Olam is used to express the eternal duration of the being of God (Ps 90:2, “From everlasting to everlasting”), and is the Hebrew synonym of the Greek aion, age. How could Abraham do this? Before the mountains were born (came into existence - implies before Creation) or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting (olam) to everlasting (olam), You are God (elohim)....For a thousand years in Thy sight is like yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night" (Psalm 90:1-2, 4), Spurgeon comments: Before those elder giants had struggled forth from nature's womb, as her dread firstborn, the Lord was glorious and self sufficient.... God was, when nothing else was. Genesis 13:15 (Jehovah to Abram = Ge 13:14) for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. It is interesting that the Greek (Lxx) chose to translate Qedem with skepasis which means shelter or protection, conveying a powerful metaphor (picture) of the eternal God as our everlasting Protector! El Olam. First note that he is not questioning God but is asking a rhetorical question which expects an affirmative reply - Yes, God is the Everlasting God is the idea. And in this day of turmoil and gross and blatant wickedness, we, too, need a fresh view of God. APPLICATION: Since God is everlasting, He can accomplish whatever He wishes, whenever He wishes, or as Solomon writes (see below) "IN HIS TIME." And so we begin at the beginning, focusing on Him Who has no beginning nor end, El Olam, the Everlasting God! It therefore behooves us to store up for ourselves a treasure trove of truth regarding His Glorious Names. He who was absolute over Pharaoh in Egypt is not one whit the less today the King of kings and Lord of lords; still do His chariot wheels roll onward in imperial grandeur, none being for a moment able to resist His eternal will. Join Facebook to connect with El Olam and others you may know. Yes, the perpetual (KJV, ESV = everlasting); Hebrew noun - 'ad = eternity) mountains were shattered, The ancient hills collapsed. Comment: The Everlasting God's "ways are (also) everlasting." ", Genesis 9:12 God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive (perpetual = KJV; future - ESV, subsequent=NET, perpetual = KJV) (Lxx = aionios - see note above) generations. THOUGHT: Beloved, here is the practical application to our lives -- El Olam's ways are everlasting -- what He has done in ages past, He can do again in your life. Wells would disappear, trees would be cut down, ewe lambs would grow up and die, altars would crumble, and treaties would perish; but the Everlasting God would remain. The eternity of God reproaches a pursuit of the world, as preferring a momentary pleasure before an everlasting God; as though a temporal world could be a better supply than a God whose years never fail. And so we must know what God teaches about His Great Name. Each Person of the Trinity is involved in every action of God. Times change, people change, needs change. Comment: The Septuagint (Lxx) translates Qedem with aion (word study) (also see note above) so that the English reads "He hat has existed from eternity.". Isaiah says that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, will not grow weary and not faint. The Psalmist describes those who would sing this song confidently proclaiming that the Everlasting God is their Eternal Home... Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge (NET=take shelter) in You be glad, Let them ever (olam) sing for joy; And may You shelter them, that those who love Your Name may exult in You.12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield. In other places, the word means “without beginning, without end, and ever-continuing”: “ (Isa. The eternal existence of God is here mentioned to set forth, by contrast, the brevity of human life. 3:7-9, 16), but there will surely be a literal fulfilment in the future to the Jewish nation (Rom. (Hebrews 11:19-note). God was, when nothing else was. (4) If God be eternal, here is a strong ground of comfort against all the distresses of the Church, and the threats of the Church’s enemies. As our lawyer before God, He defends us in the court of justice of God, and he offers himself as payment for our transgressions. Amen and Amen! A study of the names of God is not unusual in itself, of course. Time and space are not God, but creations of god: with Him it is the universal here; so it is an everlasting now. This Everlasting God had made an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants (Ge 17:7, 13, 19), and He had given them the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession (Ge 17:8; 48:4). Yes, God would discipline His disobedient chosen people, but He would not annihilate them, for He had cut an everlasting covenant with their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He would not break the covenant promises! They are already having their primary fulfilment in the Church of Christ as Abraham's spiritual seed (Gal. It is none other than the Wisdom of God, the source of all light and knowledge (Pr 8:12–14), the King of kings (Pr 8:15–16), the loving rewarder of his children (Pr 8:17), the rich portion and unfailing guide of his people (Pr 8:18–19). We have music in the house, music in the heart, and music in heaven, for the Lord Jehovah is our strength and our song; he also is become our salvation. And his worship would also serve as a witness which contrasted with the little, limited, local "deities" of the heathen (including Abimelech), for Abraham's Everlasting God assured promised blessings for all people for all time. --Solomon Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep Who alone works wonders. The Everlasting God, the LORD (His covenant keeping Name), the Creator of the ends of the earth (Speaks of His Omnipotence) does not become weary or tired (KJV = "fainteth not"). (italics mine). 