But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Genesis 15:2
Adonai-Jehovah the Lord our God. Here the title is listed before the name Yahweh. The Hebrew title is a masculine noun ‘Adonay’ which means ‘Lord’.
Barnes’ Notes on the Bible says…“”Lord Jehovah (Yahweh).” The name אדני ‘ǎdonāy is here for the first time used in the divine records. It denotes one who has authority; and, therefore, when applied to God, the Supreme Lord. Abram hereby acknowledges Yahweh as Supreme Judge and Governor, and therefore entitled to dispose of all matters concerning his present or prospective welfare.”
We as a modern people, especially Christians have used the word ‘Lord’ so much that it’s meaning has become ‘less’ in our understanding. It’s often used without truly, deeply, knowing the power of the usage.
To use the title “Lord” in the ancient world was a recognition of supreme respect and subservience to the person’s position of sovereignty. Here Abraham approaches God with this title knowing that God has all the power to grant Abraham what he has been promised by God. Abraham uses this title to address God to acknowledge that he is ‘under’ God’s sovereignty.
Do you understand this concept when you’ve used this title when addressing God / Jesus / Holy Spirit? Or was it used out of a ‘learned’ mimic from hearing someone else use the term? Most of us learned it in a “Church” service listening to others without really understanding the depth and meaning of the word and position.
Lord often also means ‘master’. This reminds me of this verse in 1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. Jesus in the legal sense purchased us with His blood and we now have the choice to either accept His sacrifice and the price He paid for us and become His ‘bond slave’ (as Paul recognizes himself in regards to Jesus) or deny Him. A bond slave in ancient times was a person who voluntarily committed to be a slave for life for a certain master (this was done because the individual realized that there was no other better master to serve). In Jesus’ time these people were usually recognized by a hole in the ear to mark their commitment to their master. Today, I use the TC2 (Terminally Committed To Christ) as my ‘mark’ to show my same type of ‘life commitment’. I recognize Jesus as MY LORD.
Do you come to Him in prayer using the word ‘Lord’ with an understanding of the power He has over you? That He has the power to give you what He has promised you? Do you use it out of a love for your Master, knowing that you could have no better life but under His ownership?
What actually does He own in your life?