Psalm 138:1-3

God’s promises are backed by all the honor of His name. The Amplified translation says that God has magnified His Word even above His name. That is remarkable because God’s name is already majestic. Consider Psalm 8:1, which was also a popular praise song in the 80’s and 90’s:

“O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.8.1.NLT

Names are powerful. God often gave people specific names tied to His purpose for them. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, Jacob’s was changed to Israel, Simon’s name was changed to Peter—each signifying a new identity. God even gave some people names before they were born.

Consider the calling of John the Baptist:

“While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.1.13.NLT

And, of course, Jesus:

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.1.20-21.NLT

Our names are tired to our purpose. Our name is what we hear most throughout our lives, and every time it is spoken, it is a declaration and affirmation of our purpose. The calling of our name is a reminder of who we are meant to be. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham because he was going to become the “father of many nations,” and he was reminded of it every time his name was spoken. Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter (‘rock’) because of the foundational role his confession—that Jesus was the Son of God—would play in the Christian community.

My husband and I looked into the meanings of our children’s names before choosing them. Each has a powerful name, and I would say each has proven true to their name.

However, Jesus has been given a name that is above every name:

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/php.2.9-11.NLT

With all the attention God gives to names, consider that He values His Word—His promises—even above His name, meaning His words can be trusted. His promises are tried and true. They are more valuable to God than even His name.

Consider God’s words to Isaiah 55:11:

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.55.11.NLT

And to Jeremiah:

“Then the Lord said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it."”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jer.1.12.NASB1995

In fact, it could be said that it is God’s faithfulness and integrity in keeping His word is what has made His name so majestic. Whatever way we look at it, there is none like Him and there is no one more deserving of our praise or adoration.

Happy Sunday all! It is a good day to go to church and do just that!