Knowing God through His Word … Day by Day

In Psalm 31, we read a phrase that sounds very much like one in Psalm 23:

For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead and guide me (Psalm 31:3)

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3)

Charles H Spurgeon comments in the Treasury of David:

The argument used is one which is fetched from the armoury of free grace: not for my own sake, but for thy name’s sake guide me. Our appeal is not to any fancied virtue in our own names, but to the glorious goodness and graciousness which shines resplendent in the character of Israel’s God. It is not possible that the Lord should suffer his own honour to be tarnished, but this would certainly be the case if those who trusted him should perish. This was Moses’ plea, “What wilt thou do unto thy great name?”