Last week, we left Moses standing at the burning (but not consumed) bush near Mount Sinai.  He was holding the two-word business card of Yahweh, staring at the words “I” and “AM.”  On his next visit to this mountain, he would be leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land and Pharaoh would be holding the two-word business card.

Moses was about to discover over the next forty years that Yahweh was completely enough.  The One Who calls us is faithful to direct, guide and accompany the willing follower. Never abandoned.  Never forsaken.  Never UN-provided for.  My English professor would not approve of that last sentence, but it is my greatest comforting promise and personal testimony.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was in that barren place with Moses to continue fulfilling ALL covenant promises.   Throughout the Old Testament, God was connecting the “Jesus” dots through the human limitations of time and space, preparing the world for The Savior. 

The Name is enough.  The Name is all we need.  Last week, we saw the importance and the great weighted value of The Name.  This week, David magnifies the majesty of God’s Name in the writing of Psalm 138. 

The Psalms are filled with themes that range from joy to sorrow to lament to praise to worship and everything in between.  Some Psalm writers even scream out against injustice and call for the swift and complete destruction of enemies.  If you don’t believe that, scroll up into Psalm 137 and read verses 8 and 9.

Psalm 138 is accredited to David, the shepherd king of Israel.  The name Yahweh which we studied last week is used six times in this Psalm.  David is throwing praise toward Yahweh.  When you “give” thanks, the Hebrew word indicates that you cast or push or heap thanks with the hand toward the one being thanked.  This thanks was being expressed with the whole heart of David. Not one section of his heart was unthankful!

Thankfulness brings forth praise in the form of singing.  Right in front of the enemies of God and in front of the man-made “gods” this praise is lavished on Yahweh.  Such thankfulness also invokes a response of humility and humbling of ourselves by bowing low in His presence in the house of the Lord.  Like Daniel, if you are not IN Jerusalem, you can still open your windows and bow toward the holy location.  David thanks the Lord for His name and for His lovingkindness and for His truth.  God is Who He says He is.  He loves with an everlasting love.  His truth endures to all generations.  

Verse three of the Psalm expresses gratitude for the fact that God answered when David called on Him and gave him boldness and strength in his soul.  Can’t beat a deal like that!  Verse four declares that even unbelieving kings and rulers of the earth will sing the praises of the God of Israel, even if they fail to acknowledge Him with their own devotion.  This expresses and confirms the word from in Philippians that every knee shall bow, and every tongue will confess. 

Yahweh is friends with the lowly and humble, but He distances Himself from those who are haughty.  Actually, we know that He is near to all who call on Him, but those who choose to distance themselves from Him choose their relational locations in life and in death.  This is the same idea we express when we say that the sun “rises and sets.”  The sun does not move.  The earth moves around the sun and spins along the journey.  God, The Rock, waits for us to come near.  My granny used to say: “If you aren’t as close to God today as you were a while back, who moved? It “wadden” God!” 

David declares that Yahweh will be with us in our times of trouble.  Who isn’t in the midst of some sort of difficulty?  Don’t think there is any single human being who is able to raise a hand and say, “Not me!” Yahweh will revive us.  He will stretch forth His right hand of strength to deal with our enemies.  He will save us from this present enemy and quandary. 

Verse eight has a treasured promise: “Yahweh will accomplish what concerns me.”  Take comfort, weary child.  “Accomplish” means bring to an end.  “Concerns” mean any issues that touch your life on any level…inside, outside, upside down, inside out and sideways.  Nothing that affects you is NOT covered by His Name and His Love for you. 

David closes with what sI believe started these devotional thoughts of his in the first place.  Kings and “gods” and troublesome times abound in all ages.  We get to stand on the Rock of All Ages.  We might crumble but Yahweh never does.  When we do, He is there to put us back together and stand us up to serve once again.