Now today’s Text is a little longer. You might skip this Lesson (if you’re in a big hurry or only a casual student) … but you will be robbing yourself of a great truth! Or so I think …

“20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:20-27

When Israel began to live in Gentile environments, they essentially “backslid” on God. (An expression only found around two dozen times in the entire Old Testament. Not once in the New Testament!)

They began to live like the “heathen” among whom they had settled. And in so doing, from God’s Perspective, they “profaned” His name. The verb is “chalal,” meaning “to pollute” 23 times in the Bible. Other definitions: “to desecrate, to violate honor, to make common.”

It’s not just all the bad things they did … they “hurt” God’s Reputation, “belittled” His great Name!

Remember: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

Now verse 21 of our Text is amazing: “But I (the Lord) had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.”

So God is going to do something about His Name being “dragged through the mud,” so to speak.

He is going to “change” Israel’s heart.

Here’s God’s Plan, for starters … 22 “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified IN YOU before their eyes. 24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.” Ezekiel 36:22-24

Israel, regathered in her Land, in the “Holy Land.” (We are seeing this being partially fulfilled right now. And have been since Israel became a Nation again, since 1948!)

The Lord sanctified (made Holy, “un-profaned”) “IN YOU,” Israel! (Israel some day will believe in Jesus!)

A salvation described like this in our Text: “25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Wow!

Is this the “water” of the Word, Ephesians 5:26?

Is this the “water” of the Holy Spirit, John 7:38?

Genuine conversion, followed by lives of obedience!

Why this earth-shaking Program?

Primarily for God’s NAME to be glorified, sanctified, uplifted, realized!

Secondarily, that the lost world too may KNOW this great Lord God Almighty!

What a Revelation!

What I have learned this morning … afresh and anew how much God expects HONOR for His name!

And rightly so …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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