Ezekiel 20:13-20: a reflection

13“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. 14But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. 17Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness. 18I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them. 20Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

As God recounts Israel's rebellion in the wilderness, he tells why, despite their sin, he did not utterly destroy them: But I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations. Israel had rebelled and deserved destruction; yet God spared them, not because they had earned it, but for the sake of his own name, his own honor and faithfulness before the nations. God's dealings with his people were grounded not in their merit, which was lacking, but in who he is, his own name, his own commitment. He spared them for his name's sake, because of who he is, not because of what they deserved.

Notice the ground of God's sparing his people: his own name's sake, not their merit. Israel deserved judgment; there was no merit in them to appeal to. Yet God spared them, and the reason he gives is his own name, his own honor and faithfulness, his commitment to what he had made himself known to be. God acted for his name's sake, grounding his mercy not in their deserving but in who he is. This is a deep ground of hope: God's dealings with his people rest not on their merit, which fails, but on his own name, his own character and faithfulness, which does not fail. He spares and keeps his people because of who he is, for his name's sake, not because of what they have earned.

That is worth resting in, for God's faithfulness to us is grounded in his own name, not our merit, and this is a deep hope. We can feel that God's dealings with us depend on our deserving, and despair when our merit fails; but God spared Israel for his name's sake, not their merit, grounding his mercy in who he is. God's faithfulness to us rests not on our worthiness, which fails, but on his own name and character, which does not. When you fear that your failures have exhausted God's mercy, remember that he acts for his name's sake, grounded in who he is, not in what you deserve. Rest your hope on God's faithfulness grounded in his own name and character, not in your merit, as God spared his rebellious people for his name's sake and not their deserving; for God's dealings with his people rest on who he is, his own name and faithfulness, which does not fail, and this is a deeper ground of hope than our merit, which does.

Lord, as you recount Israel's rebellion in the wilderness, you tell why, despite their sin, you did not utterly destroy them: but I worked for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations. Israel had rebelled and deserved destruction; yet you spared them, not because they had earned it, but for the sake of your own name, your own honor and faithfulness. Your dealings with your people were grounded not in their merit, which was lacking, but in who you are. Show me the ground of your sparing your people: your own name's sake, not their merit. Israel deserved judgment; there was no merit in them to appeal to. Yet you spared them, and the reason you give is your own name, your own honor and faithfulness. You acted for your name's sake, grounding your mercy not in their deserving but in who you are. This is a deep ground of hope: your dealings with your people rest not on their merit, which fails, but on your own name and faithfulness, which does not fail. Take that to my heart, for your faithfulness to me is grounded in your own name, not my merit, and this is a deep hope. I can feel that your dealings with me depend on my deserving, and despair when my merit fails; but you spared Israel for your name's sake, not their merit. Your faithfulness to me rests not on my worthiness, which fails, but on your own name and character. When I fear that my failures have exhausted your mercy, help me remember that you act for your name's sake, Lord, grounded in who you are, not in what I deserve. Help me rest my hope on your faithfulness grounded in your own name and character, not in my merit.