Dwell. Gaze. Inquire. These are the three-in-one desires of Psalm 27:4, the foundation of this writing space. But how do we cultivate this in real life?
The most common approach for me begins daily as I inhale fresh coffee and curl up in my bedroom armchair, open my journal and bible, uncap my favorite RSVP fine point pen, and begin to write a prayer. Inevitably, that writing begins with addressing the One whom I pray to: Father, Jesus, or simply God. Recently though, I opened to Psalms and was reminded of another approach:
“Oh LORD, our Lord / How excellent is thy name in all the earth.” Psalms 8:1
If you grew up in an Evangelical church, circa 1980’s and 90’s like me, you might recall a popular praise song with these lyrics set to an upbeat tune (which still plays cheerfully through my head each time I come across the verse, whether I want it to or not). But the English translation, though repetitively catchy, hardly captures the essence of the exclamation: “O LORD, our Lord,” in David’s tongue is not a redundant capitulation of worship, it is a declaration of recognition both universal and personal.
In Hebrew, the first “LORD” is written all in caps because it is a substitute for the name Yehovah, the Jewish national name of God. Yehovah, or Jehovah, is itself a substitute for the name God gave to Himself in the paradigm shifting moment of the burning bush when Moses asks,
“Who should I say sends me?”
God replies, “I AM.”
The authoritative Strong’s definition of the phrase is, “Self-Existent or Eternal” (H3068). This name was and still is held so holy to the Israelites, that they could not write it fully, but only wrote down consonants. So, when David addresses God in this psalm saying, “O LORD” or “Yehovah,” it is the grandest, holiest, most awe-inspiring “GOD WHO EXISTS IN HIMSELF ALONE” proclamation.
In contrast, the second “Lord,” placed aside the plural personal pronoun “our,” is a completely different reference to God. This time, the translation ‘Lord’ comes from the Hebrew, Adonai. It is a term that implies close relationship, a confidence of calling on a personal master, husband, prince, father, or authority figure (Strongs). It is a personal submission to the natural authority of another.
With this understanding, David’s address, “O Yahweh, Adonai,” becomes clearly, “O Self-existent and Eternal One, our strong Master…”
How glorious!
To David, God is not only the essential moving influence behind all known reality, He is also the personal authority and guide of his people. The EXISTENTIAL ONE and the Intimate One. What can we learn from this? To pray likewise.
Over thousands of years since first inscribed, the record of David’s life and poetry has never failed to inspire faithful lovers of God because it holds aspects relatable to all types of people: humble and poor, betrayed and unfairly abused, rich and privileged, those in love and in pain, the repentant and righteously indignant. Indeed, it is a rare day when you can’t find a psalm to pray through your circumstance – a gift of grace. But I would go further to say it is also a collection that teaches us how to pray. Here is a perfect example.
“O Yehovah, Adonai… O LORD, our Lord.”
Imitating David, we learn to address God by first reminding ourselves of his ABSOLUTENESS - nothing we have power to change; followed by declaring our choice to submit to His PERSONAL sovereignty - a free-will bow to his loving authority.
Setting down my steaming coffee mug, I close my eyes again. Inhaling the Sovereignty of the Eternal, I pray,
“O LORD…”
Exhaling intimacy with Christ, I acknowledge “our Lord.”