El Elyon; the Most High God

Use in the Bible: In the Old Testament El Elyon occurs 28 times. It occurs 19 times in Psalms. El Elyon is first used in Genesis 14:18.

Strong’s Reference: H5945

El Elyon in the Septuagint: ho theos ho hupsistos – the God most high

Meaning and Derivation: El is another name that is translated as “God” and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God’s character. Elyon literally means “Most High” and is used both adjectivally and substantivally throughout the Old Testament. It expresses the extreme sovereignty and majesty of God and His highest preeminence. When the two words are combined – El Elyon – it can be translated as “the most exalted God.”(Psalm 57:2)

At issue here is the sovereignty of this God. There is no higher power to appeal to in heaven or earth. In His sovereignty God confers with no one in making decisions for His creation. No one has influence or sway with our sovereign God.

Before I go any further I need to explain that in context with God’s interactive will for man. It would seem to appear that God takes counsel from certain intercessors but that practice is illusionary. God first sets in place the need from intercession to show Himself for the purpose of enacting His salvation plan. God, the all-knowing God, knows what is needed in any circumstance to reveal Himself to His creation with purpose. The need for intercession is a primary interface with any lost generation.

God does not need your involvement, permission, or knowledge to invoke His sovereign will upon your life. If you should be so blessed as to witness any act by God by His sovereign will, it will be done with purpose. Praise God for that blessing if it should fall upon you to witness it.

El Shaddai; All Sufficient One, Lord Almighty

El Shaddai in the Septuagint: theou saddai – God Shaddai; pantokratôr (for Shaddai) – the Almighty

Meaning and Derivation: El is another name that is translated as “God” and can be used in conjunction with other words to designate various aspects of God’s character. Another word much like Shaddai, and from which many believe it derived, is shad meaning “breast” in Hebrew (some other scholars believe that the name is derived from an Akkadian word Šadu, meaning “mountain,” suggesting strength and power). This refers to God completely nourishing, satisfying, and supplying His people with all their needs as a mother would her child. Connected with the word for God, El, this denotes a God who freely gives nourishment and blessing, He is our sustainer. (BLB.org)

The first description noted relates to God’s sufficiency. God, in three persons, sits upon the throne of eternity, and He is sufficient unto Himself, lacks nothing and needs nothing. Because of His primary personality, love, He willed everything that is and was into existence. All we have to do is look back into the Garden of Eden where He placed Adam and Eve to see His sufficiency at work in their lives. He came and walked with them every morning. They lacked nothing they needed.

Along comes the Serpent to whisper in Eve’s ear, “There is more and you want more.”

Thus began the quest for more than God’s sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 12:9a And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

If you are too weak to take a thing for yourself, then His sufficiency becomes the sustaining force which is most evident in grace revealed. Unmerited favor, grace, boundless grace.

I like to think I wake up each morning thinking (praying); “What do you have for me this day?”

My reality is more along the lines of my back hurts, I am stiff, and my mouth is dry. I deal with most of those issues before I open my bible and say “Good morning Father.” The flesh still screams I want.