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What Does Šaday Mean For The SOH & DST?

What Does Šaday Mean For The SOH & DST?

Last updated on: July 16, 2026 at 10:55 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does Šaday Mean For The SOH & DST? 2026-07-16T22:55:30-04:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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Again, the big news this week has focused on the war in Iran and the reclosure of the Strait of Hormuz (SOH). Amazingly, Iran’s defeated military has been able to attack ships in the strait and American allies that have American assets within their countries.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

These attacks occurred, although the president has declared numerous times that Iran’s Army was “Completely” destroyed. With the news of the renewed fighting, markets around the world have taken a hit as the cost of oil has spiked once again, as Iran declared the strait closed again.

The president responded to Iran’s threats and actions by reinstating the naval blockade and jumpstarting military efforts to destroy Iran’s imaginary Army.

Of course, the president announced his plan for the United States to seize control of the SOH at a profit, which helped ease the markets for a little while, but the president quickly changed his plan on controlling the strait. Time and again, the president’s actions reveal his character and not-so-high values:

Power-hungry
Deceptive
Vengeful
Violent

It didn’t take long before Iran declared there are the only ones who have control of the Strait. For the past few days, the Iranian Army has continued to attack American assets and our allies in the Middle East.

It is a dark time in the Middle East as earthly kingdoms seek to control what God created, controlling through His sovereignty as Almighty God (1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalm 115:3, Revelation 1:8).

What Is Almighty

Most of us connect Almighty to God and His unlimited authority, but not everyone is willing to submit to it due to our sinful human nature (Romans 8:7, Galatians 5:17). Almighty is defined as “Having absolute power over all: mighty.”

Image by Pixabay

Unfortunately, mankind’s sinful nature has craved God’s power and authority like the devil, even before the fall (Genesis 3:4-5). Despite what Satan and this fallen world believe, there is still only one Almighty God.

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all recognize God as Almighty (Job 37:23, Revelation 15:3). That is why the Bible has a lot to say about God being all-powerful and Almighty (Jeremiah 32:17, Revelation 19:6).

Once we come to Jesus, we submit to God’s authority over us and creation (John 14:23, Romans 12:1, James 4:7). God alone is sovereign over all creation (Psalm 115:3, Colossians 1: 16-17). God’s people cannot trust in themselves or follow other gods because only He is in control (Acts 5:29, Romans 12:19, Ephesians 1:11, James 4:13-15). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about the power and authority of Almighty God.

Šaday

The Torah describes God as a powerful being who simply spoke everything into existence from heaven in the beginning (Genesis 1:1-3). That is why God revealed Himself to the patriarchs of the faith as the Almighty God (Genesis 17:1; 35:11; 49:24, Exodus 6:3, Deuteronomy 10:17).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for Almighty is šaday, and it can also mean “Most powerful, mighty, or shaddai,” depending upon the context in which it is used. Israel vowed to follow one Almighty God only (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Joshua 24:24, 1 Kings 8:60-61, 2 Kings 17:38-39).

Israel often identified God as El Shaddai because of His mighty works (Numbers 24:4, Job 5:17, Psalm 68:14; 91:1-2, Isaiah 60:16, Ezekiel 10:5):

Creator
Giver of life
Mighty power
Divine protection
Forgiveness
Divine provision

Jesus also identified God as the Almighty Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16; 11:25-27, John 8:54; 10:29-30; 14:6-11; 14:6-11). Our Lord professed that He came to do the works of the Father to bring Him glory alone (John 4:34; 6:38

Image by Pixabay

Our Rabbi taught His followers to obey God the Father (Matthew 7:21, John 14:15). Jesus chose to love and forgive instead of abusing His power, just like our Almighty God (Matthew 5:44-45; 26:53-54, Luke 23:34). He also used His power to control nature and weather, just like the Almighty God who created them (Matthew 8:23-27; 14:25-33).

Daylight Saving Time

In other big news this week, the GOP-led House of Representatives advanced measures to eliminate Daylight Saving Time (DST) and make standard Time permanent. However, this isn’t the first time the nation has tried to eliminate DST, and I am sure it won’t be the last.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

Both parties have made their arguments about why we should or shouldn’t have DST; there are safety and health concerns from both sides of the argument. Adjusting or not adjusting clocks will not address or correct mankind’s sinful nature; we will still do what we want, regardless of the clock. No matter what our government chooses to do with our clocks, only the Almighty God controls His creation (Job 37:14-16, Psalm 135:6, Colossians 1:16-17, Revelation 4:11):

Sun, Moon, and stars
Whether
Seasons

The problem isn’t the time change; it is the heart change needed in each of us, regardless of political affiliation or nationality. Pres. Trump and his supporters simply want to try to control what the Bible says is out of man’s control (Proverbs 16:9, Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, Romans 9:19-21, James 4:13-15).

As I write this, the president is having a news conference to once again complain about losing the 2020 presidential election, despite God still being in control. Whether we like it or not, we must all bow and submit to our true Master (Romans 14:11, Philippians 2:10-11). When we trust in ourselves or the things of this world to save us or make us happy, we have turned to idols. That is why we only hope in El Shaddai!

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