Genesis 4:25–26 (ESV)

And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, “God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.” To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD.

God has a name and it’s not “the LORD.” In Hebrew, his name is spelled YHVH (יהוה, yode, hey, vav, hey.) This is God’s personal name, known as the Tetragrammaton. 

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetragrammaton

We don’t know how this is pronounced because of two rules in Hebrew grammar. First, all the vowels in Hebrew are written as dots and dashes around the letters, called “pointing.” The letters are all consonants. Many ancient Old Testament manuscripts are unpointed.

Second, all four letters in the Tetragrammaton can be pronounced multiple ways. The sound of a “yode” can either be a “Y” or silent, taking on only a vowel sound from the previous pointing. The sound of a “hey” can be “H” or just a vowel sound. The “vav” can be a “V” or just a vowel sound.

So, the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton can only be guessed at, and people tend to deliberately guess wrong because the third commandment prohibits misusing God’s name. Germans substitute “W” for “V” and “J” for “Y”, adding to the confusion. Thus, the pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton ranges from “Yahweh” to “Jehovah”—all for the same word. Most Bible translators just use “the LORD” to be safe.

But that ruins the feel of some beautiful passages. In today’s reading, people started calling on God’s name. This means they were speaking it directly—not mispronouncing it. In the same way, Ruth and Naomi use God’s name in conversation (cf., Ruth 1:8, 9, and 17). There’s nothing irreverent about that.

One way to maintain the proper feel of a verse, while respecting God’s holiness, is to say the word “Adonai” whenever you see “the LORD” in the text. (Adonai is the Hebrew word for Lord.) At that time people began to call upon the name of Adonai. Some Jewish translations do this.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen+4&version=CJB

To an English speaker, Adonai sounds like a name. I like that. It retains the beauty of the passage.

If the LORD really is our lord, most of our prayers should focus on what we’re to do for Him, not on what He’s to do for us. As JFK might say, “Ask not …”

It’s OK to ask the LORD for favors; we’re commanded to do just that. (See John 14:13 and 15:7.)

It just shouldn’t be all the time. Most of the time should be spent in praise and in trying to discern what He wants us to do.

Seeking His will for you is seeking your destiny. That’s exciting.

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These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community

The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.