Terms and words
We are warned in Scripture about the dangers of arguing over words and causing trouble. We often hear people use terms interchangeably and seemingly get away with it. Over the years some expressions become accepted with good reason but upon closer examination are not always as accurate as we might expect.
One such example that has caught my attention is what we read in Scripture as “word”, “thy word”, “the word”, “the word of God”. In their attempts to show that the Bible is the inerrant, pure and true word of God to us, I believe some [well-meaning] folk may have overstepped the mark in places.
Are you sure about that?
Here is the verse that first sounded my alarm bells:
“…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name…” Ps 138:2
Those who make a lot of use of this verse believe that “thy word” is a reference to the Bible. They then, invariably, in their zeal to uphold the truth, give the impression that God has given the Bible a place of honour that is above His name, even. But does this verse say that? Anyone familiar with Scripture should recall a rock-solid principle that is manifested throughout the Scriptures – that everything, the Scriptures included, must work to the end of bringing glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, just as the Holy Spirit does, for example, as we see in John 15:26, “He shall testify of me”. Can anything ever be higher than the “name that is above every name” (Phil 2:9)? Scripture doesn’t allow for anything to be above Him of whom it is written: “that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col 1:18).
In Hebrews 3:3 it says: For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
This teaches that the builder is worthy of greater honour than the building. In the same way the Writer is worthy of greater honour than the writing.
There has to be a more satisfactory explanation of the verse quoted from Psalm 138:2 “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name…” There is, and it becomes obvious in its meaning when we recognise that the “thy word” of the Old Testament can easily mean the same as “the Word” which appears in John 1:1 and 1:14:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)
We know that “the word”, in John 1:1 and 14, is speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Could not “thy word” of Psalm 138 be also referring to the Lord Jesus Christ? With this meaning the verse is in perfect harmony with Philippians 2:9-10. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow …
What’s in a name?
“Now, just wait a bit,” you say, “how can the name of the Lord Jesus be above that of God?” Well, who was being referred to in Psalm 139:2? The LORD was. Who is the LORD? He is the Jehovah of Exodus 3:13-15
And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever..
The Bible is inspired of God and gives its own commentary. Notice how verse 15 helps to explain verse 14.
The Name Jehovah
Where did we get this name Jehovah from? Exodus 6:2-3 says: 2And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Jehovah is made from the Hebrew word YHWH, where our J is used to show their Y, and vowels are put in where they leave them out. Nobody is absolutely sure how to pronounce it. Conservative Jews, still today, won’t speak the sacred Name, such is their reverence for it. Early scribes would wash their pens before and after writing the Name.
Psalm 83:18 makes a statement: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Isaiah 12:2 says: . . for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
A Jewish believer told us that the word “salvation” of verse 2 in his Hebrew Bible is the same word as used for Yeshua, Jesus.
Isaiah 26:4 says: Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength
In each of the only 4 places where the word “Jehovah” appears in the Bible we see words that link Jehovah with the LORD, either in a direct reference or in describing some of His attributes.
So what does all this mean?
In the Old Testament the highest name referred to was the LORD, Jehovah, the I AM. When the Psalmist was inspired to write “...thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name…” (Ps 138:2) he was possibly alluding prophetically to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ being exalted to the highest level.
Why was that? Philippians 2:9-11 says: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Notice:
- the Name is Jesus [Jesus means Jehovah saves. Matt 1:21]
- the Name is above every name
- when people bow at the name of Jesus they will have to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
- to the glory of God the Father means God is pleased with them giving the highest honour to the Lord Jesus Christ
And why did all this come about?
Verses 5-8 tell us why: Christ Jesus. . took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
The Psalmist is inspired to say prophetically to the LORD; “…thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name…” (Ps 138:2) because the Lord Jesus did something that was greater than even the LORD Jehovah had done in the Old Testament – He gave His life as the atoning sacrifice to save people. Matthew 1:21 says thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. And Acts 4:12 says Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. His, alone, is the Name that saves. Remember how the Lord Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
All of the LORD God’s plans centre in His Son, the Lord Jesus.
– Continued in Part 2 and 3