Psalm 20: 1 says, “The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble: the name of the God of Jacob defend thee:”
The very name of God is not only holy but powerful. From early Bible times the name “Yahweh” was held in high esteem. Men feared to write it, it was so sacred. It was not to be spoken lightly. Once a year at the Passover Feast, after the lamb had been slain, the priest, standing on the pinnacle, would shout, “YAHWEH!”
Then Jesus came. His name, “Yahshua,” is once again holy and powerful. Philippians 2:10-11 states, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
For everyone who calls themselves a “Christian,” a follower of Christ, the name of Jesus is holy and powerful. For those who don’t personally know Him, His name is either not mentioned, or even used as a swear word. Christians are called to holiness and power. Jesus told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).
In our text, David prays for the very name of God to come as a defense in the day of trouble.
Our nation is in a day of trouble. We cannot trust in the name of unholy men. The name “Jeffrey Epstein” is once again in the news. People want to know who is on his list. The people on his list don’t want to be discovered. If we could get our hands on a list of all that have sinned, we would find our name there.
There is another list—the Lamb’s book of Life. It is our only hope for holiness and power. Is your name there?
There is also a concern today about the gold in Fort Knox. Is it all present and accounted for?( It should be inventoried regularly.) One of the signers of the Declaration was Benjamin Rush. He had much to do with the freeing of slaves. He was also treasurer of the US Mint. He had a good name, a powerful reputation, which money cannot buy. While reading “The Founder’s Bible” by David Barton, I came across a quote by Benjamin Rush (The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush, ed. George W. Corner). This was the advise Rush gave to his son before sending him to medical school. “Commit yourself, and all that you are interested in, daily to the protection of your Maker: Preserver: and bountiful Benefactor. Keep a journal from the day you leave Philadelphia, in which insert…subjects of sermons, speeches, etc.…Attend public worship…Read the Bible only (and nothing else) on Sundays.”
I can remember when there were a few people who did not believe we should read the newspaper on Sunday. I wonder if it would make a difference in our lives if we were to not look at our cell phones on Sunday, but instead read the Bible. Someone said that you could read the Bible through in a year by reading three chapters a day and five on Sundays.
What does it look like to be a nation under God? Our founding fathers gave us many examples. Some good things are happening in our government today. Looking back to King David, we see his power came from God, the name of God. He knew he was helpless without God. No man can be great without humbling himself. I like the way David put it in Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God!”
