“Though our iniquities testify against us,How can Israel appeal to the honor of Yahweh’s namesake to forgive their sin when the essence of their sin is the dishonoring of his namesake?
Act, O LORD, for your name’s sake” (Jeremiah 14:7)
“We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD,
And the iniquity of our fathers,
For we have sinned against you.
Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
Do not dishonor your glorious throne” (Jeremiah 14:20-21)
…Romans 3:25-26
Good linkage of the Romans passage to these verses in Jeremiah.
ReplyDeleteWill be curious to see how people respond.
I would say two reasons:
ReplyDelete1. God promised Abraham to multiply and propagate his seed (Gen 15:5-ff).
2. Israel was God's chosen people, by grace (Deut 7:7).
So when Israel appeals to God's namesake to "not spurn" them or "act," they are essentially asking God to honor his previous promises. It's basically what Moses did in Exo 32:11-14 when he appealed to God's "reputation" and his promises to Abraham as the basis for not wiping out the Israelites.
So, yes, the essence of their sin dishonors his namesake -- but God graciously promised to establish them despite this. And it's that promise they are appealing to.
My dos cents.
Tom