Psalm 23:3

"...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

One aspect of the Christian life that seems not to get too much attention is the relationship that we have with God with respect to His name. This relationship can bring even more to our thinking when we see how God deals with Israel, and us, from the perspective of His name.

We all understand the value of our name. Anyone with teenage children has raised the issue of the family name with them, suggesting, if not outright demanding, that the family name be honored, and that their behavior be in accordance with that. Many names, famous and infamous, come to mind. Just the names of Rockefeller, Gates, Jezebel, Hitler, to name a few bring to mind very strong associations. Interestingly, in some cases the same name can illicit strong reactions both positive and negative, depending on the hearer’s connections with the name, or the hearer’s feelings about the person.

This perspective on the value of a name might cause us to consider Israel’s track record regarding their relationship with God, and the honor they brought to His name. More often than not they went after their own lusts and desires and had no regard for His great name. But God told them that He had called them by His name. God cares for His name. Joshua’s appeal to God upon the occasion of Israel’s defeat at Ai was God’s great name. In Joshua 7:9 we read, "For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?" God had made great promises to Israel regarding the land they were now conquering. His reputation was at stake.

Or, on the occasion when the people of Israel asked for a king. Samuel confronted them with their sin in not keeping God Himself as their leader. Upon their repentance and appeal to Samuel, he said, "...Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; and turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people."

Those who have taken the LORD Jesus Christ as their savior are referred to as God’s people. In Romans 9:25, 26, Paul reminds his readers, "As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God."

Just as He staked His reputation on Israel, so He does with the followers of Christ, the church. He has not given up on Israel. Not only was this true in many places in the Old Testament, but it is true even today. His dealings with Israel, even at the time of their turning away from Him, show a clear pattern of His dealings with the church. He never forsook them, and neither will He ever forsake us. His name is at stake.

Paul told the Corinthians, "And such (sinners) were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." He told the Thessalonians, "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." And, he told Timothy, "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." God’s name is clearly at stake in that which we say and do. Many more New Testament scriptures give us similar admonitions.

Which brings us to the verse at the start, "...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Since God has put His name on us, we can be sure that He wants His reputation kept clear. And so we see here that He leads us into that which is right. We are pleased and happy to live a righteous life, and we may be tempted to think that He is doing this for our benefit. But David reminds us that His primary focus is His name. Surely we do benefit from living a righteous life. But God deserves the glory. God leads us to live this way to bring glory to Himself.

There is a phrase that is oft repeated in the book of Ezekiel. It is, "That they may know that I am the LORD." Many prophecies were given to Ezekiel. 67 times God tells him that that which will come to pass is so that one or another may know that He is the LORD. Or, in Moses’ final words to the Israelites, he told them, "And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; to drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else." As believers we would do well to ask ourselves, Do those around me know that God is the LORD, that He is God in heaven above and earth beneath, because of me? He leads us in paths of righteousness for His Name’s Sake!

Down at the cross where my Savior died,
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

I am so wondrously saved from sin,
Jesus so sweetly abides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His Name!

Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have entered in;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His Name!

Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Cast thy poor soul at the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His Name!

Refrain
Glory to His Name, glory to His Name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

HJK