Ezekiel 36:23
I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Sovereign Lord, when I am proved holy through you before their eyes.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth," (Isaiah 40:28). He is in control of all things (Daniel 4:35), and is before all things (Isaiah 43:10). When He makes a promise, He seals that promise by Himself, "since there is no one greater for Him to swear by," (Hebrews 6:13). There is no power or person on earth who can match up to God, for "before Him all the nations are as nothing," (Isaiah 40:17). God is the greatest, and He is zealous for this reputation (Exodus 34:14). He will not let His name or likeness be tarnished, even though people attempt to do this everyday. They try to demean God, saying, "God is not good," or mock Him, saying, "God is a joke." They may also try to defame Him, saying, "God is not worthy of worship, but I am. I am above God." In response to this, God promises, "I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations," and "the nations will know that I am the Lord," (Ezekiel 36:23).
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| When God is equated to something or someone that is lesser than Him, it makes a mockery of God. "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows," (Galatians 6:7). |
For My own name’s sake I delay My wrath;
for the sake of My praise I hold it back from you,
so as not to destroy you completely.
See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
For My own sake, for My own sake, I do this.
How can I let Myself be defamed?
I will not yield My glory to another.
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| God is above all creation, and "in Him all things hold together," (Colossians 1:17). "Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,"(Psalm 113:5). |
It not only matters how people respond to God, but it especially matters how the world's leaders respond to Him. This was shown during the time of the prophets, written in the books of Isaiah through Malachi.
At this time, God had His prophets write down His words. One of these prophets gave a scroll of God's words to Jehoiakim the king of Judah. When Jehoiakim read this scroll, he burned it up. To this, God responded, "I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness," (Jeremiah 36:31). God even sent His prophets to the rulers of ungodly nations. The Lord sent the prophet Jeremiah to the kings of the middle east, asking them if they would obey God (Jeremiah 25:15-26). When these kings refused, the Lord said, "You will not go unpunished," (Jeremiah 25:29).
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| Stone etching of king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon |
God rebukes the rulers who attempt to defame Him, but just as with everyone else God also longs to show them grace. To king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who worshiped his own might and glory (Daniel 4:30), God made him "live with the wild animals," and "eat grass like an ox" for seven years (Daniel 4:32). After this time passed, Nebuchadnezzar "raised his eyes toward heaven, and his sanity was restored. Then he praised the Most High," (Daniel 4:34). Afterwards, God restored Nebuchadnezzar "to his throne and he became even greater than before," (Daniel 4:36). Because of this, Nebuchadnezzar "praised and exalted and glorified the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to humble," (Daniel 4:37).
God is still concerned with how the world's rulers speak of Him, and today's rulers appear to say an awful lot about God. Consider how in recent news two of the United States' leaders addressed God concerning their current situations.
When presidential nominee Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on his life, he made some comments on this event. Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Trump said, "I’m not supposed to be here tonight," and "I’ll tell you. I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of almighty God." The Bible says, "all the days ordained for me were written in God's book before one of them came to be," (Psalm 139:16) and not even a sparrow "falls to the ground outside your Father’s care," (Matthew 10:29). It is also true that all men deserve to die for their sins (Romans 1:32, 3:23). No one should be spared, but God in His grace is able to save anyone (Ephesians 2:4-5). Based on its context and taken at its word, Trump's statement on God's grace is an overall accurate one.
In other news, former presidential nominee Joe Biden was asked if he was planning on stepping down from reelection. Biden responded to ABC news, "If the Lord almighty came out to say 'Joe get out of the race' I'll get out of the race. The Lord almighty's not coming down." The Bible says, "A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign" (Matthew 16:4), so Biden's demand for a sign is something God denounces. Biden's comment also positions God in a place where He has to come down and answer to Biden. It portrays God telling Biden what to do, rather than Biden seeking the wisdom of the "wonderful counselor," (Isaiah 9:6). Furthermore, Biden did step down, but in his official statement he made no mention of receiving God's word or praying about his decision.
While these news stories may only be two brief instances in world history, they juxtapose how world leaders can address God. They can choose to yield glory to Him or they can try to steal some of God's glory for themselves.
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| George Washington, the first leader of the United States, reportedly prayed to God everyday, and requested that the nation, "most humbly offer prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions," as well as "render unto Him our sincere and humble thanks—for His kind care and protection of the people of this country." |
What the nations' rulers say of God is just as important as what anyone says about God. This is because everyone who lived will at some point have to "give an account of themselves to God," (Romans 14:12). They will have to justify all their words, or fall on the mercy of the name "above every name," (Philippians 2:9). The angels say of God, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory," (Isaiah 6:3). Right now, God is keeping the fullness of His glory hidden, but one day all the earth will see Him as He truly is. On that day "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," (Philippians 2:10-11).
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| Remember, God has said of all the nations, "By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before Me every knee will bow; by Me every tongue will swear," (Isaiah 45:23). |
Sources
- The Bible (New International Version)
- Living Waters: Biden causes Blasphemy (inspired by)
- George Washington: Thanksgiving Proclamation and Prayer