The Biblical Illustrator
Psalms 45:17
I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the people praise Thee.
Christ’s unending praise
Man knows himself to be a flower, which cometh forth and is cut down; yet he wishes the fragrance of his memory, like a costly perfume, to be perpetuated when he himself shall be crumbled into dust. The celebrated painter of antiquity exclaimed, “I paint for eternity.” Human ambition always desires to do so. The father hopes to be remembered in his child, the author in his works, the hero in his triumphs, the statesman in his institutions, the legislator in his laws, the patriot in the benefits he has conferred upon his country. We should all love to have the prophecy of the text transferred to ourselves: “I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations.” But what is the exceeding brief and transitory remembrance which man seeks from man on earth compared with the unfading honours which Christ attains as the Author and Finisher of faith, or compared with the permanence of those regards which Christ secures to Himself in the hearts of His redeemed people?
I. The import of the Saviour’s name. “His name.” In the Old Testament the name of God is employed as a comprehensive formula to express the manifested glory of His entire character and perfections; and the New Testament attributes the same importance and dignity to the name of Christ which the current style of the Old Testament does to the name of Jehovah. We are said to be baptized in His name, to believe in His name; in His name the remission of sins is to be preached among all nations. And He is said to have a name written which no man knew but Himself. The name of Christ comprehends, therefore, all He is, and all He is to us. And in reference to His mediatorial character and triumphs, He is said to have a name which is above every name. The names of majesty and greatness enumerated by Isaiah--the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace--were names which our Lord possessed by right of nature as an equal sharer with the Eternal Father in the glories of Godhead; but His name Jesus He acquired by purchase, by conquest, by death. It cost Him life. As, therefore, Jacob preferred his name Israel before his former name of Jacob, because he acquired it as a memorial of victory, so our Lord may be considered as valuing the name of Jesus, the Saviour, from the suffering it commemorates, the triumph it records, and the love it implies, Certain it is, that by this designation He emphatically makes Himself known from the highest heaven. Thus He addressed Himself to Saul the persecutor on his way to Damascus, and to John in the Apocalypse.
II. Some of those grounds on which we are encouraged to anticipate the permanent and enduring influence of the name and religion of Christ.
1. From the fact that the dominion of Christ possesses all the elements of perpetuity, being founded on essential truth, and rectitude, and goodness. This is strongly intimated in the connection of the text: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Why? “The sceptre of Thy kingdom is a right sceptre. Thou Lovest righteousness,” etc. The Jewish writers have a proverb that “falsehood has no feet,” and it is certain that in the great cycle of human affair’s nothing is durable but truth. In the character and grace of Christ you have the pledge of the permanence of His religion and the perpetuity of His name. For power, He has all power in heaven and on earth. For wisdom in Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge. For love, His love passeth knowledge. For truth and faithfulness, heaven and earth shall pass away; but not one jot nor tittle of His Word shall fail. He awes monarchs on their thrones, and yet welcomes childhood to His embrace, and says, “Suffer little children to come unto Me.”
2. From the fact that no substitute can be found in the entire universe for the Saviour’s grace and salvation.
3. From the history and progress of this religion in ages past, which, though it has always been opposed, has always surmounted opposition, and nerved its friends with energy to uphold its interests. The past is in this respect the pledge of the future. The same principles which rendered Christianity triumphant at first can, and will, make it triumphant to the end; since we can scarcely conceive of tests more severe than those to which it has been subjected, of enemies more powerful than those it has overcome, or of conflicts more appalling than those which it has already surmounted. (Homiletic Magazine.)
Christ’s renown everlasting
By the “name” of the Son we may understand everything whereby He is made known; especially, however, those amiable and gracious designations which are given to Him in the Bible. This name is “remembered” when it is known, believed in, and kept in mind as important and interesting. Now, according to the promise, it shall be thus respected, not merely for a short time, but in every age, “to all generations.” Men shall be raised up, and that means shall be employed to perpetuate his fame; and that, in spite of every attempt to bury Christ’s honour, God, by His Almighty power, will actually and eternally make His praise glorious.
I. The name of God’s son.
1. Immanuel--“God with us.” But He is not only God, but God “with us.” From eternity the Son of God appeared on our side. When the fulness of the time had come, He was manifested in our nature.
