The Lord's Concern for His Holy Name
16 The word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. 18 So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it. 19 I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them. 20 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’ 21 But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. Ezekiel 36: 16-21
Ezekiel 36: 16-21 The Lord's Concern for His Holy Name
16 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ 17 Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’ 18 And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. 19 And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord God.” Ezekiel 11: 16-21
When the house of Israel lived in their own land - This is recapping what brought them here, before the exile, when they lived in God's land, a place He had given them as a possession but with stipulations. Remember, He didn't just arbitrarily kill and remove the people that were in the land before them, it was because of their sins, and so God shows Himself consistent in condemning the same sin when it rises in Israel's camp. The wages of sin is death, and the people had trusted in other gods, had committed the same perversions as Sodom, whom God destroyed, sacrificed their own infants to other gods, and then tried to pedal and hold onto a form of Judaism that was based on birthright, lineage to Abraham, having the temple, but not obeying God's word. Ezekiel is not the first to tell them of this; it is not their first warning, and here is the charge, the reason why you are no longer in the land.
30 “For the sons of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. 31 And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. 32 Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it will no more be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter; for they will bury in Topheth, because there is no room elsewhere. 33 And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away. 34 And I will silence in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, for the land shall become a waste. Jeremiah 7: 30-34 ESV
They defiled it by their ways and their deeds - The land itself wasn't impure, but the idolatry, lewd behavior, immorality, abortion of their children, living in the land as the people before them had done, this defiled what God had made and called, "good". He brought them out of Egypt, in miraculous fashion, to a land that they were not able to take on their own, fed them in the wilderness. Now, because of their murmuring and unbelief, that generation stayed in the wilderness for 40 years. They rebelled often in the land, and the law only served to show the depth of their depravity. The law was good, and the expectation was just, but they were not, yet they, like Lucifer, who were all created beings, thought themselves antonymous, though none made themselves, yet they were self righteous enough to ignore God's estimation of them, and seek their own way in what was not their land, in a course of time that was itself not earned or owed to them.
…27For the men who were in the land before you committed all these abominations, and the land has become defiled. 28So if you defile the land, it will vomit you out as it spewed out the nations before you. 29Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people.… Leviticus 18: 27-29
The Septuagint translates defiled with miaino (cf miasmos = the state of being tainted, polluted, corrupted, defiled or stained by) means literally to dye with another color. Figuratively miaino describes a mind and conscience that is morally contaminated, corrupted, tainted, tinged and polluted. In a ceremonial or cultic sense it means to defile or make unclean or to be unacceptable. - Precept Austin
For the blood that they had shed in the land - They were like the ungrateful servant who was forgiven a great debt, but could not forgive someone else, for nothing that mankind can do to us is anywhere near the offense that sin is to God, for just like my adversary, I am a sinner. They were all stained in this way, their righteousness even was like menstrual rags, feet quick to shed blood, blood stained garments and hands. They killed for property, for money, for another's wife, for convenience, and it all came from hearts that were fallen as they are in every man. All this, and they were unrepentant, instead wanting to approach God like they approach idols, relying on traditions and outward religion. They were murderers, liars, cheats, just like the people before them, except they had received more light than all the other nations combined.
…32Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest. 33Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell. For I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.”… Numbers 35: 32-34
In accordance with their ways and their deeds, I judged them - They were sent to live among those they were most like. Punishment came to them for their sin, and they received far more warning than any of the other nations God judged. If those, who had not this light, were without excuse, then how much more accountable are they who have received the law and the prophets? This should bring us to the place of reality, that I am a beggar, beating my chest, afraid to look up, for God is holy and I am not. I am in breech of all of His law.
