Today we spend some time with ADONAI….
ADONAI is more than just a “name.” Adonai speaks of relationship.
The Lordship of God means His total possession of me and my total submission to Him as Lord AND Master.
The name actually comes from the singular word Adon, which translates as “master” or “Ruler”. It contains the concepts of “dominion”, “rulership” and “ownership”.
The cultural background to the Adon is associated with humanity and deals with masters who owned slaves. The master was to provide for, protect, guide and maximize that which he owned. Therefore, when God is referred to in scripture as the plural Adonai, He is referenced as Owner.
Since God is the absolute ruler and owner, our response to this name comes through the surrender of submission. Submission is a powerful tool when coupled with an All-powerful Adonai God. Unfortunately, too many Christians today have settled for Jehovah without experiencing the full power of Adonai.
In order to experience God as ruler, master and owner over your life, you have to knowingly, willingly surrender before Him.
God is not going to give you more of Himself if you are not willing to confess more of Him as Adonai!
The name Adonai challenges every person who calls God “Lord” to be willing to live in a way that demonstrates His Lordship!
Is HE your LORD?
Is HE the ONE to whom you give your highest allegiance?
Is HE the ONE who directs your life?
When the title “Lord or Master” was used to address God, at least four things were meant.
1. God’s Sovereign Position
2. God’s Supreme Authority
3. God’s right to our submission or obedience
4. God’s power to provide
1. God’s Sovereign Position
The Lord is the Sovereign Ruler and Supreme Master of the universe. He is the Lord who holds the highest position within the universe. He is before all, above all, and over all. He (Adonai) is “God of gods, and Lord of lords.
2. Read the following verses and jot down WHAT is declared about Adonai.
a. Deuteronomy 10:17
b. Joshua 3:11
c. Psalm 8:1
3. God’s Supreme Authority
The Lord is the Supreme Master over the whole universe. He rules as He wills, and rules according to His own purposes and pleasure. The Lord does not hold authority just like all other authorities upon earth and throughout the universe. The Lord is the One Supreme Authority who rules, governs, and executes justice as He sees fit, rewarding the obedient and punishing the disobedient.
4. Read the following verses and jot down WHAT Adonai has authority over.
2 Chronicles 20:6
Job 42:2
Psalm 115:3
Psalm 135:6
Isaiah 43:13
Isaiah 46:10
Daniel 4:35
Ephesians 1:11
After reading these verses did anything surprise you?
Or did the verses comfort you with the knowledge of Adonai’s Supreme Authority?
God’s right to our submission and obedience
The Lord is the Supreme Master over all beings—the Creator and Sovereign Lord over all—both visible and invisible. Therefore, He alone has the right to want our obedience and submission. We owe our lives to the Sovereign Lord and Supreme Master of the universe; consequently, we should give our lives to Him, and totally subject ourselves to His control and rule.
**Define submission and obedience
The Hebrew meaning is “surrender, humility, subjugation”.
The Greek word which is used in the New Testament is hupotasso ~ which means:
“To arrange under, to yield to ones advice, to obey or be subject.”
Adonai asks us to obey just because He says, and at times Adonai “tells” us for our own good to obey.
(Does this remind you of your parents, or possibly your father? Many times a child might ask “why do I have to do that”?? And a parent would respond “because I said so”)
For many believers it is hard to obey a God who seems distant or even “angry”.
Additionally, some have a difficult time obeying God because earthly parents were a bad example of surrendering to an authoritative figure.
What do you do when you don’t want to obey?
The first thing….confess that feeling to the Lord. He already KNOWS you don’t want to obey! He created you and KNOWS everything about you!!
Tell Him your fear, your pain, your sorrow, your feelings. Surrender that back to Him.
Confess it, and ask Him to help you obey. He Will!!!
When we have a heart for God—a heart fully surrendered—we are more inclined to obey Him. This is clearly shown in the contrast between Saul and David in the Old Testament. The Lord said David would be king because he had a heart after His own heart, a heart that would do His will.
David’s heart, which was God-centered and dependent on the Lord, was in contrast to King Saul’s heart. The prophet Samuel scolded Saul for self-will and pride, and noted Saul only obeyed to be seen by the people, not because his heart was right with God.
(Dawn Wilson, Crosswalk)
Leave a Reply