IV. ADONAI or Lord (Gen. 15:8)
-It is translated "Lord" not the same as "LORD" Jehovah. It is found over 300 times in the OT when used as a name for God and over 215 times when used in reference to man.
1. First found in Abram's address to God, after his meeting with Malchizedek.
ACTION: Read Gen. 15:1-8 "Lord God" is "Adonai Jehovah"
2. "Adonai" is the plural of "Adon" which means: lord or master.
-Adon in the singular is used in reference to man and angels.
-Adonai in the plural refers to God and has a strong connection to the Trinity.
ACTION: Read Ps. 110
3. When applied to man it is used to express two well known earthly relationships.
-The relationship of a master to his slave or servant. (Gen. 24:9)
-The relationship of husband to wife. (1 Peter 3:6)
-In Biblical times both slave and wife held a different position than their counterparts in present day. The title "Adon" or Lord" whether it meant 'master' or 'husband' expressed a personal relationship, which involved rights of lordship and possession. Where faithfulness would be rewarded and unfaithfulness would be answered with judgment.
-The slave or wife were 'not their own' (1 Cor. 7:4) Both voluntarily or involuntarily, were the property of their lord.
-In the slave the relationship was binding and did not depend on the will of the slave. As a rule either the slave or his parents were either bought or were taken captive from an enemy. (Lev. 25:44-46).
QUESTION: How were women married?
-With the wife, she too was usually given or sold by her father (Gen. 29:15-20) there might be more of an element of free will involved in this relationship. In some cases as in Rebekah's situation, she was asked "Wilt thou go with this man?
(Gen. 24:58) But once a man’s wife she was his for life. Unless she would be
put away for some kind of evil in her or for unfaithfulness. (Deut. 24:1)
-Slaves purchased by their lord were parts of his household in a way no hired help could be. As strange as it may be to our modern thinking, the purchased slave stood in a nearer relationship to his lord than the servants he hired. The hired help could not eat of the Passover or of the holy things belonging to his lord, but the purchased slaves had both these privileges. (Ex. 12:43-45)
4. New Testament Usage
Kurios: Not seen more clearly than in (Matt. 25:14-30) the Parable of the Talents and in (Luke 19:11-27) the Parable of the Pounds.
QUESTION: What is Jesus telling us in these parables?
Jesus is telling us that as Lord, Addonai, He will reward the faithfulness of His servants and punish them for their lack of faithfulness.
1. Abram, in the scene where Adonai is first used, had two burdens on his heart.
READ: Gen. 15:1-8
QUESTION: What were these?
A seed and an inheritance had been promised to him. Years had passed and he was still childless and without the promised land.
READ: Gen. 18:1-5
Abram, called himself a 'slave' (Gen. 18:3,5) and as a slave relied on the faithfulness of his Master, his Lord. The servant’s strength is in their Lord.
2.So it is with all God's servants. Their sufficiency is in their Lord (Prov. 3:5,6). They all seek Adonai (Master) to help them in their duties.
a. Moses (Ex. 4:10)... O my Lord (Adonai)
b. Joshua (Joshua 7:7,8) ... O Lord (Adonai)
c. Gideon (Judges 6:13-16) O my Lord (Adonai)
d. Manoah (Judges 13:8)
e. Samson (Judges 16:28)
f. David (2 Sam. 7: 18-21) (Ps. 8:1-9, 35:23, 38:9,15,22)
g. Daniel (Dan. 9:3-19)
h. Jeremiah (Jer. 1:2-10)
QUESTION: Is it to be any different for us? Are we really dependent on Him or only when it gets too tough for us?
1. 'Adonai' speaks of a more blessed relationship. 'Lord' is used not only of master but also of husband. It says that weak and fallen as we are, the Lord of all calls us to the closest and most loving communion with Himself; to be 'no more two ' but ' joined to the Lord' and ' one spirit' (Matt. 19:5,6 ) (1 Cor. 6:17 ) There is an unexpressive preciousness to this relationship, an unspeakable blessing which it pledges to those who accept it and by grace are faithful to it.
-As a wife is not her own, so we too are ' not our own' but in both body and in spirit we are the Lords (1 Cor.6:19).
-(Jer. 31:32) God is a husband to us.
-(Song of Solomon) expresses from first to last, the delight of both the lover and beloved draw from the most intimate of all relationships.
QUESTION: What does this name of God teach us about our relationship with Him?
1. "Adonai" or "lord" teaches us that a relationship like that of servants to their lord, and wives to their husbands, exists between God in heaven and man on earth.
a. We, by using this name in addressing God, express our dependence on Him, as well as our faith in God who because He is our rightful Lord, is bound to sustain, keep and help us.
b. All God's children, His servants, and His bride, turn instinctively to this name, as assuring them of the help, which they require and will receive, from their 'master'.
2. One has said: ' Work is the result of one ruling or directing another. fruit is only the result of a union between two. We may do good work as servants if we are obedient to our Lord; but to produce and bring forth the "new man" which is His image, there must be that perfect self-surrender, and union with Him, of which the marriage
bond is the appropriate figure.' (Charles George Gordon )
QUESTION: What does the name Adonai assures for the believer?
-It assures that his God and Master has the resources and ability to take care of him. Therefore, the Christian trusts his Master for the things he needs.
-Second, it implies that help is available to carry out the Christians duty as a servant.
-Finally, a servant of the Lord has the privilege of calling upon his relationship with his Master to get the help that he needs.
3. As servants, our first duty is to submit to our master.
a. Jesus Christ is the Christian's Lord and Master. He said, 'Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am' (John 13:13)
b. The Christian should recognize Jesus as his Lord and Master and submit to that relationship. By doing so he will hear these words from his Master. 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' (Matt. 25:21)
4. We can trust the Master's care for His servants.
a. The Christian does not have to be anxious about his 'daily bread' supplying that is his master’s responsibility. (Matt. 6:11)
b. The Christian does not have to worry over what job to do or where he should serve. There is a master plan for his life (Rom. 12:1-2)
c. The Christian does not have to be concerned if he can do the things that God has for him to do. The master promises the gifts of the Holy Spirit to enable him to serve God. (Rom. 12:3-8)
