Chapters 36 and 38 of the Book of Ezekiel identify God establishing his holiness or sanctification by his actions toward the nations and Israel. In Ezekiel 38:23, Ezekiel exemplifies God asserting his supremacy in the eyes of many nations. In Ezekiel 36:23, God demonstrates his supremacy and power amongst the Israelites as well as nations. God reveals his supremacy by being sanctified or made holy in the eyes of sinners through his saving activity of his people. God provides redemption for his people, by cleansing them from their sins and providing them with a new heart. In this action, God proves his holiness by judging sin and making provision for sin. As seen in Ezekiel 36:27, this provision for sin also includes God providing for Israel’s future obedience. This obedience stops future profaneness to his holy name. Not only does God prove his holiness, but he sanctifies himself or sets himself apart from the sin of Israel. Therefore, as God asserts his holiness, he allows his holiness to reflect and dwell among his people by the removal of their sins. God continues to demonstrate his holiness by adhering to his promises. Particularly in Ezekiel 36:24, the promise provides for the return of the Israelites to their homeland. God’s actions of provisioning for sin and fulfilling his promises demonstrate his mercy. In his mercy, the nations and Israel become excited and are motivated to take action. His mercy creates three outcomes: God sets himself apart by his holiness, nations shall know him, and the Israelites shall be separated from their sin. The act of his name being profaned prompted his sanctification. In verse 23, the passage states, “And I will sanctify My great name” and “the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes”. The word, hallow means “to be rendered and regarded as holy”. The book of Ezekiel uses the verb, hallow fifteen times. In addition, the book renders the verb more than any other books of the Major Prophets. Ezekiel usage of the verb identifies the sanctification of Yahweh in the form of his supremacy, glory, power, and sovereignty. Therefore in verse 23, God states that he will make his name holy, and nations will know his sovereignty, when the Israelites render and regard him as holy. In Ezekiel 36: 22-27, the act of God’s name being profaned prompted his sanctification. God’s actions remain relevant for today’s Christians. God is provoked and highly irritated by the profaneness of his name. Despite this disregard for God’s holiness, God provides redemption or removal of sins through his son, Jesus. In this redemption, God reflects his righteousness and holiness in our lives. Therefore, Christians possess the ability to reflect God in our lives by being set apart from sin. Our lives should reflect the holiness of God through Christ. For this reason, we possess assurance that holiness is accessible in our lives through God and his son. This holiness allows us to boast and praise his Great name!

Tags: God, hallowed thy name, praise