God’s Great Name

“The Word of the Lord came to me, saying: ‘Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it.” [1]

Idolatry focuses people on self. What can I get in exchange for my homage? What can I avoid if I serve this entity? Self-worship carried to extreme levels results in bloodshed.

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.” [2]

Bloodshed from covetousness! Bloodshed from the fear of the unknown such as in the case of abortion. The Law of God is, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed.” [3]

What did the Lord do with people who professed to others that they belonged to Him, and yet were in reality all about serving themselves?

“So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy Name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ But I had concern for My holy Name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.” [4]

The Lord took up the task that His people failed to do, namely, to restore honor to His Name.

“Therefore, say to the house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy Name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.” [5]

The Lord’s plan was to cleanse His people from their self-worship. To give them a new heart and a new spirit so that they would have an appetite for His statues and judgments! To delight to be His people, and to have Him alone for their God.

“For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” [6]

After His cleansing in their souls, He planned to bless the works of theirs hands so that their land produced abundantly. His lovingkindness, grace and forgiveness towards them would lead them to repentance and renewal.

“I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain, multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this, says the Lord God, let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!” [7]

In fact, we see the Lord already bringing abut a new day for Israel. They have developed a process to desalinate the Mediterranean salt water and use it to irrigate nonproductive lands so that now they are producing food in abundance.

“Thus says the Lord God: on the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.” [8]

Ultimately, they will be a great people once again. They will be like a flock. A unified group of people who knows the Lord! Praise the Lord!

“Thus says the Lord God: I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. 38 Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” [9]

[1] Ezekiel 36:16-18
[2] James 4:1-2
[3] Genesis 9:6
[4] Ezekiel 36:19-21
[5] Ezekiel 36:22-23
[6] Ezekiel 36:24-28
[7] Ezekiel 36:29-32
[8] Ezekiel 36:33-36
[9] Ezekiel 36:37-38