Psalms 106:8

8 (105-8) And he saved them for his own name’s sake: that he might make his power known.

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 (105-6) We have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly, we have wrought iniquity.

7 (105-7) Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies: And they provoked to wrath going up to the sea, even the Red Sea.

8 (105-8) And he saved them for his own name’s sake: that he might make his power known.

9 (105-9) And he rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up: and he led them through the depths, as in a wilderness.

10 (105-10) And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.