171 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty
171 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty;
171 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, God showed up and said to him, "I am The Strong God, live entirely before me, live to the hilt!
171 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
171 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am El-Shaddai-'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life.
7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
7 May he be enthroned in God's presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.
7 May he be enthroned forever before God; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him!
7 Set his throne in the full light of God; post Steady Love and Good Faith as lookouts,
7 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!
7 May he reign under God's protection forever. May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
(Read Psalm 61:5-8)
There is a people in the world that fear God's name. There is a heritage peculiar to that people; present comforts in the soul, earnests of future bliss. Those that fear God have enough in him, and must not complain. We need desire no better heritage than that of those who fear God. Those abide to good purpose in this world, who abide before God, serve him, and walk in his fear; those who do so, shall abide before him for ever. And these words are to be applied to Him of whom the angel said, the Lord shall give unto him the throne of his father David, and of his kingdom there shall be no end, Luke 1:32. God's promises, and our faith in them, are not to do away, but to encourage prayer. We need not desire to be better secured than under the protection of God's mercy and truth. And if we partake of that grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, we may praise him, whatever be our outward circumstances. But renewed experience of God's mercy and truth towards his people in Christ, is the main matter of our joy in him, and our praise unto him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 17:1
Commentary on Genesis 17:1-6
(Read Genesis 17:1-6)
The covenant was to be accomplished in due time. The promised Seed was Christ, and Christians in him. And all who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abram, being partakers of the same covenant blessings. In token of this covenant his name was changed from Abram, "a high father," to Abraham, "the father of a multitude." All that the Christian world enjoys, it is indebted for to Abraham and his Seed.