Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still MattersSample

Profaning the Name

Old Testament prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel watched as God’s chosen people failed at the most important task of all—representing God among the nations. Rather than demonstrating God’s character, the Israelites mimicked the idolatry and violence of neighboring nations. As a result, they suffered the consequences of their unfaithfulness: God removed them from the promised land. Since they could not manage to live according to His covenantal terms, then they could no longer enjoy the covenantal benefits. 

But here’s the kicker: “Wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land’” (Ezekiel 36:20 NIV). God’s people didn’t need to say a word. Just by going into exile, Judah casts Yahweh in a negative light because He appears to be powerless to protect them. Never mind that Yahweh Himself is sending them into exile. From the perspective of the nations, Yahweh isn’t much of a match for the gods of Babylon. His reputation is on the line because He’s chosen to claim these people as His. For better or for worse, they bear His name. 

So Yahweh plans to do something about His people’s plight. He can’t have the nations thinking He is impotent. He’s got to set the record straight, and He speaks plainly with His people. He’s about to put into effect a dramatic rescue plan, gathering His people from the nations, bringing them home, cleansing them, and bringing abundance. But He’s very blunt: “I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign Lord” (Ezekiel 36:32 NIV). 

The point of God’s rescue plan is clear: to “show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes” (Ezekiel 36:23 NIV). It is not the people’s predicament that merits God’s action. Yahweh’s own reputation is at stake.