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THE NAME OF GOD A GROUND OF TRUST
IN reading the Holy Scriptures, we should not be satisfied with inquiring into their sense and meaning, but should mark very particularly the character of God, as set forth in them. In the sacred volume, the portrait of Jehovah, if I may so express myself, is drawn, as it were, at full length: so that, as far as such weak creatures as we are able to comprehend his Divine Majesty, we may form correct notions respecting him. Few persons ever enjoyed better opportunities for discovering his real character than David, who was favoured with such ample manifestations of God’s power and grace. On what occasion he wrote this psalm, we know not. It is clear that he wrote it subsequent to his bringing up of the ark to Mount Zion, and before he had vanquished all the surrounding nations. But, from all that he had seen and known of God, he gives this testimony respecting him: “They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”
For the elucidating of these words, I will endeavour to shew,
I. What the knowledge of God’s name imports—
It imports, not merely a knowledge of the different names by which he is called, but a knowledge of him,
1. In his own essential perfections—
[He was pleased to reveal himself to Moses in express terms, declarative of all his glorious perfections: “The Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty [Note: Exo_34:5-7.].” But he had previously placed Moses in a clift of the rock in Horeb [Note: Exo_33:19-23.]; which rock was a very eminent type of Christ [Note: 1Co_10:4.]: and I doubt not but that this was intended to shew, that in Christ alone he could be so viewed by fallen man. It is in Christ alone that all these perfections unite and harmonize; and in Christ alone can God be called “a just God and a Saviour [Note: Isa_45:21. Rom_3:26.].” Now, to apprehend God aright, we must have a view of him as revealed in the person of his Son, who is “the image of the invisible God [Note: Col_1:15.],” the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person [Note: Heb_1:3.].” It is in his face alone that all the glory of the Deity shines forth [Note: 2Co_4:6.].]
2. In all his diversified dispensations—
[A view of God’s dispensations is particularly marked in my text, as necessary to a just estimate of his character: “They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: FOR thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” In truth, it is from the history of God’s dealings with his people, far more than from any abstract descriptions of him in the sacred writings, that we learn to estimate his character aright. When did he ever forsake one who sought him? “When did he ever say to any, Seek ye my face in vain [Note: Isa_45:19.]?” Never did he reject one mourning penitent, or abandon one who humbly and steadfastly relied upon him. His compassion to the penitent, and his fidelity to the believing soul, have never failed. From the beginning of the world has he been, in these respects, “without variableness or shadow of turning [Note: Jam_1:17.].” This we learn from the Prophet Samuel: “The Lord will not forsake his people, because it has pleased him to make you his people [Note: 1Sa_12:22.].” True, he may chastise his people for their offences; but yet he will not utterly forsake them [Note: Psa_89:30-36.]. He may even “forsake them for a time; but he will surely return to them in tender mercy,” at the appointed season [Note: Isa_54:7-8.]. His assertions on this head are as strong as it is possible for language to express. He has said to every believing soul, “I will never leave thee; I will never, never forsake thee [Note: Heb_13:5. See the Greek.].” Now, it is a view of God’s character in these respects, illustrated and confirmed by his actual dispensations; it is this, I say, which properly constitutes “the knowledge of his name.”]
Having ascertained what this knowledge is, I proceed to shew,
II. How it will evince its existence in the soul—
Beyond a doubt, it will lead the person, in whom it is,
1. To renounce all false confidences—
[Man, whilst ignorant of God, is always leaning on an arm of flesh. See God’s ancient people, how continually were even they, notwithstanding all their advantages, trusting in the creature, rather than in God. To Egypt or Assyria they looked, in their troubles, rather than to their heavenly protector [Note: Isa_31:1. Hos_5:13; Hos_7:11.]. Indeed, there was not any thing on which they would not rely, rather than on God [Note: Isa_22:8-11.]. But, when they were made sensible of their folly, and had discovered the real character of God, they instantly renounced all these false confidences, saying, “Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy [Note: Hos_14:3.].” The same proneness to creature-confidence is found amongst ourselves. Who does not, at first, rely on his own wisdom to guide him, his own strength to support him, and his own goodness to procure for him acceptance with God? But, in conversion we learn where alone our hope is to be placed, even in “God, who worketh all our works in us [Note: Isa_26:12.],” and “in Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption [Note: 1Co_1:30.].” This was the effect of conversion in St. Paul, who accounted all his former attainments to be but “loss for Christ, and desired to be found in Christ, not having his own righteousness, which was of the Law, but the righteousness which was of God by faith in Christ [Note: Php_3:7-9.].” And the same effect invariably follows from a discovery of God as reconciled to us in Christ Jesus.]
2. To rely solely upon God—
[Yes, indeed, “they who know his name will trust in him.” See in David the confidence which such knowledge inspires. “The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want [Note: Psa_23:1.].” See him when he goes forth against Goliath: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel [Note: 1Sa_17:45-46.].” See him when all around him were reduced to despair: “In the Lord put I my trust; how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? for, lo, the wicked bend their bow; they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart: and if the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” What? “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes behold, his eye-lids try the children of men:” and, as he knows all their machinations against me, so he knows all my necessities; and will assuredly deliver me out of their hands [Note: Psa_11:1-4. Bishop Home’s translation.]. His deliberate sentiment, on all occasions, was this: “Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? (to any earthly powers?) From whence, then, cometh my help? My help cometh of the Lord, who made heaven and earth [Note: Psa_121:1-2. The marginal translation.],” and, therefore, is infinitely superior to both. Of St. Paul’s confidence I forbear to speak, because that must of necessity occur to the minds of all who read the Holy Scriptures [Note: Rom_8:31-39.]: but this I will say, that there is nothing more severely reproved, throughout the inspired volume, than diffidence and distrust; nor any thing more highly commended than faith [Note: Jer_17:5-8.].]
What, then, is my advice to all? To every one amongst you I say,
1. Study the Holy Scriptures—
[From human writings you may learn something of God: but from the Scriptures alone can you acquire such a knowledge of him as it is your privilege and your duty to possess. In reading them, mark his every perfection, as displayed in his dealings with the children of men. IF you notice facts only, you will read to little purpose: it is his glory, as beaming forth throughout the whole, which you are chiefly to contemplate: and, if your mind be habituated to contemplate that, you can never want a ground of consolation or of confidence in any state to which you may, by any possibility, be reduced.]
2. Follow the examples of the Scripture saints—
[In comparing the character of those who profess Christianity with that of the saints recorded in holy writ, one would be tempted to think that they were of a different species, and belonging to two different worlds: for really, if we heard of persons inhabiting one of the planets, they could not differ more widely in their sentiments and habits, than the nominal Christian differs from the Scripture saints. What, for instance, were St. Paul’s sentiments? “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord.” And what were his habits? “To me, to live is Christ, ana to die is gain.” Forgetting the things which are behind, ana reaching forth unto those that are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Compare this with the great mass of Christians around us, and say what resemblance there is between them. Verily, if we will serve God aright, we must be followers of the Apostle, even as he was of Christ. As for the world’s judgment, whether they will approve it, or not, we are not to regard it. We must approve ourselves to God; and both put our trust in him and serve him, as those who know they shall be judged by him in the last day. If we follow the footsteps of the flock, then shall we be numbered among the sheep of Christ, and dwell in his fold for ever and ever.]