For the Sake of His Name

I balked, at first, about this week’s name, The Name. Because it’s not a name. It’s a placeholder, if you will.

But then my mind went in a million different directions, and I’ve ended up with four blog posts this week to get my thoughts organized.

How many times in Scripture do we see, “For the sake of His name,” or For Your name’s sake?”

A lot.

What are some of the things Yahweh does for the sake of Hashem, his name?”

• He restores my soul. (Psalm 23)
• He guides me in paths of righteousness. (Psalm 23)
• He forgives my wrongdoing, which is great. (Psalm 25)
• He leads me and guides me. (Psalm 31)
• He saves. (Psalm 106)
• He deals kindly with me. (Psalm 109)
• He revives me. In his righteousness, he brings my soul out of trouble. (Psalm 143)
• He refines us and delays his wrath. (Isaiah 48)
• He saves in times of distress, even though we’ve sinned against him. (Jeremiah 14)
• He doesn’t despise us or annul his covenant with us. (Jeremiah 14)
• He brought his people out of Egypt. (Ezekiel 20)

What do all these have in common? They’re for our benefit, and they all pertain to our salvation. I have a hard time wrapping my brain around that. The King of the Universe, Lord of All Creation, acts for my good, for the sake of his name.

Psalm 79 is a picture of the intersection of Yahweh’s perfect justice and perfect mercy. In the midst of his judgment for sin, he still pours out mercy on his people.

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;

And save us and forgive our sins for the sake of Your name. –  Psalm 79:9

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