Ezekiel 39:7-11: a reflection

7“‘“I will make my holy name known among my people Israel. I won’t allow my holy name to be profaned any more. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. 8Behold, it comes, and it will be done,” says the Lord GOD. “This is the day about which I have spoken. 9“‘“Those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out and will make fires of the weapons and burn them, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the war clubs and the spears, and they will make fires with them for seven years; 10so that they will take no wood out of the field, and not cut down any out of the forests; for they will make fires with the weapons. They will plunder those who plundered them, and rob those who robbed them,” says the Lord GOD. 11“‘“It will happen in that day, that I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the valley of those who pass through on the east of the sea; and it will stop those who pass through. They will bury Gog and all his multitude there, and they will call it ‘The valley of Hamon Gog’.

In this passage, God declares his purpose to act for the honor of his own name. I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, he says, and I won't allow my holy name to be profaned any more. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. God is concerned for the honor of his own name; he will act so that his name is known and honored, not profaned, so that all will know he is the LORD. His purpose is bound up with the honor of his holy name.

Notice God's concern for the honor of his own name. He acts, he says, so that his holy name will be known and no longer profaned, so that the nations will know he is the LORD. God's own name and glory matter to him; he will not let his name be endlessly profaned, but will act to vindicate it, to make it known and honored. This is not vanity, but the rightness of the highest good being honored as the highest good; God, being God, rightly acts for the honor of his own name, that all may know and honor him as he is. His concern for his name is the concern that he be known and honored as God.

That concern of God for his own name is worth taking to heart, for our lives are meant to honor his name, not profane it. God is zealous for the honor of his holy name; and we, who bear his name, are to live so as to honor it, not profane it. Just as God acts for the honor of his name, so we are to live for it, letting our lives make his name known and honored rather than profaned. Consider whether your life honors God's name or profanes it; and let it be your concern, as it is God's, that his name be honored. Live so as to honor the holy name of God, making it known and honored by your life rather than profaning it, sharing God's own concern for the honor of his name, as God declared he would act to make his holy name known and no longer profaned, that all might know he is the LORD.

Lord, in this passage you declare your purpose to act for the honor of your own name. I will make my holy name known among my people Israel, you say, and I won't allow my holy name to be profaned any more. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. You are concerned for the honor of your own name; you will act so that your name is known and honored, not profaned. Your purpose is bound up with the honor of your holy name. Show me your concern for the honor of your own name. You act so that your holy name will be known and no longer profaned, so that the nations will know you are the LORD. Your own name and glory matter to you; you will not let your name be endlessly profaned, but will act to vindicate it. This is not vanity, but the rightness of the highest good being honored as the highest good; you, being God, rightly act for the honor of your own name. Take that concern to my heart, for my life is meant to honor your name, not profane it. You are zealous for the honor of your holy name; and I, who bear your name, am to live so as to honor it. Just as you act for the honor of your name, so I am to live for it. Help me consider whether my life honors your name or profanes it; and let it be my concern, as it is yours, that your name be honored. Help me live so as to honor your holy name, Lord, making it known and honored by my life rather than profaning it.