August 14

I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. — Ps 138:2 BSB

This is one of those expressions in Scripture that seems so comprehensive, yet so astonishing. To me, it is one of the most remarkable statements in the entire Word of God: “You have magnified your word above all your name.” The name of God encompasses all of His perfections—everything that God is and all that He has revealed Himself to be. His justice, majesty, holiness, greatness, and glory—all that He is in Himself is His name. Yet, He has exalted something above all His name: His word, His truth. This may refer to the Incarnate Word, the Son of God, who is called the Word. “There are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” (1 John 5:7). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God” (John 1:1). We may interpret this as God magnifying His eternal Son, Jesus, above all His great name, elevating Him above all other perfections of His majesty. Or, it could refer to the written word contained in the Scriptures. He has magnified it above all His name in fulfilling it, exalting His faithfulness even above His other perfections. God’s faithfulness is so precious to Him that He would sooner allow all else to fail than for His faithfulness to fail. His love, mercy, and grace would sooner fail than His faithfulness, for He has magnified His word above all His name.

What a firm foundation for salvation, one that rests on God’s word—since God has magnified His word above all His name! What a vast and comprehensive truth this is! What volumes of blessing are contained in this declaration! If God has revealed His truth to your soul and given you faith to anchor in His word of promise, know that He would sooner let all else pass away than allow His word to fail. He has magnified His word above all His name.