Connect Ezekiel 39:7 with the Lord's Prayer regarding God's name being hallowed. Setting the Scene Ezekiel 39:7 – “So I will make My holy name known among My people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.” Matthew 6:9 – “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Understanding the Two Texts • Ezekiel records God’s promise to vindicate His “holy name” before Israel and the nations. • Jesus teaches disciples to pray that the Father’s name would be “hallowed”—treated as set apart, revered, honored. • Both passages revolve around the same divine purpose: God actively guards His reputation and invites His people to join in that reverence. What Does It Mean to “Hallow” a Name? • “Hallow” translates the Greek hagiazō—“to make holy, sanctify.” • Hebrew parallels (qādash) appear in Leviticus 22:32: “You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified among the Israelites.” • To hallow God’s name is to recognize, declare, and live in light of His absolute distinctness and purity. Ezekiel’s Prophecy: God’s Initiative to Sanctify His Name • Context: Chapters 38–39 describe a climactic defeat of hostile nations (often called “Gog of Magog”). • Purpose clause: “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD...” God’s victory is not merely military; it is revelatory. • Repetition in Ezekiel: 36:23; 38:23; 39:27–29—all stress God acting “for My holy name’s sake.” • Bottom line: God safeguards His holiness—He will not permit ongoing profanation. The Lord’s Prayer: Our Petition to Participate • Jesus positions “hallowed be Your name” first. Everything else in the prayer flows from reverence for who God is. • By praying this line, believers align their desires with God’s stated agenda in Ezekiel: that His name be seen as holy in all the earth. • This petition includes both personal devotion and global mission—asking God to transform hearts, societies, and nations to honor Him. Themes That Tie the Passages Together • Divine Initiative: God makes His name known (Ezekiel); we ask Him to do so (Matthew). • Universal Scope: Israel and “the nations” (Ezekiel 39:7); “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). • Holiness & Identity: The name reveals character—“the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel); “Father in heaven” (Matthew). • Future Certainty and Present Prayer: God’s promise assures the final outcome; our prayer expresses present longing for that outcome. Practical Takeaways for Today • Worship: Let every expression of praise consciously exalt His name—Psalm 29:2; Psalm 34:3. • Speech: Guard against careless or irreverent use of God’s name—Exodus 20:7; James 3:9–10. • Conduct: Live so that God’s reputation is enhanced, not maligned—Titus 2:10; 1 Peter 2:12. • Mission: Share the gospel, confident that God is already committed to glorifying His name among the nations—Malachi 1:11; Revelation 15:4. Further Scriptures to Explore • Isaiah 52:6 – “Therefore My people will know My name...” • Ezekiel 20:41–42 – “...I will show Myself holy among you before the nations.” • John 17:6, 11 – Jesus manifests and guards the Father’s name. • Revelation 11:17–18 – Final vindication of God’s holy name. |
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