Do You Trust In The Name Of The Lord?
Good Morning Friends,
Shakespeare once said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But still there is something we attach in our brain to the names of things that sparks emotions and images. Today we explore the names of God and whether we actually believe God is who He says He is enough to trust. Here I think it is easy to come to the conclusion that it is better to trust in God than in people. It is better to pray through life’s battles than to put our faith solely in the power of people. It is healthier to be on a first name basis with God than to hide from God thinking we would be better off if Jesus did not even know our names.
Friends, it is good to realize how majestic our Lord’s name is. It is good to honor God’s name though our love of others. It is good to trust God to be who His name says He is. Do You Trust In The Name Of The Lord?
Scripture: To the leader. A Psalm of David. The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. Selah
May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfil all your plans. May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the Lord fulfil all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call.
Psalm 20 (NRSV)
You have granted [the king] the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. . . . You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
Psalm 21:23 (NIV)
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 (NRSV)
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
Exodus 20:7 (NRSV)
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven.
Psalm 148:3 (NRSV)
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’
Matthew 18:19-20 (NRSV)
Message: On occasion David would rhyme the names of God as a way of expressing himself in his writings and I would like you to imagine him doing that this morning as you read today’s scripture. Such a meditation brings us closer to the character of Christ especially in the Messianic Psalms. Psalm 20 and 21 go together. Both are Battle songs. The 20th psalm precedes the battle and the 21st follows the battle. Psalm 20 is in the lectionary for this upcoming week and rightfully so in preparation for Palm Sunday and Holy Week. As you meditate on today’s scripture remember that in the Bible, a name was not only an identification, but an identity as well. Many times a special meaning was attached to the name. Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself and purposes to us through His names. God has many names mentioned in the Bible. When we study and meditate on these names, we will better understand the central personality and nature of who God really is. Perhaps for you He is your Most High God, All sufficient One, Master, Lord of Peace, and or the Lord Who Will Provide. Perhaps He is your Father, Protector, Lord, and or Shepherd. We should know God by name and trust in our relationship with God as a hallowed covenant and think deeply upon the true meaning. Friends, God knows us by our name. We should know Him by His and using God’s name in prayer invoke the presence and aid of God in everything we do. Furthermore we should act as under the authority of Jesus. Acting in his name we cannot do anything that would be contrary to his spirit. The emphasis is an invitation to remember that Jesus is the only mediator in our approach to God. I do not think that scripture says not to utter the name of God. It was certainly tradition for the Jews not to utter the sacred name of God. They were too afraid of missing the mark so put a hedge around the law to honor God’s name and ended up with a tradition of not even speaking the name. The New Testament, however, suggests we use the name of Jesus. Friends, the name of Jesus means salvation. Jesus is our mediator. Meditate and trust on that.
Pray we not misuse the name of God. Pray we receive encouragement when we need God’s help. Pray we be in God’s will. Pray we trust and obey as we walk with the Lord of light. Pray we depend on Him even as He abides with us. Pray we not get so self-centered that we believe we can do it all on our own. Pray we turn around to the love of Christ. Pray we not put our trust in earthly possessions. Pray we learn to abide in the Lord. Pray we crown Jesus King of our lives. Pray in the sustaining fact, strengthening force, steady faith and sheltering fort of Jesus. Pray we discover the Lord of Peace.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 