But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
God had scattered Israel among the nations for their sins. A homeless people still carrying His name made those nations think less of God, not more. This verse is the turning point of the chapter. God looks at the damage done to His own name. That damage — not anything good in Israel — becomes the reason He acts.
The reproach that reached God's name
The verses just before this one record what the nations said when they saw the exiles. One writer traces the chapter from Israel's failure to God's answer.
The Bible TreasuryGod sets Israel's past failure as a nation before them, so that they may own it before Him. The nations said, "These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of His land." But then God remembers that His name is involved. For His holy name's sake He delivers them.
Pity for the name they had outraged
God's concern here falls on His name, not on the people. Older translations render that word as pity. Israel had shamed Him inside the land and outside it. Yet the God they sinned against does not change.
William KellyThis was Israel's way in the land and out of it. Everywhere they were a shame to Him who chose them as His own. In Canaan there was corruption through idols and murderous violence. Among the nations they profaned His name. And what did He do, the One against whom they had sinned? He is Jehovah and He does not change, so they were not consumed. No, He had pity for the name they had outraged, and He would make it holy and be sanctified in them.
Spared to guard His Name
Israel's restoration rests on nothing they bring to it.
An Outline of Sound WordsGod will then restore Israel to the land because of His own sovereign goodness. Had He dealt with them as their sins deserved, they must have perished. Again and again in their long history they have deserved the unsparing judgment of God. But their blessing was bound up with the honour of His Name. He had promised it to Abraham, and it rested on His own counsels of love. So time and again, when He might have destroyed them, He spared them, to defend the honour of His great and holy Name.
The same writer states the tie between God's Name and His people even more strongly.
An Outline of Sound WordsIn His counsels of grace, the honour of Jehovah's Name was bound up with the blessing of His people, and nothing could separate the two. Not even the wickedness of Israel could turn Him from what He had purposed and set His hand to do.
Turning their hearts to Himself
God does not stop at sparing them. He also works in them, and for the same reason.
J. N. DarbyThough the Lord could do no more for Israel, He can, for His own sake, do the wonderful work in them of turning their hearts to Himself. And this will happen: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of My holy name."
When God's people shame His name
The same charge returns in the New Testament. One writer shows that it reaches further than Israel.
Hamilton SmithIt all comes to one solemn statement. Because of the religious man, the Gentiles blaspheme the name of God. The Apostle is speaking of the Jew, but what he says is equally true of the professing Christian. Unbelievers have blasphemed mainly because of the corruptions and degraded practices of professing Christendom.
The same ground of blessing
God still blesses and forgives on that same ground.
An Outline of Sound WordsIn sovereign goodness He has blessed us. It was not because of anything in ourselves, or anything we have done. We were only sinners, cut off from God and enemies by wicked works. We know that He has forgiven our sins, and as it is written in 1 John 2:12, it is "for His name's sake."
Summary
- Name dishonoured. Israel left God's land as exiles, and the nations turned that into a slur against Him.
- Name pitied. God's pity fell on the name they had outraged, and because He does not change, they were not consumed.
- Name, not merit. He is not acting for their sakes. Had He dealt with them by their sins, they must have perished.
- Name at work. Their wickedness could not turn Him from what He had set His hand to do, and for His own sake He turns their hearts back to Himself.
- Name today. People who carry His name and live against it still shame it. That same name is why our own sins are forgiven.