Psalms 106:8

8 Yet he saved them for his own name's sake, to make known his mighty power.

Psalms 106:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 106:8

Nevertheless, he saved them for his name's sake
Not for any worth or worthiness in them; not for their righteousness sake, for they were a rebellious and disobedient people; but for his name's sake, because his name was called upon them, and he was called the God of the Hebrews, as Aben Ezra observes; and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, their ancestors; to whom he had promised the land of Canaan, and was their covenant God; and because of his covenant, and of his divine perfections, and the glory of them, which were engaged to make it good; therefore he saved them, see ( Ezekiel 20:9 Ezekiel 20:14 ) . And so the spiritual Israel of God are saved, not for any superior excellencies in them, for they are in no wise better than others; nor for their righteousness sake; but to display the wisdom and faithfulness of God, his grace and mercy, his justice and holiness, power, goodness, and truth. And so here it follows;

that he might make his mighty power to be known;
not only among the Israelites, but among the nations of the world; who, had he not saved them, might have thought, and said, that it was for want of power, and that he could not do it; see ( Deuteronomy 9:28 ) .

Psalms 106:8 In-Context

6 Together with our ancestors, we have sinned, done wrong, acted wickedly.
7 Our ancestors in Egypt failed to grasp the meaning of your wonders. They didn't keep in mind your great deeds of grace but rebelled at the sea, at the Sea of Suf.
8 Yet he saved them for his own name's sake, to make known his mighty power.
9 He rebuked the Sea of Suf, and it dried up; he led them through its depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from hostile hands, redeemed them from the power of the foe.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.