22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.

23 I will 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 Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.

— Ezekiel 36:22-23

9 For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.

10 See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

11 For My own sake, My very own sake, I will act; for how can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.

— Isaiah 48:9-11

… I made the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah cling to me, declares the Lord, that they might be for me a people, a name, a praise, and a glory.

— Jeremiah 13:11b

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

The defeated, dispersed, discouraged, and exiled Israelites lived in a foreign land, adrift from their God-given homeland and the worship God prescribed in the Jerusalem temple. But God’s care and provision never collapsed along with their nation and homeland. God sent Ezekiel to prophecy and declare what God would do to fulfill His promises to His people. Ezekiel heralded a purpose higher than overcoming Israel’s defeat. Israel’s perpetual sin and idolatry brought God’s promised judgment and their exile.

While the nations surrounding Israel were confused by Israel’s expulsion from the land God gave them, Israel’s sin and exile profaned God’s holy name among the nations. However, God’s continued work would uphold His glory. Ezekiel prophesied Israel’s restoration by God’s hand and for His glory. His vision of resurrected dry bones revealed that God would bring life to the dead nation that suffered His righteous judgment. God would restore Israel spiritually through His Spirit and rebuild the nation in the land He had given them.