Christ's Renown Everlasting
E. Brown. Psalm 45:17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise you for ever and ever. By the "name" of the Son we may understand everything whereby He is made known; especially, however, those amiable and gracious designations which are given to Him in the Bible. This name is "remembered" when it is known, believed in, and kept in mind as important and interesting. Now, according to the promise, it shall be thus respected, not merely for a short time, but in every age, "to all generations." Men shall be raised up, and that means shall be employed to perpetuate his fame; and that, in spite of every attempt to bury Christ's honour, God, by His Almighty power, will actually and eternally make His praise glorious. I. THE NAME OF GOD'S SON. 1. Immanuel — "God with us." But He is not only God, but God "with us." From eternity the Son of God appeared on our side. When the fulness of the time had come, He was manifested in our nature. 2. Jesus — "He shall save His people from their sins." II. THE IMPORT OF CHRIST'S NAME BEING REMEMBERED TO ALL GENERATIONS. This implies — 1. That in all ages men shall know His name. "The Son of God hath come, and hath given them an understanding that they may know Him that is true." What is the consequence? They discern Christ to be singularly excellent in His person, and every way suitable in His offices. "We believe, and are sure," is their language, "that Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." 2. That in all ages men shall trust in His name. Is His gracious character revealed in the Gospel? He that remembers it perceives in Him ability and willingness to help. Hence, in the exercise itself of remembering, he appropriates the son of God to himself. Viewing Him as Immanuel, he exclaims, "My Lord and my God." Regarding Him as Jesus, he cries, "The Lord is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." 3. That in all ages men shall meditate on Christ's name. III. THE MEANS BY WHICH GOD MAKES CHRIST'S NAME TO BE REMEMBERED. 1. God preserves the Scriptures in which the name of Christ is recorded. 2. God raises up ministers by whom the name of Christ is published. 3. He continues the sacraments by which the name of Jesus is exhibited. In each of these Christ crucified is evidently set before us. 4. He sends the Spirit by which the name of Christ is impressed upon human hearts. All other means may, and often do, prove ineffectual in securing the remembrance of Christ's name. But here is a means which is, and must always be, successful. IV. THE CERTAINTY OF THIS MATTER. 1. The condition of men renders such remembrance of the name of Christ desirable. "There is none other name," etc. 2. The perfections of God make the continued remembrance of Christ's name possible. What are all difficulties, all opposition before Him? 3. The experience of past ages renders it probable that Christ shall still be remembered. 4. The covenant of promise makes it certain that Christ's name shall be remembered. (E. Brown.) Parallel Verses KJV: I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever. WEB: I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever. For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.