God Magnifies His Word Above His Name

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Is It Really Possible for the Power of God’s Word to Exceed the Power of Jesus’ Name?

Several years ago, I sat in a service listening to the pastor preach. I don’t remember what the sermon was about, but I remember one thing he said: God magnifies His Word above His name.

What? How can that be? There is nothing more powerful than the name of Jesus. Is it really possible for the power of God’s Word to exceed the power of Jesus’ name?

If you have been reading the Confidence in God Blog for any time at all you likely realize I love God’s Word. I don’t write a single post without a lot of scripture in it. I strive to be like the Bereans who the apostle Paul commended as more noble than the Thessalonians because the Bereans “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11).”

So, I began searching for the source of the pastor’s statement and eventually found it in Psalm 138:2. In this psalm of David, King David proclaims, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Thus my search was on to understand this verse more fully.

As I explain below, the name of Jesus has great power, yet it is God’s Word that unlocks the power of His name!

Examples of God Magnifying Individuals

The first step to understanding the significance of God magnifying His Word above His name is to understand what “magnifies” means. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, magnify means either to: 1) Extol, laud, to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect; or 2) To increase in significance; intensify. Extol means to praise highly; glorify. Laud means to praise; extol. (Magnify | Definition of Magnify by Merriam-Webster (merriam-webster.com), accessed Mar. 29, 2021).

Based upon the above definitions, David was saying that God has either: 1) Praised and glorified his word above His name; or 2) Increased the significance of His word above His name.

Psalm 138:2 is the only scripture that refers to God magnifying His word above His name.  However, by reviewing other contexts in which this term for “magnify,” which is “gadal” is used, we can determine what King David was saying about God magnifying His Word above His name.

Joshua – The Lord told Joshua He would magnify Joshua in the sight of all Israel so they would know God would be with Joshua as He had been with Moses (Joshua 3:7). As a result of this magnification, all Israel stood in awe of Joshua as they had Moses (Joshua 4:14).

Solomon – King David and his servants asked God to magnify Solomon, making his throne greater than the throne of David (1 Kings 1:37; 1 Kings 1:47). As a result, “the Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.” (1 Chronicles 29:25). Further, King Solomon’s wealth and wisdom exceeded that of all the kings of the earth (1 Kings 10:23).

God – God also magnifies Himself, which results in the people knowing that He is God (Ezekiel 28:23).

God magnified both Joshua and Solomon, and in doing so He increased the significance of their leadership. They increased in the respect and awe of the people, in riches, and in wisdom. God also magnified Himself, causing the people to know He is God. All three of these situations establishes when God magnifies someone, He increases the significance of the person.

The Power of God’s Name

As we continue our quest for the significance of God magnifying His word above His name as King David proclaimed, we must look at what scripture tells us about God’s name.

According 1 Chronicles 17:24, God’s name Is magnified and it is magnified forever. Thus far we have looked at a number of Old Testament scriptures. What does the New Testament tell us about God’s name?

We find in Hebrews 1:4 The name of Jesus is more excellent than the name of the angels. And Philippians 2:9-11 explains God has exalted the name of Jesus above every name.

We also know there is great power in the name.

1. We are forgiven and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit when we are baptized in His name (Acts 2:38).
2. We can ask anything in His name (which means within His character and His presence) and He will give it to us (Matthew 18:20; John 14:13-14; John 16:13; Mark 16:17).
3. We are taught by the Holy Ghost in His name (John 14:16).
4. We are to do all things in His name (Colossians 3:17).

The Key to Unlocking the Power of God’s Name

So, what is the significance of God magnifying His word above His name? Magnifying someone increases the significance of that person.

1. When God magnifies men, they receive increased respect, riches, wisdom.
2. By magnifying Himself above all men and spirits, God leaves no room for any other god beside Him.
3. When we magnify God (by praise or worship), God becomes more significant in our own lives, hearts, and minds.

But how does that apply to God magnifying His word above His name?

1. God’s name is magnified forever. 
2. His name is more excellent than the angels and is above every name.
3. His name will cause every knee to bow and tongue to confess that He is Lord.
4. We receive salvation (forgiveness, baptism, and the Holy Ghost) through His name.
5. We ask anything in His name and He will give it or do it.
6. The Holy Ghost teaches us in His name.
7. Everything we do and say is to be done in His name.

All of this is extremely significant. Is it possible that there is anything greater, more significant than this?

Yes!!!!! A thousand times Yes!!!!

God has magnified His word above His name!  He has made His word more significant than His name! He did so because without knowing His Word, we cannot know how to access the power of His name.

We must know God’s Word.  It is the key, the significance to unlocking the power of His name!

1. God’s Word is a light unto our paths and a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119:105) so we can walk in His ways and do everything in His name.
2. For they (God’s Words) are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:22).
3. The Word that we hide in our hearts keeps us from sin (Psalm 119:11).
4. The Word cleanses us (John 15:3).
5. The Word builds us up and gives us an inheritance (Acts 20:32).
6. The Word effectively works in us (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
7. It is the Word that brings forth fruit in our lives (Colossians 1:6).
8. The Word saves our souls (James 1:21).

All praise be to God.  He has given us power in His name and the key to unlocking that power is His Word. We must know His Word, pray His Word, and live His Word in order to live within and have confidence in the power of His name.

This post is the first of several that I will be publishing to focus on God’s Word. As we focus on what His Word is, what it does, what we are to do with it and the consequences, we will build our confidence in the power of God’s Word in our own lives.

I look forward to diving into the power of God’s Word and learning how to apply it more confidently in our own lives in order to unlock the power of Jesus’ name!

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