…12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves. 13He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. 14Blessed is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.… Proverbs 28: 12-14
…8Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. 10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.… 2 Peter 3: 8-10
Wherever they came, they profaned My holy name - God was to be regarded as He is, Holy, which is to be otherly, set apart, self existing, and this attribute of holiness is the crown that sits upon all others. So, when we say God is merciful, He is also holy in His mercy, Holy in His grace, Holy in His judgment. When He is a savior, showing compassion, yet it does not forsake is Holy nature, so in order to redeem He pays the penalty, the price, the wages of sin. Since He is eternal then all these attributes are infinitely so, and to satiate His eternal and Holy wrath towards sin (unholiness), He, Who alone is without a start, self existing and eternal, the Immortal God, must add to His nature mortal flesh, in order that He may atone for sinful man. I would encourage you to read the link below to know more about God's holiness.
They profaned My holy name - How did they profane God's holy name? The pagan nations knew that the land of Israel was "His land." They associated His people with His name and the fact that Babylon (and her so-called gods) had defeated Judah, was tantamount to defeating Judah's God in the eyes of the "religious" pagans and thus cast aspersions on His name, making it "common" or profane. As Cooper says Israel was a "reproach and profanation of God’s holy name because they made it appear that he had not been able to keep them safe." (Ibid)
…2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. 3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent. 4Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.”… Leviticus 10: 2-4
Profane in English means to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt or to debase by a wrong, unworthy, or vulgar use. - Precept Austin
11 Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said: “Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” 14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. - Exodus 32: 11-14
These are the people of the Lord - When we call ourselves God's people or Christians, yet do not live in obedience to His word, then we profane His name. We bring dishonor by using and claiming a vocabulary that does not match our actions. I have heard of people from other religions and back grounds, Gandhi was one, who men say, said, "I love your Christ but I hate your Christians." When I wanted to be an atheist I always used Christians as my argument, even when I came to believe God existed, I still begged that He keep them away from me. I grew up in church so I could tell story after story of hypocrites, who love titles, being called deacon, teacher, and who were all about the social aspect, or even using the church to make money, but were self righteous enough to believe that they were the epitome of what all other Christians should be. They were antinomian at best, having said a prayer that someone instructed them to say a long time ago, and then going about their lives living with no evidence. Then, some of them, somewhere along the way, became the legalist that they still thought they weren't. I went to church today, check that box. We tithed, check, we sang, so check the praise box, I showered and wore my Sunday best, okay then, check the reverence box. The Israelites went to temple, but then went home and live like pagans.
…7You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ ”… Matthew 15: 7-9
…23You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “ God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.… Romans 2: 23-25
13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” 15After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.… 2 Samuel 12: 13-15
But I had concern for My holy name - He has exalted His name and His word above all else, and so all His integrity is in what He has said He will do. God never spoke based upon the goodness of this people, for they were all sinners, depraved from their conception. He spoke in accordance to His own name, His honesty, His integrity, His just nature, but also to His Holy mercy. This is not reactionary, for He promised the deliverance by way of the seed in the garden, way before this time.
Cooper makes the point that...The revelation of God’s name or character was a major aspect of God’s dealing with Israel from the beginning (cf. Ex 5:2; 9:16; Lev 18:21; 20:3; 22:31-33), and it would continue to be God’s concern (Ezek 39:7-8, 25; 43:7-9). Moses effectively used the appeal to God’s name and character to stay the judgment of annihilation upon Israel after the incident of the golden calf in Ex 32:11-18. He gave the same appeal when the people chose not to enter the land of promise in Num 14:13-19. (Ibid)
The house of Israel had profaned among the nations - Israel was associated with the name of their God. Their defeat and humiliation caused the nations to see the God of Israel as impotent and profane (common). - Precept Austin
…2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.… Psalm 23: 2-4
…10All the LORD’s ways are loving and faithful to those who keep His covenant and His decrees. 11For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great. 12Who is the man who fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the path chosen for him.… Psalm 25: 10-12
…8O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back and run from its enemies? 9When the Canaanites and all who live in the land hear about this, they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. Then what will You do for Your great name?” 10But the LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?… Joshua 7: 8-10
1Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. 3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.… Psalm 138: 1-3
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