Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
To publish the name of the Lord is to declare His greatness and call all to acknowledge and ascribe greatness to God. That call rests on who He is as the Rock, whose work is perfect and whose ways are just, a God of truth without iniquity, righteous and upright. In its setting it places that perfect character over against His people's corruption, showing His love for them and His abhorrence of sin as a warning of swift judgment upon persistent rebellion and apostasy. Therefore those who are called by His name must answer with faithfulness rather than corruption, honoring Him by trusting and obeying Him instead of their own hearts or human wisdom, and by cheerful thanksgiving and speech that tells of His goodness, power, care and deliverance.
Meaning and Setting
To publish the name of the Lord is to declare His greatness and to call others to acknowledge and ascribe greatness to God. It is a call to make His name known among the people. That call to praise rests on who He is as the Rock, whose work is perfect and whose ways are just and judgment. He is a God of truth, without iniquity or wrongdoing, just and right, righteous and upright.
The declaration stands in the song of Moses spoken in the hearing of all Israel at the close of the book of the law. The song was commanded to be made from events in Israel's history, so that the people would remember God's dealings with them and teach those events to their children. It summarizes God's dealings with Israel and rehearses events of the future. Those future events include the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns.
The song was set in memorable melody so that all Israel, young and old, would learn it. It was to be memorized, taught to children, sung in worship, and repeated in daily life, preserving the history of God's dealings, care, and deliverance. In the wilderness its words of law were sung with solemnity as the Israelites marched, keeping God's precepts familiar and His will exalted among them. As a continual sermon it warned, restrained, reproved, and encouraged the nation. Its instruction refreshes like rain and dew, and calls for speech that honors God by telling of His goodness and power through His wondrous works.
Warning and Obedience
With its context the verse reveals love for his people together with abhorrence of sin. It stands as a prophecy of swift judgment upon those who persist in rebellion and continued apostasy. When perversity is great there is reason to tremble for the future.
The call to make the Lord's name known and to acknowledge his greatness rests on who he is as the Rock, perfect in work, just in ways, truthful and righteous. That perfect work, just ways, truth and righteousness are set in contrast with corruption and failure to honor him. His people are therefore called to answer him with faithfulness rather than corruption.
The first four verses of the chapter are to be repeated often as a reminder that God is the Rock and protects those who obey him. No one can safely depend on the human heart apart from God's keeping power. Advancing God's work requires trusting and depending on him rather than earthly schemes or human wisdom that disregards his commandments.
Those who are called by his name must honor him in conduct, since acting against his principles insults his honor and misrepresents him. Honoring him includes cheerful thanksgiving that shows others his goodness. It includes speech that tells of his goodness and power through his wondrous works, for the words of the song are instruction that refreshes like rain and dew. Recalling his care and deliverance, preserved in history to be taught to children, gives reason to praise him with thanksgiving.
To publish the name of the Lord is to declare His greatness and call all to acknowledge and ascribe greatness to God. That call rests on who He is as the Rock, whose work is perfect and whose ways are just, a God of truth without iniquity, righteous and upright. In its setting it places that perfect character over against His people's corruption, showing His love for them and His abhorrence of sin as a warning of swift judgment upon persistent rebellion and apostasy. Therefore those who are called by His name must answer with faithfulness rather than corruption, honoring Him by trusting and obeying Him instead of their own hearts or human wisdom, and by cheerful thanksgiving and speech that tells of His goodness, power, care and deliverance.
Meaning and Setting
To publish the name of the Lord is to declare His greatness and to call others to acknowledge and ascribe greatness to God. It is a call to make His name known among the people. That call to praise rests on who He is as the Rock, whose work is perfect and whose ways are just and judgment. He is a God of truth, without iniquity or wrongdoing, just and right, righteous and upright.
The declaration stands in the song of Moses spoken in the hearing of all Israel at the close of the book of the law. The song was commanded to be made from events in Israel's history, so that the people would remember God's dealings with them and teach those events to their children. It summarizes God's dealings with Israel and rehearses events of the future. Those future events include the final victory of the faithful when Christ returns.
The song was set in memorable melody so that all Israel, young and old, would learn it. It was to be memorized, taught to children, sung in worship, and repeated in daily life, preserving the history of God's dealings, care, and deliverance. In the wilderness its words of law were sung with solemnity as the Israelites marched, keeping God's precepts familiar and His will exalted among them. As a continual sermon it warned, restrained, reproved, and encouraged the nation. Its instruction refreshes like rain and dew, and calls for speech that honors God by telling of His goodness and power through His wondrous works.
Warning and Obedience
With its context the verse reveals love for his people together with abhorrence of sin. It stands as a prophecy of swift judgment upon those who persist in rebellion and continued apostasy. When perversity is great there is reason to tremble for the future.
The call to make the Lord's name known and to acknowledge his greatness rests on who he is as the Rock, perfect in work, just in ways, truthful and righteous. That perfect work, just ways, truth and righteousness are set in contrast with corruption and failure to honor him. His people are therefore called to answer him with faithfulness rather than corruption.
The first four verses of the chapter are to be repeated often as a reminder that God is the Rock and protects those who obey him. No one can safely depend on the human heart apart from God's keeping power. Advancing God's work requires trusting and depending on him rather than earthly schemes or human wisdom that disregards his commandments.
Those who are called by his name must honor him in conduct, since acting against his principles insults his honor and misrepresents him. Honoring him includes cheerful thanksgiving that shows others his goodness. It includes speech that tells of his goodness and power through his wondrous works, for the words of the song are instruction that refreshes like rain and dew. Recalling his care and deliverance, preserved in history to be taught to children, gives reason to praise him with thanksgiving.