What does it mean to "know Your name" in Psalm 9:10? Setting the Scene Psalm 9 celebrates God as righteous Judge and faithful Deliverer. Verse 10 anchors trust in a single reality: “Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You”. In Hebrew, “know” (yadaʿ) conveys experiential intimacy, and “name” (shem) represents the totality of God’s character, reputation, and revealed acts. Layers of Meaning in “Know Your Name” • Personal knowledge – Beyond information, it is relational awareness—“The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11). – Jesus echoes this depth: “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God” (John 17:3). • Recognition of character – God links His “name” to His attributes: “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious…” (Exodus 34:6-7). – To know His name is to know these attributes are unchanging (Malachi 3:6). • Covenant confidence – “I will set him on high, because he knows My name” (Psalm 91:14). – Covenant knowledge produces trust; trust produces obedience (Deuteronomy 7:9). • Readiness to call on Him – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32; Romans 10:13). – Knowing His name means knowing where to turn first and fastest. Practical Outworkings 1. Trust that sticks • Because God’s reputation is flawless, those who know Him rest even when circumstances wobble (Psalm 46:1-2). • Faith is not blind; it is anchored in proven character. 2. Fear that fades • “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1). • Intimate knowledge pushes out anxiety (Isaiah 26:3). 3. Worship that deepens • True worship rises from accurate knowledge (John 4:23-24). • The more we know His name, the richer our praise (Psalm 34:3). 4. Witness that rings true • “Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples” (Psalm 96:3). • Those who know His name cannot keep silent; they speak from firsthand experience (Acts 4:20). How to Grow in Knowing His Name • Immerse in Scripture—watch God’s character unfold page by page (Psalm 119:130). • Recall personal deliverances—build your own “stones of remembrance” (Joshua 4:6-7). • Practice active trust—entrust specific fears to Him and note His faithfulness (1 Peter 5:7). • Join with God’s people—hear and share testimonies of His name proven true (Hebrews 10:24-25). Takeaway To “know Your name” is to experience, esteem, and rely upon God’s revealed character so fully that trust becomes reflexive and unshakeable. Psalm 9:10 assures that everyone who comes to God on this basis discovers the same conclusion: He never forsakes those who seek Him. |
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