El Shaddai

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”” (Psalm 91:1–2, ESV)

God Almighty

Some of you most likely recognize the name “El Shaddai.” For myself, I initially recognized this name because of Amy Grant’s song named, “El Shaddai.” Honestly, every time I hear the name “El Shaddai,” I find myself singing the song in my head. I’m actually singing it right now as I write this. 

If you look at this name closely, you will notice it includes the name we spoke about last week—“El”—which is the name for God. It adds the adjective “Shaddai” to make this name mean God Almighty. So, whenever you’re reading your Bible and come across the name “God Almighty” or “The Almighty” you are encountering this name of God. 

Some Definitions

When we study this name of God, it’s important to know that it’s connected to last week’s post. Since this name includes “El,” it also includes those meanings—fullness of life and power, creator and sustainer of all things. Yet, it adds the term “Almighty” for particular emphasis. 

Louis Berkhof says, “It differs in an important point from ‘Elohim,’ the God of creation and nature, in that it contemplates God as subjecting all the powers of nature and making them subservient to the work of divine grace” (L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology, p. 48–49). To build upon this, Herman Bavinck says, “This name, accordingly, makes God known to us as the One who possesses all power, and can therefore overcome all resistance and make all things subservient to his will. Whereas ‘Elohim’ is the God of creation and nature, ‘El Shaddai’ is the God who makes all the powers of nature subject and subservient to the work of grace” (Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, p. 140). 

Powerful Enough to Fulfill His Plans

As you can see from Berkhof and Bavinck, the name “Elohim” points God as the one who created all things and sustains them, but the name “El Shaddai”—God Almighty—adds the concept that God is powerful enough to bring about his plans and purposes in the world he created. Nothing can stand against his plans and purposes. He is the Almighty God. 

This is why the Psalmist says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1–2, ESV). He trusts in God as his refuge and fortress because God is the Almighty God. No one and no thing can stand in his way. When we dwell in his presence, and take refuge in him, we are in the hands of the Almighty.

Nothing Can Separate Us

This is also why Paul says, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35–39, ESV). 

Why are these things unable to separate us from the love of God? Because he is God Almighty and nothing can stand in his way. He will fulfill his plans and purposes. He will protect his people. He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Important Reminder

As I’ve encouraged in previous posts, take time to meditate on this name. Especially right now, in the midst of this chaos and uncertainty, it’s important that we are continually reminding ourselves that we worship God Almighty. Nothing is strong enough to frustrate his plans. Will the pandemic, or rioting, or division, or civil unrest? No. He is God Almighty. Let us look to Him as our refuge and fortress in these uncertain times. Let us trust him. Let us worship Him as the Almighty God.