and call on the name of the LORD
Calling on the name of the LORD signifies invoking God's presence, seeking His help, and acknowledging His sovereignty. This phrase is a common biblical expression of trust and reliance on God, seen throughout the Psalms and other scriptures. In Genesis 4:26, people began to call on the name of the LORD, indicating a practice of worship and prayer. The act of calling on God's name is both a declaration of faith and a request for divine intervention. It reflects a personal relationship with God, where the psalmist turns to Him in times of need and gratitude. This practice is also seen in the New Testament, where calling on the name of the Lord is associated with salvation, as in Romans 10:13, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This connection underscores the continuity of faith and reliance on God throughout the biblical narrative.

The psalmist makes a deliberate, personal pledge.

• This is not a vague intention but a concrete commitment like David’s in 2 Samuel 24:24, “I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing”.

• Psalm 116:13 already showed his resolve: “I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD”. The repetition underscores steady devotion rather than a momentary burst of emotion.

• Romans 12:1 connects: presenting our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God”. The psalmist’s resolve models the believer’s ongoing response to God’s mercy.

The offering is directed exclusively to the Lord, not to people or institutions.

• Psalm 115:1 reminds, “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory”.

• Colossians 3:17 echoes this God-ward focus: “whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”.

• By specifying “You,” the psalmist guards against the subtle drift toward self-promotion or human applause.

Thanksgiving itself becomes the sacrifice.

• Psalm 50:14 instructs, “Sacrifice a thank offering to God”.

• Jonah 2:9 shows the same heart: “But I, with a voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You”.

• Hebrews 13:15 applies the pattern for believers today: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name”.

Key insights:

– No animal is mentioned; gratitude is the offering.

– Though costless in coin, it costs pride, self-reliance, and silence.

– True thanksgiving flows from recognizing deliverance (Psalm 116:1-9).

Thanksgiving moves naturally into ongoing reliance.

• Psalm 34:17: “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears”.

• Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to Me, and I will answer you”.

• Gratitude without continued dependence risks slipping into complacency; calling keeps the relationship vibrant.

To call on His name is to appeal to His revealed character and covenant faithfulness.

• Exodus 34:5-7 records His name as compassionate, gracious, and abounding in love.

• Joel 2:32, quoted in Romans 10:13—“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”—shows the promise extends to all who trust Him.

• Acts 2:21 demonstrates the early church living this verse.

When we use His name rightly, we acknowledge:

– His authority (Psalm 54:1).

– His sufficiency (Psalm 9:10).

– His readiness to act (Psalm 20:7-9).

Psalm 116:17 portrays a believer who responds to God’s rescue with intentional, God-directed gratitude that becomes a genuine offering. The worshiper pledges to keep depending on the Lord by calling on His name, trusting His character, and living in thankful obedience. The verse invites every redeemed heart to turn gratitude into a continual sacrifice and to anchor every need in the unchanging name of the Lord.