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Psalm 8
“O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth” (Ps. 8:1a).
The Jews were very respectful of God’s name for Himself, Yahweh. After all, that is the name that is protected in the third commandment: “ ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain’ ” (Ex. 20:7a). They were so careful that they would not speak the name Yahweh in worship, even going so far as to develop substitute names or titles for God. In liturgy, they invariably used the title Adonai, and this also is the title most frequently used for God throughout the Old Testament.
Adonai is a lengthened version of the Hebrew word adon. The short form originally meant “administrator” or “steward.” It is often used to convey just such a meaning in the Old Testament; for instance, Joseph’s brothers refer to him as adon after they encounter him as the governor of Egypt (Gen. 42:30). There is some ambiguity as to why the root term adon became adonai. Some Old Testament linguists say that the “ai” suffix is merely a personal ending. But others believe it is a method of intensification. In other words, when the “ai” is attached, the root word is intensified and magnified to the superlative degree. So the difference between an adon and an adonai is the difference between one in lordship over others and the “Lord of lords” or the “supreme lord.” In essence, Adonai means “Lord of all.” Thus, the opening phrase of Psalm 8 might be rendered, “O Yahweh, our Supreme Lord, how excellent is Your name.…”
When Adonai is used for God, it calls attention to His sovereignty. What is sovereignty? It is that attribute of God that has to do with His authority. His kingdom is not a democracy, for when He speaks, He utters His law unilaterally, and all are required to obey it. Thus, He exercises absolute authority over His people. And this attribute of absolute authority is absolutely essential to God’s character. The minute we negotiate it or water it down, we are making changes in the revealed character of God. If God is not sovereign, then God is not God. And if we are worshiping a God who is not sovereign, the fact of the matter is that we are worshiping an idol.
Adonai is a high name to ascribe to God in worship. We use it to say that we have come to prostrate ourselves before the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Have you ever read of the elaborate rituals that were required when a subject came before a monarch of old? Every move the subject made was designed to show homage. Do you realize that you are coming before the King of kings when you step into your church sanctuary? Come to acknowledge and submit to His authority.
for further study
- Judges 6:22
- Psalm 110:1
- Isaiah 6:5
- John 20:28