Go! And Honour His Name And Word Above All Else - Psalm 138:2 Series

Go! And Honour His Name and Word Above All Else - Psalm 138:2

Psalm 138:2 (NLT): “I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honour of your name.”

Introduction: The Priority of His Name and Word

Today, we continue our “Go! And…” series by pausing to reflect on what fuels our going, what sustains our mission, and what ensures we go in the power and purpose of God. Our message today is titled “Go! And Honour His Name and Word Above All Else.”

We are living in a time when many are redefining truth, deconstructing faith, and diminishing the authority of God’s Word. But in Psalm 138:2, we are reminded that God Himself honours His name and His Word above all else. If that’s what God prioritises—His name and His Word—then we, as His people, must do the same.

Let’s walk through this beautiful verse together and see how the exaltation of God’s name and Word leads us to a deeper understanding of the Gospel and our response to it.

1. Worship with Reverence and Intimacy

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship…” (Psalm 138:2a)

David, though often unable to enter the actual Temple (it had not yet been built in his time), understood what it represented: the manifest presence of God. To “bow” is to surrender, to humble oneself completely. The Hebrew word used here for bow is ?????? (shachah), meaning to prostrate oneself in submission and worship. This isn’t casual praise—it’s reverent adoration.

Picture a knight before his king, kneeling with head bowed. Not out of fear alone, but out of honour and love. That’s how David approaches God. Not as a distant deity, but as his Lord—worthy of all reverence.

We too must approach God not with entitlement but with awe. In a world obsessed with self-expression and self-promotion, God calls us to self-denial and worship. We don’t come before Him with our accomplishments; we come as beggars made righteous only by His grace.

Hebrews 12:28 (NLT): “Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.”

Charles Stanley: “True worship is not about what we get. It’s about what we give—our hearts fully surrendered to God.”

Stanley reminds us that worship is never self-centred. It’s a divine transaction of surrender—where we give our lives in response to the One who gave everything for us.

2. Praise His Name for His Covenant Love and Faithfulness

“I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness…” (Psalm 138:2b)

The Hebrew word here is ????? (chesed)—a rich term meaning loyal love, covenant kindness, steadfast mercy. God’s love never wavers, never fails, never quits.

Israel had repeatedly failed to uphold their covenant with God. Yet time and again, He remained faithful. David had personally experienced God’s loyal love—rescuing him, forgiving him, guiding him.

Lamentations 3:22–23 (NLT): “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”

Imagine a lighthouse on a stormy night. The wind howls. The sea crashes. But that lighthouse never moves. Its beam cuts through the dark. That’s chesed—God’s steadfast love, unwavering, reliable.

We live in a culture of conditional love. But God’s love is covenantal. It’s not based on our performance but on His promise. And that promise finds its fulfilment in Jesus.

Max Lucado: “God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile.”

Lucado captures the heart of God’s covenantal love. Through Jesus, our arrival is certain—not because of our steps, but because of His steadfast faithfulness.

3. Trust the Word Backed by God’s Name

“…for your promises are backed by all the honour of your name.” (Psalm 138:2c)

Promises

The word translated as promises here refers to ??????? (imrah)—a divine utterance, a spoken declaration from God Himself. His Word is not mere ink on paper. It is living, active, and powerful.

When God speaks, it is done. His Word is irrevocable because it is backed by the authority of His name—Yahweh, the self-existent, covenant-keeping God.

Isaiah 55:11 (NLT): “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

When you stand on God’s promises, you’re standing on the character of God Himself. He does not lie. He does not fail. Every promise finds its “Yes and Amen” in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20).

John Piper: “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”

Piper reminds us that trusting God’s promises isn't passive. It’s active satisfaction in Him—resting in His Word, relying on His truth, rejoicing in His name.