Articles
The Lord's Concern For His Holy Name
The Lord's Concern For His Holy Name
In Ezekiel 36 God tells Ezekiel again the story of how He was angry with Judah and poured out His wrath upon them. According to their ways and their deeds" He judged them and scattered them among the nations. Why was He so angry? "…I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came" (Ezekiel 36:21).
God is HOLY (cp. Isa. 6; Rev. 4; etc.). It is the one attribute of God that is repeated in triplicate: Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD. Moses was told to take of his sandals when he stood before the LORD in the burning bush for the very ground he stood on was holy (Exod. 3:5). Nadab and Abihu were struck dead because they did NOT 'sanctify the LORD' when they worshiped Him, that is, they did not consider Him to be HOLY. They 'made common' the very idea of God, they profaned Him. (Lev. 10:1-4).
God is HOLY and thus His name, which stands for the very character and being of God, is Holy.
One of the main teachings in Ezekiel concerns this holiness of the LORD and how people who would walk with God must be holy. Four times God speaks of 'vindicating His holiness' (Ezek. 36:23; 38:16; 39:27).
Such holiness of the LORD has not, can not, and will not change. He is forever holy. In His very essence He is separated from all of creation. He is different and unique. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is life. He is NOT a common part of creation, He is the creator.
There is also the ethical part of His holiness in that He is absolutely righteous and thus will not dwell with those who do evil (Psalm 5:4). Peter wrote: "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:13-16).
God's righteous judgment against sin is based upon His holiness. He yet has concern for His holy name. He will yet bring judgment upon those who do not hold Him as HOLY. We are therefore exhorted to "pursue Holiness, without which no one will see God" (Heb. 12:14). How serious is God about this holiness? Read again the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel and see how He acted with concern for His holy name.
Hugh DeLong Reading 8/31/13
