FOR THY NAME'S SAKE - Part 3
by Ernie Klassen
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy names' sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble." Psalm 143:11
The practice of appealing to the Lord's Name is common among God's prophets (Nehemiah 9:10; Jeremiah 3:20; 13:11; 33:8-9; Isaiah 55:13; 63:11-12). The apostasy of the people of God, their ruin and desolation, in a sense reflects back on the character of God. Sin tarnishes the family name. It appears that the prophets understood this dynamic, and appealed to God to move, to work, to revive His people, "For His Name's Sake", that is to revive the people of God so that they would display the glorious and gracious character of God, and that in so doing, the revived people of God would actually promote the Name of God and others would actually be attracted to Him.
Notice in Daniel 9:17b-19 that this particular argument becomes the key point of appeal for the prophet: We understand the prophet here to appeal to the Lord's Name as a means of appealing to all that God has invested in the well-being of His people. By sending revival and spiritual renewal, God would be promoting His glorious character. His Name would be attractive as the Ones who bear His Name would be revitalized.
Be the first to react on this!
