Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ezekiel 36:16-20

"Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity. Wherefore I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood which they had poured out upon the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols; and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they came unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Jehovah, and are gone forth out of his land." — Ezekiel 36:16-20 (ASV)

Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it: And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.

And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.

All through Scripture we are told that God has great regard to the honour of His holy name. The Lord thy God is a jealous God.

And this is no small blessing to us, for it has so happened that, when there has been no other reason for mercy, God's regard to His own name has found Him a reason for dealing mercifully with His unbelieving, undeserving people. See how He had scattered His chosen people; He had sent them away into captivity, justly, on account of their sins. But it happened that wherever they went, whether it was into Persia or Babylonia, the people said, "These are Jehovah's people; these are Jehovah's people; and they are gone forth out of His land." What was the consequence of this?