Psalm 118
Sunday, 24 March 2024
All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. -Psalm 118:10
Psalm 118 is a psalm of praise and thanksgiving for the Lord’s deliverance received through His love and mercy. Though no author is mentioned, many attribute it to David in whose life he repeatedly turned to God and learnt deliverance that comes in the name of the Lord.
In Psalm 118:10-12, three times he repeats the phrase “in the name of the Lord I cut them down” signifying how much importance he placed on this fact. When surrounded by enemies his weapon was the name of the Lord, not the help of horses, nor men, or princes… not even his own abilities. He always came against his enemies in the name of the Lord and he won many great victories.
Applying this principle to our own lives let us examine how the name of the Lord comes to our aid in various situations in life. In John 17:11 Jesus says “Holy Father protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me.”
For us who live, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the name of the Lord is “Jesus.” It is the name that is above every other name (Phil.2:9).
Now let us examine what the name of the Lord can do for us—
1. Salvation is received in the name of Jesus:
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Through Jesus’s death and his resurrection he has purchased our freedom from sin and its penalty which is death. Now, all those who put their trust in Him are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12).
2. Ask for your needs in the name of Jesus:
John 16: 23, 24 “I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in MY NAME He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
3. Protection in the name of Jesus:
In the name of Jesus you have protection from strife/quarrels/jealousy/power struggles.
John 17:11, 12 Jesus prayed “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. Not one of them was lost except the one doomed to destruction…”
The protection referred in the above verse is about disunity. Prayers and petitions in the name of the Lord is required to remain in unity.
4. There is personal protection in the name of the Lord.
Proverbs 18:10 says: “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower: the righteous run to it and are safe.” How often we have cried out in His name for safety and experienced it!
5. There is healing power in the name of Jesus:
Peter healed a man saying, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength Acts 3:6-7. Christ has given authority in His name to pray for healing,
Brothers and sisters—What a friend we have in Jesus, our great High Priest, who has gone before us into the most Holy place to intercede for us. What a privilege we have, we can ask and receive salvation, healing, and protection in His name! What needless pain we bear!—For Jesus has provided for our every need! We only need to decla
re it in HIS name!
Listen: 'Blessed be the name of the LORD'