The Second Antiphon: Adonai
O Sacred Lord and Leader
"O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with outstretched arm."
The tablets of stone are a picture of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They may be used to represent the whole of God's law, the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, the Torah), or the entire Old Testament.
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Adonai is the ancient name the Israelites used out of respect for the name revealed to Moses at the burning bush, Yahweh. It means “The Lord”.
This antiphon recalls the events of Exodus; how God reveals Himself to Moses and through him elects a people and leads them to freedom by the power of his arm.
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