Ezekiel 20:21-26: a reflection

21“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. 22Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and 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. 23Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, 24because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. 25Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live. 26I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

In a long, painful recounting of Israel's repeated rebellions, God says something that recurs like a refrain. Even when his people had profaned his ways and deserved judgment, God says, I withdrew my hand and acted for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations. Again and again, what stayed God's judgment and moved his mercy was not the people's worthiness, which was absent, but his own name, his own character and glory.

Notice the ground of God's mercy here: for my name's sake. Not because the people deserved it, they had rebelled and profaned his Sabbaths, but because of who God is, his commitment to his own name and reputation, his faithfulness to himself. His mercy did not rest on their goodness, which had run out, but on his own character, which does not. He acted for his own sake, and that turned out to be their salvation.

That is, strange as it sounds, a deep security. If God's mercy toward us depended on our worthiness, it would be as unstable as we are, running out whenever we failed. But God acts for his name's sake, out of his own unchanging character and commitment to his own glory. His faithfulness rests on himself, not on us. When you feel unworthy of God's mercy, and you are, remember that his mercy does not finally rest on your worthiness but on his own name. He acts for his own sake, out of who he is, and that is a foundation that does not crumble. His faithfulness to himself is your security.

Lord, again and again you withheld judgment and showed mercy to your rebellious people, not because they deserved it, but for your own name's sake, out of who you are. When I feel unworthy of your mercy, and I am, remind me that your mercy does not finally rest on my worthiness but on your own unchanging character. You act for your own sake, out of your faithfulness to yourself. What security that is: your faithfulness rests on you, not on me. Thank you that you are faithful for your name's sake.