Tonight, I used BibleWorks to find out what persons or people are identified by their name as having God as their God. The results are quite interesting.
The phrase “God of” followed by a name of a person or a people occurs 21 times in the Psalms. God identifies with only three names in such phrases.
God of Abraham
Ps. 47:9 The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.
God of Israel
Ps. 41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
Ps. 59:5 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
Ps. 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
Ps. 68:35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.
Ps. 69:6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
Ps. 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
Ps. 106:48 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
God of Jacob
Ps. 20:1 <To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.> The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
Ps. 46:7 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Ps. 46:11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Ps. 75:9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Ps. 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Ps. 81:1 <To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of Asaph.> Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
Ps. 81:4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.
Ps. 84:8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
Ps. 94:7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
Ps. 114:7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
Ps. 132:2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
Ps. 132:5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
Ps. 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Discussion
Psalms speaks of God as the God of only three named persons or people: Abraham, Israel, and Jacob. Only one verse speaks of God as the God of Abraham.
Seven verses speak of God as the God of Israel. In thirteen verses, the Psalms present God as the God of Jacob. Twenty verses thus point us to think of Jacob who later became Israel and of God as His God!
It is striking that of all the important people mentioned in the OT, the Spirit inspired the writers of the Psalms to speak of God as the God of Israel or Jacob more than he did for any other named person or people! When we consider what the life of Jacob was like, especially with his faults and failings that the Scripture reveals, it speaks volumes about God’s grace that He speaks of Himself in the Psalms as the God of Israel or the God of Jacob more than He does of any other person!
Praise God!
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