Psalm 106:8 says “He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known”
What a statement. Psalm 106 is a psalm of thanksgiving for the deliverance the Lord gave to Israel. It speaks of how God’s people have “sinned like our fathers” and “have committed iniquity” and “have behaved wickedly”. These people were “rebellious” and “did not remember His abundant kindnesses”.
The people of God were acting in a way that did not honor the Lord, they were self-serving and were spiritually cold. What did the Lord do to them? Verse 8 tells us: “Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, that He might make His power known.”
1. What the Lord did
“He saved them (His people)”. Even though they were undeserving, spiritually lethargic and prone to wonder, yet He saved them. He did the impossible. He led them through the Red Sea, He parted the waters, He led them through the wilderness, He delivered them from the hand of the one who hated them.
This was written close to 3000 years ago and yet it could have been written yesterday. We too, the bride of Christ, the Church, in many ways fail to remember the goodness of God. We take His provisions for granted and often act in a selfish way. And what did the Lord do for us? “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. He made a way for us—He saved us!
2. Why the Lord did it
“For the sake of His name.” We need to remember this: our salvation, the salvation of all who come to know the Lord, it is all done for His name’s sake. The Lord is the all-powerful, infinitely Holy God and His Name is to be worshipped. In the Old Testament His people were to Honor His Name and never take His name in vain. As Christians, we know that Jesus humbled Himself to the cross and in accomplishing the work of salvation, He has been given the “name that is above every name” (Philippians 2) and so all that we do should bring honor to the name of Jesus.
Why are you a Christian? For the sake of His name. Why do you have a job? To honor His name. Why do you have children? To bring glory to His name. Why are you a student in school? For the sake of His name. All that the Lord does is right and good and is done for the sake of His name and we are to live our lives in such a way that all that we say, think and do brings glory to His name.
3. The result of what He did
“That He might make His power known”. Every miracle in the Bible ultimately shows us the power of God. Miracles that we read about may show us the power of prayer and the difference a righteous man can make, but ultimately, every good work is done because of the power of God. We prepare the horse for battle, but victory belongs to the Lord. When the people of God were being pursued and threatened, it was all so that God could show His power. When Goliath threatened David, it was to show God’s power. When the lions wanted to feast on the Hebrew boys, it was to show the power of God in delivering them. When Herod, Judas, Annas and the many in Israel wanted Jesus murdered, it was to show the power of God to bring eternal salvation to His people.
So, what are you facing today that is a struggle? Are you drowning in your Red Sea? Is Pharaoh’s army coming after you? Is your fiery furnace getting hot? Do your adversaries seek to hurt you? Rather than give up and despair, “remember the kindnesses of God” and be encouraged that our God is a Savior and a Deliverer. He is a God who saves His people for the sake of His name that He might make His power known.
You are not the exception and the struggle you are enduring is not the exception. Even after all the rebellion, forgiveness, sin and grace described in Psalm 106—this much remains true today: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting even to everlasting, and let all the people say, ‘Amen’. Praise the Lord!” (verse 48)
Thanking God for being our Savior, Healer, Deliverer and Lord!