For the Sake of My Name

There is a reason why God gave prophecy. There is a purpose behind YHWH sending men to share His message of what was to come long before it happened. Because of His mighty power and sovereignty over all time and creation, He foreknew what would happen with every nation, but especially within Israel. So He spoke and foretold His actions, ensuring they were written down generations before He acted.

’Hear this, O house of Jacob, who are named Israel and who came forth from the loins of Judah, who swear by the Name of YHWH and invoke the God of Israel, but not in truth nor in righteousness. For they call themselves after the Hoky City, and lean on the God of Israel; YHWH of Hosts is His Name. I declared the former things long ago and they went forth out of My mouth, and I proclaimed them. Suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. Because I know that you are obstinate, and your neck is like an iron sinew, and your forehead bronze, therefore I declared them to you long ago, before they took place I proclaimed them to you. Least you should say, ‘My idol has done them, and my graven image have commanded them.’ You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it?’

God was instructing Israel and Judah that He had already told them about the exile by Assyria long before through Moses. They could not state that they did not know the outcome of their idolatry would lead to removal from the land by their enemies. And the future destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was foretold to Solomon when it was built, a warning given that they should continue to be faithful to the LORD. But they had turned to idols. God knew they would. Moses even warned them that he knew they would. And so they did, and they Word of the LORD was being fulfilled in their presence as God was raising up Babylon to take down Assyria and to remove them also.

Prophecy is God telling us what will happen, so that when it happens we will believe Him. It is God telling us things that will take place so that we do not ascribe the events to idols or other causes. God gives fair warning, long before it occurs, giving time to repent, and leaves mankind with no excuses when it all comes crashing down. We will know exactly why it happened because God already told us why and how. Israel would have attributed the events to their idols had not God acted long before and then brought those things about in His time. And so would every other nation. But so that they entire world would know that the God of Israel, YHWH Himself, is the Only True God, He has told us the end from the beginning. Demonic idols cannot foretell the future events God has arranged by His sovereignty. 

Not only did God foretell of events that would take place long before they took place, He then does something for Judah that they did not expect. He had fulfilled His warnings through Moses. Now He would tell them of new things to come, hidden things they did not know about, things created that very day. He would do that so they could not say they knew about it. God declared it this way, ‘You have not heard, you have not known, even from long ago your ear has not been open. Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; and you have been called a rebel from birth.’ God knew Israel would be the most rebellious of nations long before He chose them. 

‘For the sake of My Name I delay My wrath. And for My praise I restrain it for you, in order to not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in yr furnace of affliction. For My Own sake, for My Own sake, I will act. For how can My Name be profaned and My glory I will not give to another.’ God is so invested in Israel that He has literally moved heaven and earth to deliver them. He personally came down and dwelt among them, and allowed Himself to be crucified and sacrificed by them to atone for sins. He rose again after conquering Death and Hades, and stands sovereign over all of history. He will not give His glory to any other. He will crush all false gods and all nations as He reveals Himself as the only God and Savior. The nations - and Israel - may rage against Him, but none shall prevail.

’Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I Am, I Am the First, I Am last the Last. Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together. Assemble! All of you and Listen! Who among them has declared these things? YHWH loves him, He shall carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, and His arm on the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken, indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful. Come near to Me, listen to this; from the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there, and now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.’

This last section hints at what God would do next. Judah would see God raise up the Babylonians to remove Judah and the Temple. They would also see God destroy them after a short period of time. Then God would deliver His people and they would return to the land once again. They would leave their exile with singing and praise for God as He fulfilled His Word. They would shout for joy, ‘The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!’ He would lead them back just as He led them out of Egypt. Had they but listened to God in the first place, they would have been blessed. Their descendants would not have been cut off. The Temple would not have been destroyed. But God would redeem them once again. And they would see it happen. God would receive the praise for it.

But that is not all the LORD told them. He also foretold the coming of His Redeemer. The LORD loves Him, He called Him forth. God would bring about the Redeemer and He would be successful in all His ways. The Lord GOD would send Himself, and His Spirit, to redeem Israel and the world from their sins. YHWH, the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel declared this and it would come to pass as Jesus came to redeem His people. 

God is so good to tell us the end from the beginning. His Word will always be fulfilled exactly like He said it would, so that it cannot be attributed to any other but God Himself.