God's Word vs. His Reputation

Here are a few random thoughts that came to me today. Anyone or any circumstances that can cause me to forget who I am in relations to God and cause me to forget how to act like myself has been empowered by me to be a false god. When we demand to know why bad things happen we are really trying to collect information in order to pass judgment on God and on others. In doing so we set ourself up as The Judge. I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. (Psalms 138:2 NKJV) I have checked several versions of the Bible on this text and there is two basically different ways of presenting this relationship between God's name and His word. Quite likely the original language may be ambiguous on how to state this, I don't know, but the way it is stated in this translation brings up some very interesting possibilities and dynamics. Think about the relationship between a person's word and his reputation or name. And also think about how we relate to God within these dynamics. If God's word – keeping His word – was subject to His reputation, or what others think about Him, then when His reputation is profaned His word could not really be trusted. But if His reputation is dependent on the keeping of His word then His reputation can be recovered. God does not control what others think about Him (like we try to do). But He has full control over whether or not He keeps His word. What about the way we think about God's reputation? Do we think He doesn't always keep His word to us? Does that color our view of His character and reputation? What about the need for us to trust His motives and character even when it appears His word has failed? The apparent failure, as we perceive it, could be due to our misunderstanding of His word or to our impatience for the fulfillment. We usually want His good word to us fulfilled right now (lust) and in a way that is always to our advantage (which often will disadvantage others). But that is dictating how and when God should keep His word in violation or conflict with His character or name. But God will honor His word even when it seems to hurt His reputation in the short-term. This verse can also be translated, “You have magnified Your word along with Your name.” The ultimate end of the Great Controversy is the full redemption and restoration of God's reputation in the freedom of every mind to judge God according to the consistency of His word. Better to judge Him accurately earlier than later.