21:6; Lev. She is not far away. How clear is His essential unity with the Father. Signification : El est un nom qui est traduit par «Dieu» et peut être utilisé en conjonction avec d’autres mots pour désigner les différents aspects du caractère de Dieu. In these references, olam simply expresses the purpose of God in time and does not mean without limits. The Hebrew word olam means “for a long time, always, forever.” El Olam thus reveals God as “the Everlasting God,” without beginning or end. To secure and consummate our salvation (Heb 7:25-note; Heb 9:28-note). Spurgeon: Carry them in thine arms on earth, and then lift them into thy bosom in heaven. (Play the old Maranatha Classic Praise Song: — IN HIS TIME — Make the Lyrics your Prayer today). To receive His own revelation of Himself is our great privilege. Yes the covenant Abraham made with a man (Abimelech) which secured the land he was to sojourned on, was but a reflection of the everlasting covenant God had made with him and in which He promised Abraham the land on which he sojourned for many days (Ge 21:34). He hath life in Himself; all creatures have their life in Him, and from Him. Olam is translated in the Septuagint (Lxx) most often by the Greek word aion. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (olam). Psalm 145:1-2, 21-note, planting of the (tamarisk) tree was a symbol of fruitfulness and prosperity. Most English versions (e.g., KJV, NASB, NIV, ESV) and conservative expositors have followed the third alternative because the focus of the passage is more on God’s existence than on his past deeds (which come into view in Hab 3:1-19). Though saints may be in dead and lifeless frames, and need quickening afresh, yet they are not without the principle of spiritual life. The word olam is also used to describe a former time. Are like an evening gone; Then came water clocks, hourglasses and mechanical clocks. These unconditional covenants serve as the anchor of their soul when times are difficult. (Pr 8:30 Comment). (others say the origin is uncertain) Gesenius feels olam refers to that which is hidden, especially "hidden time" the beginning or end of which is either uncertain or undefined = eternity, perpetuity. My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD... (1Th 4:18-note). And his truth endures to all generations. (Treasury of David—Psalm 37). He is a sun to give light and life to all creatures, but receives not light, or life from anything, and therefore He hath an unlimited life; not a drop of life, but a fountain; not a spark of a limited life, but a life transcending all bounds. A changeable God would be a terror to the righteous, they would have no sure anchorage, and amid a changing world they would be driven to and fro in perpetual fear of shipwreck. The words of the hymn were written in 1860 by William Whiting, who taught and directed a 16-voice boys choir. The Hebrew word Olam(o-LAM) means "eternal," " everlasting," "forever," "lasting," and "ancient." 25:6). Spurgeon: The eternal God is the well-spring of our bliss. (See Robert Bowman's excellent critique of Oneness Doctrine - see especially points #40-46, cp 1Jn 2:23). The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, Exodus 3:15 God, furthermore, said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' We call on Him because “thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses...have been ever [olam] of old” (Ps. And then we do well to heed Spurgeon's encouragement to pray based on the truth of Ps 12:7... O Eternal Spirit, fulfil in us the faithful saying of this verse! Place of Protection - Thus, when Abraham called upon El Olam at Beer-sheba, he was asking God to protect his well not only as long as Abimelech lived; he sought long-term protection as well. The Everlasting God is actively (not passively like "Deism" teaches) involved in our lives. (Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Vol 2 Genesis 12-36 James Montgomery Boice - Baker Books). (Treasury of David—Psalm 5), NET Note Comment: Take shelter. This is evident by the name God gives Himself (Ex 3:14). (2) Let the consideration of God’s eternity abate our pride. The word Elohim is the plural of El (or possibly of Eloah) and is the first name for God given in the Tanakh: "In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1): The name Elohim is unique to Hebraic thinking: it occurs only in Hebrew and in no other ancient Semitic language. