Philo grapples with this very question: Why are the names "Lord" and "God" sometimes used together? His answer? It's all about God's attributes, specifically benevolence and kingly power. He argues that these two aspects of God are fundamental to creation itself.
Think about it: God creates the world as a King, exercising His authority. But the way He creates is through His beneficence, His boundless goodness. Philo sees these two attributes as intertwined, yet distinct. "As king he created the world according to his beneficence," Philo writes. It wasn't just a display of raw power, but an act of love and generosity.
But it doesn’t end there. According to Philo, after creation, the world was “arranged and set in order by his attribute of kingly power.” So, benevolence initiates, and kingly power organizes. A beautiful partnership, wouldn't you say?
And what does this have to do with us, with humanity? Well, Philo suggests that God renders "the wise man" (a person of wisdom and understanding) worthy of a common honor, a connection to the very fabric of creation. We, too, are formed with these attributes, the Lord and God, woven into our being. We share in the excellence imparted to the world.
Philo goes on to say that the beneficent power of God is mentioned twice for a reason. The first time, it's in direct contrast to His kingly power, highlighting that duality. But the second time? It's mentioned alone, without that connection. Why?
Philo's interpretation is that this second mention is to ensure that the wise person, having received both common gifts (shared with the world) and unique gifts (peculiar to themselves), becomes acceptable to both the world and to God. Acceptable to the world because of the shared excellence, and acceptable to God because of the unique potential within.
So, next time you encounter these paired names of God, remember Philo's insight. It’s a reminder that creation is an act of both power and love, and that we, as part of that creation, are called to embody both these aspects in our own lives. Perhaps that’s the ultimate purpose: to reflect God's benevolence and kingly power in a way that makes us both better inhabitants of this world and closer to the Divine.