God Promises to Keep His Name Holy

Psalm 83:16-18 Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. 17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. 18 Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
 
YOU likely hear many accounts of people angrily speaking against God. Mention the name “Jesus” or “God” in some places, and people may mock or criticize you. Each time a public figure refers to the true God of heaven, he or she is ridiculed, sometimes called hateful or a bigot. There is no shame in the evil mind. Evil lusts for revenge against the holy God. It pridefully resists God’s perfect law, mercy and forgiveness. To the evil mind there is nothing to forgive.
   This anti-God aggression is as old as history. Asaph, the psalmist, exhorts God in prayer to see how your enemies are astir, how your foes rear their heads.
   Then Asaph lists 10 nations and people groups that are antagonizing Israel. This is as if we are reading current events. But from the time Israel walked out of Egypt, nearly all other nations have opposed God’s nation. How would Israel respond then? How does Israel respond now?  
   The answer goes to the fundamental truth of Israel’s relationship with God. Asaph prays Israel will know that you whose name is the LORD is the Most High over all the earth. When they know his name, they know his attributes.
   Israel’s god is the eternal Creator named Jehovah (or Yahweh). The name means he is Sustainer, Provider and Promise-Keeper. He is the self-existent, all-powerful Master of the universe. Jehovah especially created Israel to be his people, so the world would be saved into eternal life.
   Israel’s first response to their enemies must be to trust God is who he says he is. They must lift up God’s name in worshipful love. Nothing, not even all the weapons and aggression of war in 800 BC or in 2023 AD, will subdue Israel if they call on Jehovah. They must remember he calls them, “My people.” Yes, it may seem that the opposition is often successful. Enemies continually attempt to destroy God’s people and declare victory in their self-proclaimed perfection.
   But Jehovah has shown the world over centuries that he will ultimately keep his people against all forms of evil. He has shamed and judged Israel’s aggressors. And he will do so again.
   What has happened to each nation that has tried to remove Israel? They are gone. Where’s Rome, the Islam countries of old and the Third Reich? The descendants of the ancient nations are trying anew to remove Israel. Will they succeed?
   Israel’s salvation now is as it was in ancient days. 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
   We pray this will lead Israel to further pray as Jesus taught us, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed – holy, perfect, righteous, true – be your name.” (Matthew 6:9)
   The same is true for you, Jesus’ church. Seek God with reverence and faith. Understand God’s name is to be kept holy because his is the name of creation, power and salvation: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth. (Philippians 2:10)