Psalm 106:8

8 Yet he saved them for the sake of his name, to make known his might.

Psalm 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 ) .

Psalm 106:8 In-Context

6 We have sinned [along] with our ancestors. We have committed iniquity; we have incurred guilt.

7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not understand your wonderful works. They did not remember your many acts of loyal love, and [so] they rebelled by [the] sea at {the Red Sea}.

8 Yet he saved them for the sake of his name, to make known his might.

9 So he rebuked {the Red Sea}, and it dried up, and he led them through the deep as [through] a desert.

10 Thus he saved them from [the] hand of [the] hater and redeemed them from [the] hand of [the] enemy.