Ezekiel 36: For the Sake of Jehovah’s Name Israel Would Revive

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Jehovah has good news for the Israelites. Their time in Babylons exile would end they would “soon return” home (Eze 36:8).

Jerusalem would be inhabited like in it was “formerly” and it would “prosper more than in the past” (Eze 36:11)

Sanctifying Jehovahs profaned name

But when they came to those nations, people profaned my holy name by saying about them, ‘These are the people of Jehovah, but they had to leave his land.’
– Eze 36:20

Only the Israelites would be associated with Jehovah as their official god. The nations did not understand that Jehovah would punish the Israelites by putting them to Exile, instead, they thought Jehovah was simply incapable of protecting his people. They “profaned” his holy name, by mixing him up with fake gods.

So I will show concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they have gone.
– Eze 36:21

Jehovah promises to sanctify his “holy” or “great” name.

‘I will certainly sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the nations, (1) which you profaned among them; and the nations will (2) have to know that I am Jehovah,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, (3) ‘when I am sanctified among you before their eyes.
– Eze 36:23

  1. The Israelites brought shame on the only true good because the nations would not see the obvious difference between Jehovah and fake gods.
  2. Sanctificating his name would mean for Jehovah that nations around the Israelites would “know” him, recognize him. Understanding the difference to incapable gods of wood and stone.

What does to sanctify mean?

The act or process of making holy, separating, … “Sanctification” draws attention to the action whereby holiness is produced, made manifest, or maintained. Words drawn from the Hebrew verb qa·dhashʹ and words related to the Greek adjective haʹgi·os are rendered “holy,” “sanctified,” “made sacred,” and “set apart.”

– it-2 pp. 856-860

How Jehovahs People would sanctify or separate Jehovah from other Gods

  1. Gathering the exiled Jews in Babylon and bringing them back to Jerusalem (Ezekiel speaks to the Jews in Babylonia)
  2. “Cleansing” the Jews from unclean practices of false worship, especially to remove any idols (verse 25).
  3. Giving them a “new spirit” (Gods spirit – see verse 27) which would cause them to be more sensitive to God’s guidance and causing their conscience about right and wrong more to be more alert. This would also cause them to somewhat naturally obey in Jehovah’s standards.
  4. Making them again publically known as Jehovah’s people relationship between Jehovah and his people: “you will be my people and I will be your God” (verse 28)
  5. Not punishing them with disasters like famine. (verse 29)
  6. Making the Israelites understand what wrong they did. Because of their sharpened conscience they would finally understand why Jehovah had to punish the nation. (verse 32)
  7. Making the land fruitful “like the garden of Eden” (verse 35)
  8. Rebuilding and fortifying cities (verse 35)
  9. Blessing them with many children (verse 37)

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