Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
9 E Homestead Ave. Palisades Park, NJ 07650 201-944-2107 Sundays 11:00 a.m. We preach Christ crucified (1. Corinthians 1,23)

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Devotional thoughts for Thursday

Thursday 18. December 2014
Gaudete: 3. Sunday in Advent
O Adonai


℣ O Adonai, and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law | on Sinai:* 

℟ Draw near with an outstretched arm and re- | deem us. 


The O Adonai Antiphon is based upon Isaiah 33,22: »For the LORD is our Ruler; the LORD is our King; He will save us.« 


Adonai is a Jewish and Aramaic word that means “my Lord” and is used in place of God’s Name which is Yahweh. Yahweh is often translated into English as the LORD. Adonai, then, is used interchangeably with “God” in Jewish and Christian literature. 


Notice how this antiphon makes the connection that the LORD who appeared to Moses in the burning bush is Jesus. The antiphon teaches us that Jesus is the LORD. The New Testament furthermore informs us that Jesuss is the Son of God and the Second Person of the Triune Godhead. 


The antiphon also connects Moses, the Exodus, the law and redemption together. The Sinai testament redeemed, saved and forgave Israel. The Calvary testament now replaces the Sinai testament and thereby redeems, saves and forgives all the world. Jesus instituted both testaments. In them we see His salvation history throughout the history of mankind. As the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus began to bring the salvation of fallen mankind to fulfillment. 

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