Day 7 The Hebrew word - Elohim

Judges 6:10

"I am Yahweh your God do not fear the god of the Amorites.

"God" in Hebrew is Elohim: אלהים

Elohim is not a name but a generic title.

You need to understand this important point:  Most of the time, when the word 'Elohim' is used, it refers to Yahweh God. Other times, it refers to 'false gods' or 'angels' and even 'human beings'.

This means that the word "elohim" has many meanings.

a. Elohim can refer to God or to false gods

The following 2 verses have "elohim" appearing twice in the same verse. They don't refer to the same elohim. One refers to Yahweh God (Elohim) while the other one refers to false gods (elohim).

Judges 6:10

"I am Yahweh your God (Elohim); do not fear the god (elohim) of the Amorites.

Here Elohim refers to both God and false god.  In Hebrew, there are no capitals. We make that distinction in English by using a capital "E" to signify God, and a small "e" to signify false god.  But in Hebrew, אלהים can refer to either God or false god.  There are no capitals to distinguish them.

Exodus 34:14,

"For you shall worship no other god (elohim): for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Elohim).

Elohim refer to either God or false god.  In the Hebrew language, there is simply no distinction made.

b.  Elohim can also refer to angels

Psalm 8:5, "You made man a little lower than the angels (elohim).

When אלהים (elohim) is used in this verse, it refers to angels.  It's not referring to Yahweh God or to false gods.  But the same Hebrew word is used for this verse.

c.  Elohim can refer to human judges

Psalm 82:1, God stands in the congregation of the mighty; He judges among the gods (elohim). Here elohim refers to human judges or rulers.

Again אלהים (elohim) is used to refer to human judges. It is the same Hebrew word but it does not refer to Yahweh God.  In Hebrew, you need to read the context to understand what 'elohim' means.

Now, we begin to see why God wants us to call on His Name in prayer.

The title "Elohim" can refer to many things. When you call 'God', this generic term can refer to false gods, angels or human beings.

People all over the world pray to many different elohim.

Paul says in 1 Cor 8:5, "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"). There are many gods and lords out there.

When we enter into prayer, it is important to train ourselves to focus & to be specific: to call on the One true Elohim.  How?  God has given us His Name - Yahweh, so that we can call on the One true Elohim.  God's Name "Yahweh" distinguishes Himself of the One true God.

God desires that we call on His Name Yahweh.

Here, we see that the Name of Yahweh is important as it draws a sharp distinction between Him and all other false gods created by men. It also distinguishes him from all human beings called lord.

"God' or "Lord' are titles. They are not names.

God did not ask us to call on His titles.

We too need to place the emphasis on God's Name 'Yahweh' when we pray. As we move along in this study, you will begin to see the importance of this matter. May Yahweh God reveal to you in one flash.

Application:

For a long time in my prayers, I only addressed God as Lord or Elohim. Not that it is wrong to address God as Lord or Elohim, but the crux of the matter is that I hardly called out to Yahweh all these years.

Why is that?

What does that say about my inner prayer life?

Even though I already learned about God's Name is Yahweh back to my seminary days in the 80's, it never occurred to me to call on God's Name, Yahweh.

Tonight, when you do your quiet time, learn to call on God's Name "Yahweh".  This will transform they way you pray!