Name: YAHWEH ELOHAI – THE LORD MY GOD
Prayer and Meditation: “But as for me, I will trust in You, O YAHWEH, I say, ‘You are Elohai, אֱלֹהַ֥י !' (My God)!" Psalm 31:14
“…I love you, ADONAI (Lord), my strength! ADONAI is my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, MY GOD (Elohai), my Rock, in whom I find shelter, my shield; the power that saves me, my stronghold. I call on ADONAI, who is worthy of praise; and I am saved from my enemies…In my distress I called to ADONAI; I cried out to MY GOD (Elohai). Out of His temple He heard my voice; my cry reached His ears…For you, ADONAI, light my lamp; ADONAI, MY GOD (Elohai), lights up my darkness…ADONAI IS ALIVE! BLESSED IS MY ROCK! Exalted be the God of MY SALVATION, the God who avenges me and subdues people under me. He delivers me from my enemies. You lift me high above my enemies, You rescue me from violent men. SO I GIVE THANKS TO YOU, ADONAI, AMONG THE NATIONS; I SING PRAISES TO YOUR NAME.” Psalm 18:1-3, 6, 28, 46-49 (complete Jewish Bible)
A study of the divine name YAHWEH Elohai provides a deeper understanding of our own relationship with the LORD. YAHWEH, the I AM signifies the everlasting, eternal nature of our LORD. Elohai (my God) is the first-person singular form of the name Elohim the strong, all powerful creator of the universe. Elohai and Elohim, the singular and plural forms of the LORD, are used throughout Scripture indicating the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirt. We enter the equation through our individual, personal relationship with the LORD calling upon Him as YAHWEH ELOHAI, My God
Psalm 18 exemplifies David’s relationship with YAHWEH Elohai, his God…his Rock, his personal fortress, his personal deliverer, his personal shelter, his personal shield, his personal strength that saves him, and his personal stronghold. He acknowledges that Elohai hears him. He trusts that in his time of pressing circumstance Elohai is near to him. The psalmist gives us a vivid picture of Yahweh Elohai’s unshakable, unchangeable, all-powerful character as judge to the wicked and defender to all those who dwell in His secret place and take refuge in Him.
David refers to Elohai as “his God who lights up his darkness” and recognizes, in his weaknesses, it is not himself but The Lord who girds him with strength. Like David, we too can pour out our hearts in the secret place, praising and thanking him in our times of testing and pressing trials. If we are quiet, we can listen for His whispers to us. We can know that God promises He is close and remember that He will never leave or forsake us. Elohai is the God who sticks closer to us than a brother, the God who saves and defends, The God who disciplines those He loves, The God who knew us before we were in our mother’s wombs, the God who searches our hearts and knows the number of hairs on our heads, the God who calls us not just once and waits for us to hear Him, The God who left His throne in heaven became flesh and dwelt among us, sacrificing His life, being rejected, slaughtered and crucified for my sins; who defeated death and was resurrected so that one day I may live with Him in heaven for eternity. This loving, faithful God is My God, Elohai.
Prayer: “I love you, Elohi, my strength…my Rock, my fortress and deliverer, MY GOD, my Rock in whom I find shelter, my shield, the power that saves me, my stronghold. Lord God, I want to thank You for Your loving sacrifice. Teach me to dwell in Your secret place and to hide in the shadow of Your wings, trusting that You are my defender. Forgive me for the times I lean on my own strength and reject Yours. Thank You for every tailored testing that has brought me to my knees, because I know it has only brought me closer and closer to You. I praise Your holy Name, Elohia, MY GOD! Amen.
Suggested reading : Psalm 34:18, Deuteronomy 31:18, Proverbs 18:24, Psalm 68:20, John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:6, Psalm 139:1-24, Mathew 10:30, 1 Samuel 3:8, John 1, Isaiah 53, Acts 2:24, 1 Peter 1:18-19, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, John 14:2.