The help of the Divine Name. It is important to keep in view the condition and anxieties of the returned exiles. The previous psalm brought before us their distresses through the irritating conduct of neighbor enemies, it presented to us their attitude while the trouble was or—they were patiently waiting on God. This psalm is a joy-song, sung when they are safely through the time of strain. They joy in God who has so safely brought them through; and this leads to the expression of confidence in God concerning whatever may have to be in the future. As a rule, poetical figures avoid minute descriptions of trouble. They are satisfied with suggesting them. The figures of this psalm recall to mind the Egyptian deliverance. The exiles were fond of referring to it, and comparing their experience with it. Note
Indicate what of the historical conditions of the exiles is suggested by these figures. The point of the psalm is given in the sentence, "The Lord was on our side." That alone could account to them for their enemies' failure, and their triumph. And that conviction fixes for them the resolve, that in the Name of Jehovah they will ever trust. Help in a name! Why not say, help in God? Explain that the Jews had a special name for God, of which they were profoundly jealous. And they were in a covenant which was sealed with that special name. In Scripture it is usual to find a person's attributes or characteristics gathered up into and expressed by a name (see names of Adam's sons, Jacob, etc.). Notice some of the names for God.
1. Greater; general relation to everything.
2. El Shaddai; the Almighty One.
3. Jehovah; the serf-existent One. He is; that is all you can say about him.
4. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; known in actual daily relationships.
5. Jehovah Tsidkenu; the Lord our Righteousness, or the Ideal for us of moral perfection.
6. The Faithful Promiser; the trustworthy One, as proved by human experience. It is manifest what confidence of help we may have as we dwell on any of these names of God. Started on this line of thought, we inquire whether we should not show a fuller confidence in the help of God, who is revealed to us, in his Father-name, through the infinite winsomeness of the Divine Sonship of Jesus.—R.T.
HOMILIES BY C. SHORT