Divine Names: El Elyon--the Strongest, Strong God. Pt. 4

Good evening to all of you.

Stormy weather is all around us at the moment, with weather radar showing the worst weather to the south of us, in Amish country. Yet, the air around us is punctuated with incessant booming thunder. 

Abram weathered the storms of war where his nephew was taken captive. He also weathered the storm of temptation by choosing rightly between Melchizedek and Bera. 

Now, we will dig in to the name El Elyon.

The Hebrew word El-Elyon, refers to the strongest, strong one.  “El” means strength and power, and “Elyon” means strongest.  

The best way to determine the meaning of this compound name is to read the place where it first appears.   The first occurrence of El-Elyon is in the account of Abraham and Lot that we just read.  

In this text the name El-Elyon appears four times translated as the “most high God.”   

El is a general term that also expresses majesty and power.  The Hebrew words for El Elyon convey the idea of God being elevated, high and exalted.  When God revealed Himself as El Elyon it stressed the absolute superiority of God, over the multitude of pagan deities worshipped in the world. It reminds us he is the Creator of heaven and earth and the Owner of all.

Psalms 97:9 -12 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.


The name "El Elyon" teaches us that the Most High God  always has His mediator in place to provide access to Him. 

This is so important for us to know about El-Elyon. The most high God is a governing God who also made a way for sinners to be right with Him. Melchizedek was both a priest and king of Jerusalem. His name means king of right. The city name “Salem” means “peace.” He was the king of righteousness and peace.

On some occasions the prophets of the Lord declared that the Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. (See Psalms 110, Hebrews 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:1-7:21). This priest served as a mediator who represented God to man and man to God.

Verses showing that the Lord is King over all the earth are numerous, and just a few will serve as a frame of reference for this study. The image of God as Ruler and King over all things is very vividly described in the following passages of scripture.

Psalm 2:6-7 ⁶    Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.⁷    I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

The first reference also clearly connects the king with the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

Psalm 10:16     The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalms 47:1-9    O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.    For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.³   He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.    He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved.Selah    God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.   Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.    For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.    God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.   The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

The Apostle Paul wrote  two pastoral epistles to young Timothy. The first one in particular makes clear that Jesus Christ is that King of all Kings. In the same letter Paul states the clear doctrine of Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and man because He is both the sinless Son of God and the only perfect Man. In this, Christ fulfills the office of Melchizedek and demonstrates that like the name El Elyon, Christ is Lord and King over all. 

1 Timothy 6:13-16 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;  That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;  Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen. 

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

The name "El Elyon" teaches us that God is Creator of all and sovereign over all. 

The Most High God made heaven and earth. The LORD made heaven and earth. Genesis 1:1 starts the Bible with a strong declaration that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” 

Since He created all things, then all things rightfully and lawfully belong to Him to do with as He pleases. God was pleased to reserve heaven for Himself and to place man in authority over the earth.

Psalms 115:15-16 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.   The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Because all things that God created belong to Him, He has absolute, sovereign control in the disposition of the all

things that He owns. He has chosen to give His saints an inheritance. Whatever God the Father chooses to bequeath to His Son, Jesus Christ, the born again Christian will be a joint heir with Christ. 

Romans 8:14-17 ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ¹⁵For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

The promise of this truth is rooted in the covenant that God made with Abraham. This is the covenant where the child of God stands safe and secure. 

The name El Elyon teaches us that He can deliver us from our troubles, just as He delivered Abram. 

Psalms 91:1-10 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

The name "El Elyon" teaches us that the Most High God is worthy of receiving our best.

Abram gave tithes and offerings to El Elyon through Melchizedek. He gave of the best he had to offer to the Most High God and we should follow Abram's example. Do you know how you can give God your best? It is through doing all things heartily as unto the Lord. This is the idea of having our whole heart engaged as we serve, worship, or express our love for God. 

The name "El Elyon" teaches us that the Most High God will always do what He says He will do. 

We are often reminded that God is El Elyon, our Sovereign Ruler.  When we are faced with difficulties or challenges it is comforting to know that El Elyon, God Most High, is in control and that nothing can happen in His universe, without His permission.  

No person, no circumstance of life can stop His plan and purpose from going forward.  We see that El Elyon rules supremely over all, and because He does, we can better understand how “all things work together for good to those that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” 

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

This truth has an immediate impact upon our prayer life. We are commanded to give thanks to God in everything, You mean when I experience something bad, something painful or something devastating, I am to give thanks? Yes, in all things we are to give thanks.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

The name "El Elyon" teaches us the relationship of the Most High God to Jesus Christ.

We recently looked at this miracle of Christ. I would ask you to direct your attention to the name that the demon uses when addressing Christ. He addresses Christ as Jesus, thou son of God most high." This connects Jesus Christ to the name El Elyon, the most high God. 

Luke 8:26-28 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee. 

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. 
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

Points to Ponder.....

• Have I run to the Most High God when troubles and trials enter my life?

• Do I come to God through His mediator, Jesus Christ?

• Do I give God my best as Abram did?

• Am I resting in the promises of the Most High God?

So often, we try to fix things ourselves when we encounter troubles or are under a trial. Yet, the Most High God is our deliverer and we can run to Him for help & shelter in times of need.

I am so thankful that our gracious God provided a mediator for mankind so that we can approach God. His mediator is Jesus Christ, the God man. 

We need to examine our hearts. Lukewarm Christians are abhorrent to the Lord of Glory. Service done with any other motivation other than that of loving God and loving our neighbors is detestable. Is our whole heart engaged? Is our motivation right? If it is, then we can be sure of giving Him our best. 

Rest in these precious truths, dear readers. 

Bob