Shammah, God Is there
A prophet named Ezekiel was given a vision during a very hard time, after Jerusalem and God’s temple had been destroyed. God’s people felt sad and far from home.
In the vision, God showed Ezekiel a new temple and a beautiful, restored city. At the very end, God’s messenger says:
“And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There (YHWH Shammah).”
Ezekiel 48:35
The first compound name we will explore is Shammah, which means “The LORD Is There.” This is a perfect opportunity to help littles understand that God’s presence is real and trustworthy. Even when life feels sad or broken, like it did for God’s people after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and the people felt far from home, God promises to make things new. Teaching children this name helps them grasp that God is not just a story or a distant figure, He is always near and lives not only in a temple, but in their hearts.
Engage:
As you read the story, invite your little one to imagine Ezekiel seeing the beautiful city in his vision. Help them picture how sad the people felt when Jerusalem was destroyed and then the joy of a city rebuilt and made new:
“How do you think the people felt when their city was destroyed?”
“Who do you think helped make the city new?
”Can you imagine if we lived in a City where God lives?”
Explain:
God promised to live among His people. The most amazing part is that He doesn’t just live in a temple or a city, He can live in every heart, including yours!
Apply:
Notice His presence: Help them see little ways God shows He is near a kind friend, a warm hug, or the beauty of nature and connect it to “God is there.”
Trust Him: When things feel hard or sad, remind your child that God can make things better and that He promises to be with us, just like He showed in His vision of the new city and temple.
Share your story: Tell your little about a time when God helped you build something new and you could feel He was there.
Repeat & Reinforce:
Magna-Tiles City: God’s Light in the City
Build a castle or city with Magna-Tiles. Then, knock it down and rebuild it, just like the city in Ezekiel’s vision. Shine a lantern or flashlight inside to show God’s presence filling the new city.
Talk with your little one about how God’s presence fills the city and our hearts, just like YHWH Shammah “The LORD Is There.”
Follow God’s Footprints:
Make footprints on paper or with tape on the floor. Have your child follow them.
Say: “God walks with us wherever we go, He is always there!”
Closing Thought:
God’s name, YHWH Shammah, reminds us that God makes things new and is always with us, not far away, but in our hearts and in every part of our lives
I’ll leave you with this 2-minute song from the Young David about God’s presence in every detail.
For even more hands-on fun, pair this mini-devo with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Shammah: God is There Activity Sheet
Page 1 includes a fill-in-the-blank memory verse, a fun mini puzzle where children color the tiles to reveal God’s name, and a short prayer to help them talk to God in their own words.
Page 2 features a black-and-white castle scene with a color-by-number key. As children color the city, they’re reminded that God’s presence is here, there and everywhere!
Perfect for reinforcing the lesson through hands-on learning, quiet time, or family devotional moments.
Rhythm of Grace | Official Music Video From Young David | Angel Studios & Minno
