El Elyon is the fourth of the names of God we are given in Scripture, and is translated as the Most High God. The name Most High is revealed through priesthood and is associated with Melchisedek the king of Salem in the days of Abram. Melchisedek we are told was a priest of the Most High God, and it was through him that Abram received knowledge of this Name.We are given further insight into this Name Most High in the book of Hebrews. Here we see the Melchisedek priesthood spoken of in chapters 5, 6 and 7, with a connection to a further unveiling of the Most High. There is given the instruction that we not become stagnant, and remain in elementary things but that we go on to perfection. The revelation of God to man is progressive. It is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little; and well that it should be! While many who have discovered a Truth about God (as He has revealed Himself to them by His Name), having stopped, being content with the milk that that one truth is all there is to know. While for others who would wish for the meat, to know more of God without the balance of a clear understanding of elementary truths, and it thus becomes a curse to them.
While it is true that a deeper knowledge in spiritual things received humbly can lead us into a wondrous appreciation of the Most High God beyond imagination; the danger of higher knowledge without maturity in the things of God will easily inflate the ego, for pride to enter in, and self exaltation to take hold.
Consider the Apostle Paul who was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him lest he should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations. (II Cor. 12:7) Paul Bunyan has said: "I know of no doctrine so dangerous as the truth of God received carnally." The knowledge of the Most High therefore is a secret. Within that secret place there is full knowledge of the other three Names of God, uniquely described in Psalm 91:1,2.
For a more in-depth study into the meaning of the name Most High, we turn our attention to the Hebrew El Elyon. As in a previous study of El Shaddai, the EL of the name expresses God as Power or Might. As for Elyon it signifies God Who is Most High, possessor of heaven and earth. While Elyon can be applied to things or persons of the world, it is always in reference to the highest order of like natures. Therefore when it is applied to God it speaks of Him as the Most High in an order of others below Him endowed by Him with a like nature.
The glorious truth to be discovered behind God revealed as the Most High, is connected with the Scriptures that show us that there are others of His kind that are subject to Him. God has offspring of Himself. We are His offspring, children of the Most High. In Psalms 82:6 "have I not said that ye are gods and children of the Most High." Therefore as sons of God created (cut) in His image and likeness, from the substance of Himself, we see that even though man may be in a fallen state, and does not know it, he is a son nonetheless. And because he is a son, he can never be forsaken by Him from whom he came. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance, even to the unconverted fallen man. The Most High cannot deny Himself. God will have His way. Time and time again we see that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills. (Dan. 4:25).
The warning that comes with this knowledge of the Most High is to consider that God is not pleased by man in this fallen state, but that He is not helpless either. For God as He is made known by His many Names shows us that He is in perfect control of His creation. That from Him, and through Him, and back to Him are all things. That He is God, and there is none else. There is none beside Him, no not one.
In Elohim we see God who by virtue of relationship loves unconditionally all of creation, and cannot lose even one. In Jehovah we see God who is righteous, and therefore must judge evil, who takes upon Himself the sin of the world, and pays for it to reconcile creation back to Himself. El Shaddai reveals to us the Breasted one; the Pourer-Forth of blessings, who gives His own Spirit to His people. Fourthly we see El Elyon the Most High God, who will have His way. He who is not deterred by the disobedience of His sons, but will bring correction and chastisement, until He overturns us, and overcomes us, until He has His due place in us for our ultimate blessing.
As the assignment for this subject ends, I am confident that there is much more to the Nature of God than what is here written of His Names. Even so, I am also sure there is much more that I do not yet know. How foolish it would be to consider that the Nature of God shown even by these four Names is exhaustible. Only that we would make a beginning, thus expanding our awareness of God. Not the god of our imaginations, but as He, in Truth, unfolds the revelations of Himself by His Names throughout the Scriptures to all generations. To know God as He desires to be known. "They who know God’s Name will put their trust in Him." Psalm 9:10.
AMEN.
