“Holy Is The Lord”
Scripture references: 1 Samuel 17:45-47, Psalm 71:10-16, 18
Introduction:
‘Kiddush Hashem’
The Hebrew term above is a significant concept in Jewish thought which finds its roots throughout Scripture. The term means: ‘Sanctification of the Name’. Being made in the image of God, we are called to represent God’s Name as Holy…set apart from all else. To proclaim His great Name.1
What does this look like in practice? As I’ve made my way through the Psalms over the past couple months, I start to see recurring themes pop up. In the Psalms of David, we get a glimpse into ‘the man after God’s own heart’. Now, David was certainly not without his flaws and mistakes…but there is one characteristic of David that becomes apparent when you read the Psalms attributed to him. He was a man who understood how to ‘Kiddush Hashem’ – How to Sanctify the Name of the Lord. Let’s look at some specific examples…
Devotional:
From early on in David’s life, we see examples of his fiery passion to represent God’s Name as holy and declare His greatness. 1 Samuel 17…David simply cannot take the Philistine Goliath mocking and defying not only the armies of Israel, but the Lord Himself…
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” -1 Samuel 17:45-47 ESV
‘That all the earth may know there is a God in Israel’. This was David’s aim. Not to make his own name great, but to make the Name of the Lord great. Set apart from all other names.
Now moving to the Psalms…we see several moments where David is faced with life-or-death situations. Situations where enemies seek to kill and harm him. Look carefully at his words in Psalm 71…
For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. -Psalm 71:10-16 ESV
In the face of death…in the face of those who mock and scorn him, what is David’s aim? To tell of the Lord’s righteous acts, to tell of His deeds of salvation. ‘I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.’ David was not concerned about making his own name great. He was concerned about proclaiming the Lord’s great Name.
One line that really struck me later in the Psalm is in verse 18…
So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come. -Psalm 71:18 ESV
David is crying out to God, asking Him to preserve his life. But why is he asking God to preserve his life? Is it simply so that he can live a little longer? Is it so that he can continue to enjoy life’s pleasures? No. David is asking for God to preserve His life and not to forsake him…’until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those who come’. That was David’s purpose for living…to proclaim the greatness of the Living God – ‘Kiddush Hashem’.
There was a sermon that I heard as a kid. I couldn’t tell you who was preaching and I can’t even remember where it was…but I do remember a story that the pastor used as an illustration, and this story has always stuck with me. The pastor talked about a man he knew who had a passion for people, evangelism and sharing the gospel. So much so, that when this man was in the hospital on his death bed, the pastor paid him a visit. Right before the man passed, he uttered one sentence, over and over again… “I gotta get one more for Jesus…I gotta get one more for Jesus…”
Like David, this man had one aim. Even on his death bed, knowing his time was just about up…his only concern was telling just one more person about Jesus…proclaiming His Name to just one more.
This story will always convict me. I pray that I have the kind of heart, that when faced with death…my reason to have my own life preserved for just a little longer is so that I can tell of His deeds to another generation…or even just one more person. It is about His fame, His renown…His alone.
I close with the lyrics to two songs we will be singing this Sunday which emphasize this…
“It is rising up all around, it’s the anthem of the Lord’s renown. And together we sing, everyone sing… Holy is the Lord God Almighty. The earth is filled with His glory.” -Holy is the Lord
“Jesus, worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us. The son of God and man. You are high and lifted up and all the world will praise Your great Name.” -Your Great Name
May our aim be that of David…
“that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves”
Amen
Sean Wagner