Bible Commentaries

THE NAME THAT SAVES

‘Save me, O God, by Thy name.’

Psalms 54:1

I. The appeal of the sinner here is to the name of God.—That name is the expression or revelation of what God is, and of what He is to the sinner. The character of God, as the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, and as the God of all grace, is that which is given us in His name. The name is the written or spoken compendium of what God is, as proclaimed to us by Himself; for He has not left it to man to give a name to the God that made Him. He has given a name to Himself, and that name is ‘the Lord, the Lord God merciful and gracious.’

II. Everything of peace and holiness in us depends on what we know of God.—It is the revelation of Himself in Christ Jesus, His Son, that displaces our darkness and fills us with light. When we come to understand that revelation, then the darkness is passed and the true light is shining, the day has broken and the shadows have fled away. The name of God, as embodying this revelation of Himself, is that on which we rest; it contains in brief compass all that a sinner needs to know for the removal of his fears and for the imparting a true and abiding rest to his weary spirit. The right understanding of that name is the cure of doubt and the end of all despondency. Here is our resting-place; for all grace is here, all love is here—righteous grace, righteous love; grace and love that have come to us through a righteous channel, and which, therefore, can never be disturbed or doubted. The righteous love of God! This is what the name proclaims to us—this is what the name presents to the sinner, that receiving it he may be saved. ‘They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee.’ The trust follows and flows out from the knowledge of the name; that which we know of God as seen in Christ Jesus is that which awakens our confidence.

III. ‘Save me by Thy name’ is the sinner’s appeal to what God is and what He has revealed Himself to be.—All that is in God is engaged in the sinner’s behalf, and is pledged for his salvation. ‘The exceeding riches of the grace of God,’ as shown out in that name, are the sure ground on which he builds for eternity; and as one who has believed the good news of these exceeding riches, he looks up to the God of all grace, and says, in the quiet confidence of faith, ‘Save me by Thy name’ in every day of trouble. The Name is to him the pledge of deliverance and the ending of all fear.

Illustration

‘It is remarkable that in this, as in so many psalms, the petition with which the Psalmist opens becomes a matter of thanksgiving and praise, as though it were already in hand. It is so here (see Psalms 54:7): “He hath delivered”; “Mine eye hath seen.” Does not this originate in that acceptance of God’s gifts by faith, which realises that if we ask anything according to His will we have the petition? It is consigned to us even though not delivered; it is labelled with our name and only awaits a suitable opportunity to come into our hands. In all the philosophy of prayer, there is no condition more absolutely imperative than Christ’s “Believe that ye have received” (Mark 11:25, R.V.).’