Fighting In Behalf Of His Name

Because Jehovah is holy, his name is holy. (Leviticus 22:32) Jesus taught his disciples to pray: "Let your name be sanctified." (Matthew 6:9) The rebellion in Eden profaned God's name, calling into question God's reputation and way of ruling. Jehovah could never condone such slander and rebellion. He was obliged to clear his name of reproach. -Isaiah 48:11.

Consider, again, the Israelites. As long as they were slaves in Egypt, God's promise to Abraham that by means of his Seed all the families of the earth would bless themselves seemed empty. But by delivering them and establishing them as a nation, Jehovah cleared his name of reproach. The prophet Daniel thus recalled in prayer: "O Jehovah our God, you . . .brought your people out from the land of Egypt by a strong hand and proceeded to make a name for yourself." -Daniel 9:15.

Interestingly, Daniel prayed this way at a time when the Jews needed Jehovah to act once again for the sake of his name. The disobedient Jews found themselves in captivity, this time in Babylon. Their own capital city, Jerusalem, lay in ruins. Daniel knew that restoring the Jews to their homeland would magnify Jehovah's name. Daniel thus prayed: "O Jehovah, do forgive. O Jehovah, do pay attention and act. Do not delay, for your own sake, O my God, for your own name has been called upon your city and upon your people." -Daniel 9:18, 19.

Next time: Fighting In Behalf Of His People

Draw Close To Jehovah, 2002