Mention?

 

I’m often amazed at how God leads me into study.  Today it was the most unlikely word: mention.  Why “mention” I thought? 

As it turns out, the verse is used several times in the Old Testament with reference to the false gods that were being worshipped, and how we exalt God with our words.  Here are some examples:

“And in all that I have said to you, be circumspect and make no mention of the name of other gods, nor let it be heard from your mouth.” – Exodus 23:13

“and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them,” – Joshua 23:7

If this teaches us anything, it should be that God is jealous.  He wants our entire worship, and nothing less.  He wants our praise, the “mention” of His name.

While today, at least in the US, we don’t have a plethora of gods that we worship, we have exalted a lot of other things to god-like levels.  We “mention” them all the time.  We do it with our jobs, our money, our homes and belongings, our social status, our children, and you pick it – there’s a long list!

The time we spend talking about these things….I just have to wonder….is God jealous?  My heart answers back…yes, He is.  Yet, I believe He gives us things like our jobs and children for our own delight.  So how might we turn the tables on what is being exalted?  Perhaps it’s just the mention of His name? “I thank God for my job, my house, my children, my friends, my family...” See how easy that is?  Praise isn’t complicated.  It’s just the mention of His name.  That has to be the most effortless form of worship.

“My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And Your salvation all the day,
For I do not know their limits.
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only.” – Psalms 71:15-16