2. Jesus--“He shall save His people from their sins.”
II. The import of Christ’s name being remembered to all generations. This implies--
1. That in all ages men shall know His name. “The Son of God hath come, and hath given them an understanding that they may know Him that is true.” What is the consequence? They discern Christ to be singularly excellent in His person, and every way suitable in His offices. “We believe, and are sure,” is their language, “that Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”
2. That in all ages men shall trust in His name. Is His gracious character revealed in the Gospel? He that remembers it perceives in Him ability and willingness to help. Hence, in the exercise itself of remembering, he appropriates the son of God to himself. Viewing Him as Immanuel, he exclaims, “My Lord and my God.” Regarding Him as Jesus, he cries, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.”
3. That in all ages men shall meditate on Christ’s name.
III. The means by which God makes Christ’s name to be remembered.
1. God preserves the Scriptures in which the name of Christ is recorded.
2. God raises up ministers by whom the name of Christ is published.
3. He continues the sacraments by which the name of Jesus is exhibited. In each of these Christ crucified is evidently set before us.
4. He sends the Spirit by which the name of Christ is impressed upon human hearts. All other means may, and often do, prove ineffectual in securing the remembrance of Christ’s name. But here is a means which is, and must always be, successful.
IV. The certainty of this matter.
1. The condition of men renders such remembrance of the name of Christ desirable. “There is none other name,” etc.
2. The perfections of God make the continued remembrance of Christ’s name possible. What are all difficulties, all opposition before Him?
3. The experience of past ages renders it probable that Christ shall still be remembered.
4. The covenant of promise makes it certain that Christ’s name shall be remembered. (E. Brown.)
The spiritual seed of Christ praising their heavenly Father
I. Christ’s name.
1. We find Him called “the mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6).
2. His name is “Immanuel,” that is, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). God in our nature, God on our side.
3. We find Him called “the Messiah.”
4. Another name whereby He is called is “Jesus,” a Saviour.
5. Another name whereby our glorious surety is designed is, “the Lord our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6).
II. Some things imported in the promise.
1. That it is no easy matter to keep up the remembrance of Christ’s name in a sinful world. To do it is a work that God hath taken into His own hand in an eminent manner.
2. That Christ’s name is very dear and precious to God the Father.
3. The maintenance and preservation of all the means of Divine appointment for keeping up the remembrance of Christ’s name.
(1) That God will have a professing and confessing Church, in one place or other of the world, in all generations.
(2) Thai the Scriptures shall be preserved in all generations.
(3) That the glorious Gospel shall be preached in all generations.
(4) That the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper shall be administered in all generations.
III. As Christ’s name shall be remembered in all generations, so there shall be a people praising him for ever and ever.
1. Mention a few things whirls we take to be supposed in a person or people their praising Christ.
(1). We think this exercise of praising Christ supposes saving acquaintance with Him. Those only are in case to praise Christ to whom He hath manifested forth His glory and given the spiritual eye to behold it.
(2) The promise that Christ shall be praised in all generations supposes that there shall be some inspired with true love to Him in every generation.
(3) The exercise of giving praise and thanks to Christ supposes a humble and thankful frame of spirit.
2. That there shall lie a people praising Christ for ever and over. This truth will appear--
(1) When it is considered that Jehovah the Father hath engaged Himself, by promise to Christ, theft He shall still be praised (Isaiah 53:11; Psalms 22:30).
(2) When we consider that the great and leading design of Christ in the whole work of redemption and salvation is to bring in a revenue of praise to the crown of heaven.
IV. The grounds and reasons for which there shall be a people praising Christ for ever and ever.
1. On account of His own personal dignity, worth and excellency.
2. On account of what He has done for them (Revelation 5:9).
3. For what He is and ever will continue to be unto them.
V. Use.
1. Inferences.
(1) Hence, see the sinfulness, folly and vanity of every endeavour to blot out the remembrance of Christ’s name.
(2) We may see what is the duty of all who would evidence themselves to be really the friends of Christ. Do you then ask, after what manner shall we, who are in a private station, contribute our share to the keeping up of the remembrance of Christ’s name? You are to contribute to the keeping up the remembrance of Christ’s name by making an open and explicit acknowledgment of all His truths before the world when you have a call in providence to do it. You are to make conscience of observing the worship of God in your families. You are to contribute your share to the keeping up of the remembrance of Christ’s name in the world by a holy and circumspect walk and conversation.
2. Exhortation. (T. Bennet.)