FEB 12

Psalm 138
Memorise Psalm 119:16
“I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word”

In Psalm 138:2, the Psalmist makes a rather astounding claim. In the midst of praising the name of God, he then declares that “thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”. What does this mean? How is it that the Word of God is magnified even above the name of God?

When we think about one’s name, it is a word that we use for identification purpose. The name itself does not intrinsically carry much meaning, for it is but a representation of the person, organisation or thing that it points to. Yet names can be a very powerful thing, for names carry with them authority, recognition, status and identity. When it comes to God’s name, it is far more than just a means to identify Him. It is also something that evokes reverence, fear, worship, love, respect, comfort, and a whole host of other responses. The Psalmist, as he meditated upon the name of God, praised Him for His lovingkindness and His truth.

Yet he then went on to praise the Word as being magnified above God’s name. Why is it so? We realise that the only way that we can know of God’s name, is through His Word. The meaning, emotion and reverence that we can have towards God’s name can only come about if we know His Word well. Thus we see the great importance placed in the Word of God. In light of that, it would be impossible to reconcile the fact that an unchanging, perfect and all-powerful God would take offence at us taking His name in vain and yet allow His Word to be corrupted. Thankfully, we do not have to reconcile the two because we know that He has perfectly preserved His Word!

God cares about His name. He cares about His Word just as much, if not more. In the old days, people found guilty of blasphemy would have been executed. Sadly today, many Christians say that they love God and have a high regard for His Word while denying that God cares enough about His Word to providentially preserve it in the same breath. This also, is blasphemy, but cleverly disguised in the form of scholarly “theological differences”. We should not view the denial of VPP as anything less serious than the way people viewed blasphemy in the old days.

Thought: I cannot imagine anything more perfect than God’s name and yet He has declared His Word to be above His name.
Prayer: Give us the faith to understand and believe, O Lord, that You care too much for Your Word to not have perfectly preserved it.