Is there any evidence that Baal and Lord are equivalent?
Baal is a Canaanite-Phoenician word that means "master" or "lord". (Harper's Bible Dictionary, Miller) There were many baals or lords of different names. Baal worship was worship in high places where people brought taxes to the pagan deities. Baal-gad means the lord of fortune. (Josh. 11:17) Baal-hamon means the lord of riches. (Song of Solomon 8:11) Other references can be found in II Samuel 13:23, I Chronicles 5:23, Joshua 15:9, II Samuel 5:20, II Kings 4:42-44, Judges 20:33, and Numbers 33:7. One of the most talked about baals is baal-peor which means lord of opening which was probably Chemosh, a Moabite deity. (Number 25:3, 5; Deuteronomy 4:3; Psalm 106:28; Hosea 9:10)
The reason that we refrain from using lord is because it was used in place of the sacred name Yahweh in many translations of the scriptures. With spoken word "lord" you cannot tell the difference between the uppercase lord and the lowercase lord. This doesn't allow for any distinction. As we can see baal and lord refer to a lot of different deities. It is interesting that baal is pronounced the same in all languages while Yahweh was replaced with lord. Lord and baal are interchangeable in meaning. Yahweh is not replaceable. There are a few prophecies that refer to the satanic replacement that has happened. Lets look at Jeremiah 23:
How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. (Jeremiah 23:26-27)
Yahweh does not sanction the replacement of His name with a title. In the commandments we find that we are to have no other Mighty Ones before or in replacement of Yahweh. (Exodus 20:3) Yahweh says not to make graven images of anything in heaven above of in the earth beneath. (Exodus 20:4) This is to keep us from worshipping tangible objects. This would draw our worship away from Yahweh. Yahweh says that we are not to take his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7) Vain means to bring it to nothing. We bring Yahweh's name to nothing by replacing it or by not giving Yahweh the respect that He deserves. Yahweh commands to be called by His name. Baal and lord have the same meaning. Using either of these titles to replace the sacred name breaks the greatest commandment. The love of Yahweh is first and foremost.
And in that day shall ye say, Praise Yahweh, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto Yahweh; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (Isaiah 12:4-6)
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