oppose Goliath was the young shepherd-boy, David. He faced the mighty Goliath without fear because David knew, as big as Goliath was, he had no power over YHWH, the Living God:

1 Samuel 17:26b

[David:] “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the Living God [Elohim khayim]?” 

YHWH has tremendous power, no man can stop it, and Goliath was no exception. He fell face first into the dust and was defeated. When you’re against the God of Life, death is inevitable. 

The Assyrians were another enemy that targeted Israel and Judah. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent a messenger to Judah in order to “taunt the Living God [Elohim khai]” (Isaiah 37: 4). But Hezekiah did not submit to idle threats. He did his best to ensure that the Living God would rescue them. And how did he do that? Prayer!

Isaiah 37:15-20

Hezekiah prayed to YHWH, saying, “YHWH of armies, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. Incline Your ear, YHWH, and hear; open Your eyes, YHWH, and see; and listen to all the words of Sennacherib, who sent them to taunt the Living God [Elohim khai]. Truly, YHWH, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the countries and their lands, and have thrown their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but only the work of human hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. But now YHWH, our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, YHWH, are God.”

It wasn’t just the neighbouring pagan communities that opposed YHWH, sometimes YHWH’s adversaries were right under His nose, within the Israelite community. False prophets were as damaging (if not more so) than the foreign pagan priests and militant foreign kings. Of these false prophets, Jeremiah noted their sin:

Jeremiah 23:36b

“You have perverted the words of the Living God [Elohim khayim], YHWH of armies, our God.”

Here is what God had to say to these false prophets:

Jeremiah 23:39-40

[YHWH:] “Therefore behold, I will certainly forget you and thrust you away from My presence, along with the city which I gave you and your fathers. I will put an everlasting disgrace on you and an everlasting humiliation which will not be forgotten.”

Perverting the words of the Living God was a dangerous game. These prophets were highly influential people. Their misguided leadership dragged other people down with them and they would be held responsible for their reckless actions. God would push them away from His Presence and forget them. To be pushed far away from the Living God was a death sentence of their own making.

“Khai Ani”, “As I live!”

In the writings of the prophet Ezekiel we don’t tend to see the phrase “Living God”. Instead, God speaks up and declares Himself as the God that lives. YHWH repeatedly started His statements like this, “As I live” [Khai Ani]:

Ezekiel 5:11

Therefore as I live [Khai Ani],’ declares the Lord YHWH, ‘Because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and with all your abominations, I definitely will also withdraw and My eye will have no pity, and I also will not spare.”

Ezekiel 17:16 (see also Ezekiel 17:19-20)

“As I live [Khai Ani],” declares the Lord YHWH, “In the country of the king who put him (Zedekiah) on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose covenant he broke, in Babylon he shall certainly die”…  

Ezekiel 20:3 (see also Ezekiel 20:31)

“Do you yourselves come to inquire of Me? As I live [Khai Ani,]” declares the Lord YHWH, “I certainly will not be inquired of by you.”

Ezekiel 20:33

“As I live [Khai Ani],” declares the Lord YHWH, “with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out, I assuredly shall be King over you.”

Ezekiel 33:11a

“As I live [Khai Ani]!” declares the Lord YHWH, “I take no pleasure at all in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live.”

This last “As I live” statement I find quite profound. God takes no pleasure in anyone dying, even the wicked. Instead, YHWH gets pleasure when the wicked turn away from evil and embrace the life God wants for every human.

Although the book of Ezekiel used this phrase most prolifically (See also Ezekiel 14:16,20, Ezekiel 16:48, Ezekiel 18:3, Ezekiel 33:27, Ezekiel 35:6), it was not the only book to quote God saying, “As I live” (see also Isaiah 49:18, Jeremiah 22:24, Jeremiah 46:18). One of the first times we read this life-affirming statement by YHWH was in the Torah:

Numbers 14:21

[YHWH:] “As I live [Khai Ani], all the earth will be filled with the glory of YHWH.”

These were definitive statements… (an unquestionable firm conclusion). God was a self-proclaimed living, active, God. He would work and move amongst His people, and in response He expected His people to react to Him and live in step with Him. This was a living relationship, meant to be an interaction between loving family members. 