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. Religious Organization. El appears in Ugaritic, Phoenician and other 2nd and 1st millennium BC texts both as generic "god" and as the head of the divine pantheon. (Let this Vocal of "Shelter to Every Generation — stir the missionary embers of your heart!) Third, El Olam is the changeless One. marks Him as the sure and able Performer of His promise, as the everlasting Vindicator of the faith of treaties, and as the infallible Source of the believer’s rest and peace. He was God when the earth was not a world but a chaos, when mountains were not upheaved, and the generation of the heavens and the earth had not commenced. Remember that the word obey (Greek = hupakouo, hupakoe, hupekoos) means "hearing under" with the implication that sincere doing will follow submissive hearing. John Calvin: The everlastingness of which Moses speaks is to be referred not only to the essence of God, but also to His providence (in depth study), by which He governs the world. As discussed above, Habakkuk's opening question is rhetorical (for effect), expecting a resounding "Yes!". And He is not a man that He should lie. May it provoke each of us to give his/her utmost for His highest!) which refers to an age or time. It is therefore fitting that God's revelation as the Everlasting God who serve as a reminder of the unbreakable, everlasting nature of the covenant God had cut with Abraham. All things we know of change through time, yet our Father never does. For example, the birth of Isaac of a “free woman” and Abraham's rejection of the “son of the bondmaid” is a picture of God's dealing with the Jews and later with the Gentiles (see Gal. Failure to obey dims and dulls the spiritual understanding. “The LORD brought me forth,” for He was present with Him in the heart of the Deity. (Ariel's Bible commentary: The book of Genesis). If not consider doing so for the next several weeks to months using the template of notes available on this website. Perfect peace and rest Warren Wiersbe: First there were sundials. Translate Ola. God demonstrated His own lovingkindness by spilling blood to provide animal skins to cover their shame (Ge 3:21), foreshadowing the ultimate manifestation of God's lovingkindness, the shedding of the precious blood of His Son, the Lamb of God (See Ro 5:8-note). There shall always be life in the Name of Jesus, and sweetness and consolation. What came from his heart and his hands was an old hymn by Elisha Hoffman: What have I to dread, what have I to fear, As the manna in the golden pot, which else had melted, was preserved in the ark of the covenant beneath the mercy seat, so shall the faithful be preserved in the covenant by the power of Jesus their propitiation. Have you ever performed a systematic study of the Names of God? Let this Vocal of "Shelter to Every Generation — stir the missionary embers of your heart! Les Somers, qui fréquentent le Emanu-El Temple, une synagogue réformée à San Diego, disent que les valeurs juives autour de la justice sociale influencent tout ce qu’ils font. You are the everlasting God Have you not heard? God reveals Himself more and more fully in order that we may be more and more thoroughly equipped for greater efforts in the kingdom of God. Then meditate on His Name, Everlasting God. In the psalms those who "take shelter" in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear and serve the Lord (Ps 31:17-20, 34:21-22). God has a predestination according to the counsel of His will, and none of the devices of His foes can thwart His decree for a moment. His character is immutable; His fame and honour also shall remain to all eternity. El Olam never changes. El Olam is one of many Divine Names revealed in Genesis - El Elyon (Ge 14:18), El Roi (Ge 16:13), EL Shaddai (Ge 17:1), El-elohe-Israel (Ge 33:20), El-Beth-el (Ge 35:7). 06h03, "Je suis apparu à Abraham, à Isaac et à Jacob, comme Dieu Tout-Puissant, mais … Therefore this truth about El Olam is vital to recall to mind that we might shore up our sagging faith and be enabled to confidently hold forth the shield by which we can fend off the fiery missiles of the evil one (Eph 6:16-note). Genesis 9:16 "When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting (Lxx = aionios) covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. (Jude 24-25+), Choose Book of Bible to StudyGenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SolomonIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Search Wikipedia using spiritual discretion, Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Vol 2 Genesis 12-36 James Montgomery Boice - Baker Books, Play the old Maranatha Classic Praise Song: — IN HIS TIME — Make the Lyrics your Prayer today, Dear weary one, may God strengthen you in your inner man by His Spirit — as you play, pray & ponder the wonderful words of this old hymn, Or play Maranatha Medley with "To Every Generation", Cornerstone Biblical Commentary Minor Prophets Hosea–Malachi, Gaebelein, A. C. The Annotated Bible, Volume 5: Daniel to Malachi, Defender's Study Bible - highly recommended for it's literal approach to interpretation, Digression on Eternal - The Greek Word Aionios, See Robert Bowman's excellent critique of Oneness Doctrine - see especially points #40-46. Joshua 22:22 One of the most famous Biblical encounters is when Moses