What does "I will make My holy name known" mean for believers today? Setting the Original Context • 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.” • Spoken at the end of a prophecy against Gog, the verse declares God’s personal intervention so that both Israel and the nations unmistakably recognize His holiness and sovereign identity. • The promise follows centuries of His name being dishonored through idolatry and disobedience; now the Lord vows to vindicate His reputation in full public view. Understanding “My holy name” • “Holy” points to God’s absolute otherness and moral perfection (Isaiah 6:3). • “Name” in Scripture stands for revealed character, reputation, and authority (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 9:10). • Together, the phrase stresses that God will unmistakably display who He is—set apart, righteous, and worthy of reverence. God’s Commitment to Reveal His Name • He will act: “I will make…known.” The initiative is entirely His. • He will protect: “will no longer allow it to be profaned.” God defends His honor, stopping every attempt to cheapen it. • He will convince: “Then the nations will know that I am the LORD.” His actions turn skeptics into witnesses. Implications for Believers Today • Confidence in God’s self-revelation – He still makes His name known—in Scripture, in Christ (John 17:6), and through the Spirit’s work in us. – Because He promised, we can expect Him to keep unveiling His character in our lives and circumstances. • Call to revere and guard His name – We bear His name (Acts 11:26). Taking it lightly profanes what He holds holy (Matthew 6:9). – Speech, ethics, and worship should consistently honor the Lord who saved us (Colossians 3:17). • Expectation of global recognition – Philippians 2:9-11 predicts every knee bowing to Jesus. Ezekiel’s promise foreshadows that universal acknowledgment. – Missions and evangelism align with God’s agenda to spread the fame of His name (Psalm 96:3). • Assurance of ultimate vindication – When believers face ridicule, God’s pledge in Ezekiel 39:7 guarantees He will defend His reputation and ours in Him (Romans 8:31-39). – Final judgment and the new creation will fully and forever display His holiness (Revelation 21:3-4, 22:4). Living in Light of His Name • Worship intentionally: sing, pray, and speak His name with awe and affection. • Walk distinctively: let daily conduct mirror the holiness of the One we represent (1 Peter 1:15-16). • Witness boldly: share the gospel as the climactic way God makes His name known (Acts 4:12). • Wait expectantly: trust that every injustice and confusion will be resolved when the Lord openly sanctifies His name. Encouraging Promises to Hold Fast • “Those who know Your name trust in You” (Psalm 9:10). • “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name” (Psalm 91:14). • “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4). The God who once declared, “I will make My holy name known,” continues to do so; our privilege is to know, honor, and proclaim that name until He is universally glorified. |
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