But sometimes, from our end, the love was lacking. Even with all the rejection and spite thrown in His direction, YHWH  just couldn’t make Himself reject His people outright.  He loved them despite of their desertion and wickedness. 

Hosea the prophet’s life was like a metaphor for the relationship between YHWH and His people. Hosea’s wife was a serial adulterer. She constantly cheated on Hosea and had multiple children with multiple men, but Hosea stayed steadfast by her side… just like YHWH constantly stays by our side, regardless of our disloyalty.

Hosea 1:10b

And in the place where it is said to them, “You are not My people,” it will be said to them, “You are the sons of the Living God [b’ney El khai].”

The people weren’t acting like “God’s people,” but He loved them anyway, and He always had His arms open wide, ready to welcome them home.

Servant of the Living God

However, it wasn’t just God’s chosen Israelite people who could interact with the Living God. This God was the Creator of everything and everyone. All were invited into fellowship and communion with the Living God.

In the Book of Daniel, Darius the Mede, who was part of the group that conquered Babylon, befriended the captured Daniel. He recognized that Daniel was the “servant of the Living God [Aramaic: Elaha khayya]” (Daniel 6:20). In a surprise twist, Darius became a believer and made a royal decree that the people worship Daniel’s Living God:

Daniel 6:26-27

[Darius:] “I issue a decree that in all the realm of my kingdom people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel;

For He is the Living God [Elaha khayya] and enduring forever, and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. He rescues, saves, and performs signs and miracles in heaven and on earth. He who has also rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Darius saw that Daniel’s God was a moving, active, Living God who rescued and saved His people. Who wouldn’t want to jump on board with that?! Who doesn’t want to be rescued and saved by a God who is willing to dwell amongst His people?!

Yeshua, Son of the Living God 

Out of the four Gospel books, the book of Matthew puts the most emphasis on the phrase Living God. Matthew purposely highlighted that Yeshua (Jesus) was the Son of the Living God:

Matthew 16:13-16

Now when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.”

He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God [Greek: Theou tou zontos].” 

Yeshua, Himself, put special emphasis on God being connected to life, not death:

Matthew 22:31-33

[Jesus:] “But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: ‘I Am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living [Greek: ouk estin ho Theos nekron alla zonton].” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

And finally, when Yeshua stood on trial, His accusers acknowledged that their God was the God of life and living… but they were blinded by their hatred and all they wanted was death for Yeshua:

Matthew 26:62-66

The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You offer no answer for what these men are testifying against You?” But Jesus kept silent.

And the high priest said to Him, “I place You under oath by the Living God [Greek: Theou tou zontos], to tell us whether You are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? See, you have now heard the blasphemy; what do you think?”

They answered, “He deserves death!”

And so, the Son of the Living God was sent to die. 

But the truth is, you just can’t hold the Living God down. Yeshua went to the grave, but He did not stay there. He died, but then He lived… and He paid the way for all of us to live in the Presence of the eternal Living God.

We are the Temple of the Living God

Paul put emphasis on the Living God in his ministry. He highlighted that the body of believers was the church of the Living God [Greek: ekklesia Theou zontos] (1 Timothy 3:15). In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul call took a more personal approach and emphasized that each individual was the temple of the Living God:

2 Corinthians 6:16-18

[Paul:] What agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the Living God [Greek: Theou esmen zontos]; just as God said,

“I will dwell among them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “and don’t touch what is unclean; and I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.

We are part of a living, breathing, family… and the Living God is our Father. There is an incredible inheritance awaiting us… eternal living, in an eternal Kingdom, with an eternal Living God that truly loves us and is waiting for us with open arms.

There’s a spot in God’s dwelling place with your name on it. Trust in the Living God to get you there:

Psalm 84:1-2

[Korah:] How lovely are Your dwelling places, YHWH of armies! My soul longed and even yearned for the courtyards of YHWH; my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the Living God [El khai].

This takes us back to the verse we started with:

Psalm 42:1-2

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God [l-El khai]; when shall I come and appear before God?

We have a life-journey on this earth… but the real treasure comes at the end of our days. There is eternal life in God’s Kingdom waiting for us.

David asked, “when shall I come and appear before God?” 

We will all get that moment, but in the meantime let’s live well now, reflecting God’s glory and love onto the dying world around us. Let’s live with gusto in honour of our awesome Living God!

Next week: appear