ODJ: name above all names

February 4, 2015 

READ: Psalm 148:1-14 

Let them all praise the name of the LORD (v.13).

Using Google Instant Search, I decided to do an experiment to determine how many letters it would take for their algorithm to recognise that I was searching for references to deity—not pop culture. After starting from scratch, by clearing my browser and search histories, I started typing, and here’s what happened:

One letter “J” yielded Justin Bieber, Jetblue. “JE” yielded Jennifer Lawrence, Jeep, and Jetblue. “JES” yielded Jessica Simpson, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, and Jessie. Google required four letters, “JESU,” before indexing “Jesus.”

I moved on to “God”. “G” yielded Google, Gmail, Google Maps. “GO” also resulted in only Google brands. Even typing in the full name “God” listed GoDaddy, Godzilla, and Andy Crouch (a writer for Christianity Today) before God.

Though I can’t imagine coders could or would program their algorithms to avoid deity, I do believe the only sure place to go for truth about God and His name is directly to His Word. Indeed, beyond an internet search, we are to “seek the LORD [our] God with all [our] heart and soul” (1 Chronicles 22:19). Why seek His name? “For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!” (Psalm 148:13).

And God’s Son, Jesus Christ, is never dwarfed by even the most recognised and celebrated people on earth, for “God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Let everything praise God, for He is great and worthy of all our praise (Psalm 148:1,5-6). —Roxanne Robbins

365-day plan› Exodus 5:1-23