Sovereignty of God and the Nations

God of Ezekiel Judge and Forgiver

Acts with unrelenting anger against rebellious and sinful people and cannot
be swayed by any appeal (Ezk 14:12-23)
• Even prophets must suffering alongside the people
• Although have seen intimations of God suffering alongside his people
also
He longs to forgive and has the power to do so
• Ezekiel claims that one day he will restore and forgive because it is his
nature to do so

Key Terms
• I am Yahweh
• Then you will know that I am Yahweh
• For the sake of my holy name
• Son of man (perhaps) reminds Ezekiel and readers of radical
different between humanity and God

God’s Holy Name

- Key terms
o For the sake of my holy name motive for God’s actions
o Profane my holy name God’s name vunerable to human
activity

- Name in OT one’s character, essential nature

o God has associated himself with people who bear his name
but who also take his name in vain and bring shame upon it
because of their behaviour
Being the people of God calls for lives that reflect the
true character of God
Accepting responsibility for their situation crucial in
exile enables them to recognise their unique role
as Yahweh’s people
o So name is also reputation God is concerned that his
name has been profaned amongst the nations
o God is concerned that his true character be known amongst
all

- “Then they will know that I am Yahweh” why not simply “then they
 will know me?”
o “I am Yahweh” in OT is a form of self introduction by one
who cannot be found by human means but who announces
his own presence
Ex. 6:2 God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD.
o His presence necessitates recognition and obedience
o But it is just a name nothing about God can be learnt from
his name itself
Just a way to address and identify God
Therefore one does not know Yahweh but knows that
‘I am Yahweh’

One knows Yahweh in terms of his character through the actions and
behaviour of the people he has identified himself with. Yahweh is concerned
for his name because the people who are meant to be reflecting his true
character are instead profaning it and therefore profaning his name.

Yahweh & The Nations

- The nations have learnt about Yahweh from his people, but what they
have learnt is false profaning God’s name
- Introduces new understanding between Israel and nations and
between Yahweh and the nations
o Like concentric circles
Jerusalem at the centre of the nations
Ezek. 5:5 ¶ “Thus says the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem. I
have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all
around her.

o Nations are witness to Israel’s rebellion, their distress and

finally the truth about Yahweh as they are restored
Ezek. 5:6 And she has rebelled against my rules by doing
wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes
more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected
my rules and have not walked in my statutes.
Ezek. 36:20-21 But when they came to the nations, wherever
they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of
them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to
go out of his land.’ But I had concern for my holy name, which
the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which
they came.
Ezek. 36:36 Then the nations that are left all around you shall
know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and
replanted that which was desolate. I am the LORD; I have
spoken, and I will do it.

o Ezk shows that Yahweh will no longer be the anonymous

sovereign of the nations (as in previous prophetic books) for
they will know him when they see what he does to and for
Israel
o Ezk also shows that Yahweh has power over the nations and
will vindicate his name no matter what threat may come from
human sources
Ezkiel uses rich mythological themes to speak of
power and wealth of nations’ kinds but the destroys
the orginal meaning of the myth by announcing the
future death of these kings
• Draws a line between humanity and diety
• Reveals folly of the state who tries to deify
itself in the face of Yahweh being the only God
• End of each story is death- final proof the kinds
were not gods after all