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O ADONAI – LORD

Written by Erica Owen

When I was younger, my grandma taught me the African American spiritual, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” As we’d sing through the different family members and friends who were “in His hands,” it would bring comfort to my heart, reassuring me that my often unstable world wasn’t out of control after all. My world and, in fact, the entire world, was in the capable and powerful hands of God himself. I didn’t realize it then, but what the community of enslaved African Americans taught me and my grandma through that spiritual was the truth of Adonai.

Adonai is the name of God indicating his complete, sovereign rule over creation with all power and authority. It sets Him apart from and above all other rulers and powers that be, whether presidents, kings, lords, or masters. He is King of all the kings and Lord of all the lords.

Isaiah 11:4,5 addresses some important aspects of the nature of this coming ruler and why we long for His arrival. 

“[W]ith righteousness he shall judge the poor,

and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt of his loins.”

  1. He rules without exploiting the poor and needy.
  2. He rules by punishing the wicked. 
  3. He rules this way because he is righteous and faithful. 

He is the perfect ruler. He has power, yes. But he uses that power for all the right reasons and in all the right ways. He is sovereign and good. He’s the kind of ruler that makes our hearts settle and fears quiet because we can trust Him completely. He’s the kind of king we humbly bow our knee to and exclaim with Thomas, “My Lord!” (John 20:28) And, He’s the kind of master whose powerful and good hands we are safe in now and forever. “No one can snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

Prayer: Our Lord, we bow our knees before you because you alone are worthy of our submission and allegiance. We live in a world where leaders make promises they can’t keep and wield their power with a reckless sword. It is difficult, if not impossible, to trust them. But we trust you because you are over all things and before all things and better than all things. We confess our desire to be in control of our own lives and repent of the times that we sit in judgment of your sovereignty. We ask that when we fear or doubt your power, you would remind us of your goodness. We ask that we would be content in the palm of your nail scarred hand, close to your faithful and righteous heart, as we long for the day we will see you in your kingdom. Come soon, O Adonai!