was confronted by God at the burning bush, and given a commission to deliver Israel from bondage. Psalm 23:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, --John Newton THOUGHT: When God's Spirit illuminates the Scripture showing us something about God we heretofore did not know or understand, the proper response is to worship! Though they are past with us, they are in regard of God’s eternity present with Him; there is no succession in eternity as there is in time. El is the generic name for god; it is used of Yahweh as well as the other pagan gods of the culture. W. Griffith-Thomas: Let us ponder these wonderful promises. Finding as He promised, (Defender's Study Bible - highly recommended for it's literal approach to interpretation). today. El Olam sums up this attribute of His being. God’s abiding for ever is the plea Jeremiah makes for his return to his forsaken Church (Lam 5:19). A counselor is someone who guides others by warning or exhortation. The etymological signification of Almighty God (El Shaddai) is both interesting and touching. Grace in them is a well of living water, springing up to everlasting life. Olam came to mean “everlasting” and is generally so translated in our Bibles (Ed: See list above). A time to give birth, and a time to die; Try me and know my anxious thoughts The NLT follows the third option. (Ps 72:17-19-read Spurgeon's note). Isaiah also beheld him advancing from the same direction. A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. Indeed as the Isaac Watts so eloquently said (notice the time phrases)... My God, my Help in ages past, But the wonder of wonders remains that He Who was His Father’s infinite delight and was infinitely delighting in Him should find His delight from all eternity in mankind. As the beautiful old hymn Like a River Glorious rightly reminds us ("stayed" = secured upright as if with a "stay" a large strong rope used to support a mast! He also said, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7). Verse: The Mighty One, God, the Lord (Jehovah), the Mighty One (El), God (Elohim), the Lord! (Be obedient. 3. (Treasury of David—Psalm 28). God NEVER gets tired! Throughout the Father’s preexistence, the Son was with Him (John 1:1-3; Jn 8:54; Col. 1:17-note). And you could continue this chorus in a wonderful time of worship as you prayerfully recall all the great Attributes of God as all existing eternally! (Isa 26:8) "Where two or three are gathered in my name" (Mt 18:20), etc. The Everlasting God's "Everlasting Energy" ensures every promise especially everlasting life to His children and also everlasting reproach to His adversaries (Ps 78:66-note). Do you want to know God better? He shall guide me to the tomb; (cp Jn 17:3) In the ancient world it was especially important to know the name of the deities in order to invoke their presence and obtain help from them (albeit a deceptively futile practice for pagans for there is only One True God Who is able to help!) When paired with Elto make El Olam, it means Eternal Godor Everlasting God. All things depend on Him, He of none. Ecclesiastes 3:14 I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. (APPLICATION: As El Olam, He will forever remember His covenant and forever forget our trespasses against Him! David also said that “the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (100:5). He has also set ETERNITY (olam) in their heart, ESV Study Bible: The eternality of wisdom with God anticipates the eternality of the second person of the Trinity, Who is the Word of God and Who mediated creation (John 1:1–3)....(Adding on Pr 8:35 that) Life is obtained ultimately from Christ, Who is the life (John 14:6) and the wisdom of God (1Cor. Indeed, He is... You see the point and doubtless could come up with your own names related to the "everlasting" attribute of God, which would be a wonderful addition to your times of prayer and praise to Him. Now we have digital clocks and watches that split time into hundredths of a second. So one day the mother eagle will disturb the twigs of the nest, making it an uncomfortable place to stay. His power, His wisdom, His grace are unchangeably the same, for they are everlasting! And so as we walk in obedience, surrendered to and enabled by the indwelling Spirit of Christ (Phil 2:13NLT-note), our Teacher (Jn 16:13, 14, 1Cor 2:12, 13, cp 1Jn 2:20, 27) will be our "Illuminator" of increasing degrees of spiritual knowledge (Cp this pattern in Col 1:10-note). School. always, ancient time, any more, continuance, eternal, for, everlasting, long time, Or lolam {o-lawm'}; from alam; properly, concealed, i.e. “I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began” (Pr 8:23). (Deut 33:27-see comments), Comment: What a comfort it is for the true Christian to have such an assurance in the storms of life! In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John records the declaration of Jesus... Rev 22:13-note “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”. Now we have digital clocks and watches that split time into hundredths of a second. Is it automatic? As the centre of attraction: "In His Name shall the Gentiles trust." Connected with His eternity was His agency in the work of creation.