Monday 31 December 2012

Study Number 7 Adonai – Lord

 We have looked at ELOHIM, JEHOVAH, and EL SHADDAI. They all show us more of the person of God. ELOHIM spoke of His might and power; JEHOVAH – the ever present one who is holy and righteous, and EL SHADDAI as the Almighty God of Covenant blessings, the God who is more than enough for every situation we face.

Adonai – Lord expresses our responsibility to Him as His servants.
It is used over 300 times in the OT and expresses literally, “Master, Owner, or Lord.” This is the name that signifies ownership and our own responsibilities that come from being owned by God. M.H.

Our English versions distinguish the 3 main uses of the term thus: (1) “LORD” represents the Hebrew Yahweh, Septuagint Kurios, except where 'Ădhōnāy or 'Ādhon is combined with Yahweh (= “Lord God”); the American Standard Revised Version has in these examples employed the name as it is found in the Hebrew, simply transliterated. (2) “Lord” corresponds to 'Ădhōnāy, 'Ādhon, Mārē', also Greek Kurios and Despotēs, corresponds to all three forms of writing the English term. ISBE.

ADONAI – can be translated as being both plural and possessive. So it confirms the fact of the Triune nature of the Godhead. When used to describe men, the singular adon is used. Compare Psa 110:1  A Psalm of David. The LORD[1] said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  See also Acts 2:36
God as our ADONAI, is in the position of being the Master, and we are His purchased position. See Exodus 21 :1-6. If a man was so poor that he could not support his family and was in danger of starvation – he could become another man’s slave for six years in exchange for food, lodging and protection. Slaves were subject to all the Master’s desires. On the seventh year he was allowed to go free or he could remain with his Master as a bond-slave; a slave by choice.

Applications
1.      Is God really your Master and Lord? Have you willing surrendered to His Will in your life?
2.      I remember a man who vehemently refused saying, “I will never allow anyone else to tell me what to do!” He would not have the Lord to rule over him. His life descended into chaos.
3.      Being a bond slave is a free choice. It is not imposed but has all the Blessings and Benefits of a Loving Master. Self-centred determination will just bring you undone and end your life in wickedness and corruption. This is what happened to Adam when he was expelled from the Garden.



[1] Barnes Notes on the OT:The Lord said unto my Lord - In the Hebrew, “Spake Jehovah to my Lord.” The word יהוה  Yahweh is the incommunicable name of God. It is never given to a created being. The other word translated “Lord - אדני  'Adonāy - means one who has rule or authority; one of high rank; one who has dominion; one who is the owner or possessor, etc. This word is applied frequently to a creature. It is applied to kings, princes, rulers, masters. The phrase “my Lord” refers to someone who was superior in rank to the author of the psalm; one whom he could address as his superior. The psalm, therefore, cannot refer to David himself, as if Yahweh had said to him, “Sit thou at my right hand.” Nor was there anyone on earth in the time of David to whom it could be applicable; anyone whom he would call his “Lord” or superior. If, therefore, the psalm was written by David, it must have reference to the Messiah - to one whom he owned as his superior - his Lord - his Sovereign. 

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