Genesis 14:18-22; Dan. 4:34; Luke 1:32, El Elyon

The Hebrew word elyon refers to “an elevation, lofty place,” from which you san see a long way and have dominance.  Attached to God, you are talking “Supremacy.”  A common name for God in the Bible (Old and New Testaments alike) is God Most High, the Most High God, LORD Most High or the Most High. 

The context is that while every nation had their own “gods,”  Israel’s God was El Elyon, God Most High;  YAHWEH was elevated above Chemosh and Molek or any god.  Of the forty-five times elyon is associated with God in the OT, twenty-one are in the Psalms.  Twelve are in Daniel, where the prophet lived in Babylon in “the times of the Gentiles.”  Ezekiel also lived in Babylon, but never referred to God as the Most High, because his ministry was among the Jews in Babylon.

·       Gen. 14:18-22: Often, the first use of a name is significant to understanding the name.  This is the first use of God Most High, being used four times.  Melchizedek was the priest of God Most High (cf. Hb. 7:1).  He was not a priest in Israel because there was no Israel at the time.  This is a picture of worship before Israel where there were godly priests and worshipers in various places in the world, as well as those who worshiped false gods.  Melchizedek blesses Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth.  Abram did not yet know God as El Shaddai (Gen. 17:1).  Further, what distinguished God as “most high” is that He is the God who possesses heaven and earth; He is the owner and thus sovereign over everything.  Also, note the context.  This is all happening with the king of Sodom, the retrieved citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, as well as Abram’s Amorite friends.  They all, likely, worship other gods.  Abram is brought by Melchizedek to bless God Most High.

·       In Daniel there is a great story of how the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, came to acknowledge God Most High.  First, Nebuchadnezzar had recognized Daniel’s God as God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets (2:47).  In 3:26, the king recognized that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were servants of the Most High God.  He realized their God was greater than his god.  Ch. 4 records Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling before the Most High (4:2).  His dream warns him that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men (4:17,24), a dream that was fulfilled (4:32).  In the end, Nebuchadnezzar blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation (4:34).

·       Luke 1:32,35,76:  The Most High is prominent in the birth of Christ.  Jesus was to be called the Son of the Highest.  Gabriel told Mary the power of the Highest will overshadow you.  Even John the Baptist was the prophet of the Highest.  The context is the same.  Jesus brought salvation to Israel and to the Nations.