Exodus 34:5-8 - Homilies By J. Orr

The name.

Consider on this

I. THE CONNECTION WITH THE NAME JEHOVAH . "Proclaimed the name of Jehovah" ( Exodus 34:5 ). Observe—

1 . The name Jehovah connotes moral attributes. The absolute being is, at the same time, the most perfect being. His excellence includes all possible perfection. This implies the possession of moral attributes. "That character," says Dean Graves, "from which the acutest reasoners have endeavoured demonstratively to deduce as from their source all the Divine attributes, is SELF - EXISTENCE . Is it not then highly remarkable that it is under this character the divinity is described, on his first manifestation to the Jewish lawgiver?"

2 . Former revelations implied moral attributes. The attributes on which, in former revelations, the main stress needed to be laid, were those to be illustrated in the events of the exodus—power, freedom, supremacy, changelessness (cf. on Exodus 3:14 ; Exodus 6:2 , Exodus 6:3 ). But that moral attributes—the attributes of truth, mercy, goodness, justice, also belonged to Jehovah was shown—

3 . The new revelation declares moral attributes. Formerly, the revelation was in deeds, now it is in words. Formerly, God told Moses what, as Jehovah, he would do. Now he declares what, as Jehovah, he is. The name was first spelt, then pronounced. Cf. with law of ordinary historical progress—

Or of scientific progress—

For this announcement of the name, the renewal of the covenant furnished an appropriate historical occasion.

II. TEACHING OF THE NAME . The name exhibits the Divine character. It lays bare to us God's very heart. It reveals his essence. Learn—

1 . There is justice in God . "That will by no means clear the guilty," etc. ( Exodus 34:7 ).

2 . There is mercy in God . This side of the Divine character is exhibited with much greater fulness than the other. "Merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy, forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin" ( Exodus 23:6 , Exodus 23:7 ).

3 . Mercy rules in the character of God . This is a fair inference

III. THE NAME AS REVEALED .

1 . We need a revelation. It is but a dumb, inarticulate revelation of this name which we have in nature. What is revealed relates more to God's justice than to God's love. If there is much in nature which supports, there is also much which seems to discredit, belief in the entire goodness of God. Nature in. particular, has no answer to give to the questions—Can God forgive and restore sinners? Can he undo their evil? Can he turn back from its avenging course that terrible law of retribution which holds us in its grasp?

2 . We may expect a revelation. If God loves men, we may expect him in some way personally to attest his love to them. "Gracious thoughts never revealed are not gracious thoughts at all. It is essential to the being of grace or love that it manifest itself. Love unrevealed is love unreal" (Dr. A . B . Bruce).

3 . The revelation has been given.