El-Elyon "The God Most High’ Series

Purpose: To see that God is superior to all things.

Aim: I want the listener to gain more reverence for God.

INTRODUCTION: How many Gods are there? Over the years, I have heard many people say that because there is only one God it does not matter what church you go to in order to worship Him. If there is only one God then does it matter how we worship Him? While it is true that there is only one true God, the Bible makes it clear that there are many gods. The Hebrew name El-Elyon tells us that God is "The God Most High" which implies that there are other gods.

The question is NOT if you believe in God--the question is: Which God do you believe in?

Last week we finished looking at El Shaddai so I want you to notice a verse where David uses both last week’s and this week’s names for God: Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High [El-Elyon]will abide in the shadow of the Almighty [Shaddai "The all-sufficient God who protects and provides"]. (NAU)

In other words, if you are not trusting in "The Most High God" God is not your protector.

"God Most High (אֵל עֶלְיוֹן, ˒ēl ˓elyôn) This title [uses about 50 times in the OT] is formed by the conjunction of the noun אֵל (˒ēl, "God") and the qualifying noun עֱלְיוֹן (˓elyôn, "high"), the latter deriving from the verb עָלָה, ˓ālåh, meaning "to ascend, to mount up." [1]

So the one true God is El-Elyon--the God who is "The God Most High"

not just a god who ascends.

Let’s learn together how God, the one true God, is greater than all other gods.

I. El-Elyon’s Position

In short, El-Elyon means that God is absolutely sovereign. A.W. Pink gives us a good definition of the sovereignty of God: "God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases."

"When a cowboy applied for health insurance, the agent routinely asked if he had had any accidents during the previous year. The cowboy replied, ’No, but I was bitten by a rattlesnake, and a horse kicked me in the ribs. That laid me up for a while.’ The agent said, ’Weren’t those accidents?’ ’No,’ replied the cowboy, ’they did it on purpose.’ The cowboy realized that there are no such things as ’accidents.’ How about you Christian? Do you believe that some things catch God by surprise?" [2]

Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases. (NAU)

After Job finished with all of his great suffering, he told God what he learned: Job 42:2 "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. (NAU)

Now let us look at some ways that God exercises His authority.

A. El-Elyon is over creation

Psalm 97:9a For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth... (NAU)

Psalm 83:18 That they may know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are the Most High over all the earth. (NAU)

B. El-Elyon is over the curse on creation

Sin has corrupted all of creation which is why we have earthquakes and hurricanes, but El-Elyon is still in control.

Psalm 46:1--7 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah. (NAU)

This is what Paul taught in Romans 8:20--22 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. (NAU)

C. El-Elyon is over every circumstance

Psalm 18:6--19 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry. Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down with thick darkness under His feet. He rode upon a cherub and flew; and He sped upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them. Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. He sent from on high, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my stay. He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. (NAU)