GOD DEALS with us for HIS NAME’S SAKE
September 1 Bible Reading: Ezekiel Chapters 19-21
GOD DEALS with us for HIS NAME’S SAKE
"Then you shall know that I am the
Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I
raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. And there you shall remember
your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe
yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. Then you shall know that I am the Lord,
when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked
ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel," says the
Lord God. (Ezek 20:42-44)
In chapter 20, prophet Ezekiel gives us a panoramic view of
the history of Israel. It is in two parts: her
rebellious past (vv. 1–31) and her
glorious future (vv. 32–44). The first
part surveys all that God had done for the nation, and the nation’s sorely
inadequate response. The mood changes dramatically at verse 33 where, in a
series of the words “I will”, the
Lord promises what He will accomplish on behalf of His people. The second part describes the coming
judgment of those Jews who will be living at the conclusion of the Tribulation
period when Christ returns to earth. He will bring the faithful into the
blessings of the new covenant in the kingdom.
When the nation is restored to the land of Israel, they will
no longer worship idols, but they will worship the Lord in holiness. The
summary verse (44) indicates that it is for God’s name’s sake that Israel will
be restored in spite of their wicked ways and corrupt doings. When God is
finished they will know that He is the LORD!
God chastens us that He might restore us and there is always
hope. The repeated “I will”
statements in verses 33-44 assures us that God is working for us and not
against us. Remember that God does all this for His name’s sake only. For His
name’s sake, God forgives our sins (1 John 2:12), guides us (Psalms 23:3;
31:3), deals with us (Ps. 109:21), and revives us (Ps. 143:11).
For God’s name’s sake, we should serve Him faithfully (3 John 7; Rev. 2:3), sacrifice for Him (Matt. 19:29), and be willing to suffer reproach for Him (Matt. 10:22; 24:9). All that we do should be for the honor and glory of God’s name alone: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31)
