Salvation belongs to Yahweh. Your blessing be on your people. -- Psalm 3:8, World English Bible translation.
This scripture is presented sometimes with the thought that it proves that Jesus is Yahweh.
Yes, salvation belongs to Yahweh, who sent Jesus as savior of the world (John 3:16,17), for Yahweh can send anyone to act as savior on his behalf. Indeed, Yahweh did send many in the Old Testaments times who "saved/delivered" Israel under various circumstances. Their being saviors does not detract at all from the fact that Yahweh, who sent Jesus, is the One to whom salvation belongs.
In Deuteronomy 32:12, we read: "Yahweh alone did lead him [Israel/Jacob - verse 9], There was no foreign god with him." If we take this out of context, and only quote the first part, this could lead one to believe that there was no one else but Yahweh that led Israel. And then in Exodus 12:15 we read: "It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts." Yet we also read: "Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water." (Exodus 15:22) Does this mean that Moses and Yahweh must be the same being? Absolutely not! Moses was sent by Yahweh. Therefore we read: "You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Psalm 77:20) "By a prophet Yahweh brought Israel up out of Egypt, And by a prophet he was preserved." (Hoseal 12:13) Thus Yahweh acknowledges that he used others to deliver Egypt, yet by this he claims to the their deliverer, since he was the one to sent Moses and Aaron, and he is the one who gave Moses the power to deliver.
The scriptures abound with cases where Yahweh uses various servants but is given the credit for their actions, since he was the directing force. -- Exodus 3:10,12; 12:17; 18:10; Numbers 16:28; Judges 2:6,18; 3:9,10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:24,25; 14:6,19; 15:14,18; 16:20,28-30, 2 Kings 4:27; Isaiah 43:11, 45:1-6; etc.
A thorough examination of the scriptures reveal that there are many saviors, who are such, because they were sent by Yahweh, and did a work on his behalf. Yahweh saved Israel in past times of dangers, especially when the Israelites did go after the idol gods of the heathen. How did Yahweh do this? Judges 2:16 tells us: "Yahweh raised up judges, who saved [yasha`] them out of the hand of those who despoiled them." And Nehemiah 9:27: "Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them: and in the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from heaven; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors [Hebrew, Yasha`] who saved [Hebrew, Yasha`] them out of the hand of their adversaries." Some of the saviors sent by Yahweh included: Othniel - Judges 3:9; Gideon - Judges 6:13,14; 8:22; Gideon's 700: Judges 7:7; Samson - Judges 13:5; David - 2 Samuel 3:18. Yahweh sent these saviors who acted in his name and with his power and authority. Such saviors were not "apart from" Yahweh, since they were sent by Yahweh. It is as Samson stated to Yahweh: "You have given this great deliverance (salvation) by the hand of your servant." (Judges 15:18) And Yahweh spoke of David: "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines." (2 Samuel 3:18) And Psalmist said: "You led your people like a flock, By the hand of Moses and Aaron." (Psalm 77:20) Likewise, God sent Jesus that "the world should be saved through him" (John 3:16,17) so that "the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." -- Romans 6:23.
Jesus was sent by and came in Yahweh's name: (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; John 17:3; 4:34; 5:30; Matthew 21:9; 23:39) This further emphasizes that Jesus was not the savior sent by Yahweh. Like the saviors before Jesus, Jesus received his power and strength from Yahweh. -- Psalm 2:2,7,8; 110:1,2; Isaiah 9:6,7; 61:1; Luke 1:32; Jeremiah 23:5; Daniel 7:13,14; John 17:1,3; Acts 2:36; Hebrews 1:2,6.
http://godandson.reslight.net/savior.htmlPsalm 106:1 - Praise Yahweh! Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For his lovingkindness endures forever.
1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
