Psalm 3-4/12-13/26/28/40/55/58

In each of these Psalms, you find "LORD" being used to reference God. According to the Apologetics Study Bible, there are six primary uses of phrases referencing God. When you see "God" the Hebrew is Elohim, "Lord" is Adonai, "Lord GOD" is Adonai Yahweh, "LORD of Hosts" is Yahweh Sabaoth, "God Almighty" is El Shaddai, and finally, "LORD" is YHWH. A study note states, "in some older English translations, YHWH is rendered Jehovah, a form derived from combining the vowel sounds of Adonai withe the consonants for YHWH."

"LORD" is found in each of these Psalms and has its origin in Moses' encounter with God at the burning bush (Exodus 3). Moses asks whom shall he say has sent him when he comes to the Israelites, asking that they follow him out of slavery in Egypt, God gives him the name "YHWH" which best translates "He Who Is" or "He Who Causes to Be."

These Psalms remind us that we need a YHWH revelation of God, that He Is and that nothing that exists is beyond His realm, His power, His hand. But even deeper, a YHWH revelation means that one has had a personal encounter with Him, a living, loving Father. Just as Moses knew of God but had yet to have an encounter with His presence that culminated into a passion filled, life defining, moment by moment governing relationship with Him, so too we need such an encounter. Thus making our prayers and praises not to a God, but to our God, YHWH!

Pastor Fred