God’s concern for God

But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.

Ezekiel 36:21

God’s motives are exclusively bound to His holiness and the glory due His name. He deserves the worship of His creation and will move the forces of heaven and earth so that His people may once again declare His name. When He is not worshiped in holiness, He will not take the profaning of His great name lightly. He will judge His people when their hearts are not committed to the passionate worship that He deserves. This was the story of Israel. They were called out of the nations to declare God’s greatness to the nations so that the world might know the Lord. The didn’t do this. They were judged.

When God acted to deal with the serious matter of the profaning of His holy name, He did so not out of anger, but out of holiness. He did so out of concern for His own unique holiness. He did so in order that Israel might return again to His so that the world could see His restorative love for His people.

The end of this chapter (Ezekiel 36:33-38) shows the lengths to which God would do ALL the restoring work. He would cleanse them of all sin. He would restore them to their cities and farms. God would rebuild Israel and replant Israel so that the nations would know His greatness. Then all will know that God is the LORD.

Lord,

You judge sin and You humble Your people so that we might glorify You in repentance. You restore and You help Your people recover. You specialize in rebuilding lives our sin has destroyed. You are great, holy, and God. The world will know You are the LORD.

Amen