יחזקאל, פרק ל״ו, פסוק כ״א

The promise of redemption often seems like a reward for a reformed people, but the reality of the future salvation operates on a different principle. God's decision to rescue His people does not stem from the good deeds of the generation being saved. Instead, it is driven by a divine need to protect His own honor and holiness. During the long exile of the Israelites, God's reputation suffered greatly among the nations of the world, and the primary purpose of the redemption is to repair this damage.

To achieve this, God extends deep compassion and kindness toward the Israelites [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While this mercy is directly focused on the people, its ultimate goal is to defend His holy name, ensuring that it is no longer disgraced among the surrounding nations [צאינה וראינה].

Commentators offer different perspectives on exactly how the Israelites brought about this disgrace. One approach suggests a direct connection: the people engaged in bad deeds, which forced God to punish them repeatedly. These ongoing punishments, in turn, caused His name to be constantly degraded [מלבי״ם]. Another perspective views the Israelites as an indirect cause [מצודת דוד]. The sheer reality of their exile and their scattered presence among foreign nations was enough to perpetuate the disgrace. They were the underlying reason for the disrespect, even if they were not actively committing new wrongs at the time [אברבנאל].

Ultimately, the future redemption will not happen because the Israelites have earned it through their actions, but strictly for the sake of God's name. By bringing the Israelites out of exile and gathering them back to their own land, God will restore the honor of His name. Though inherently great and awesome, His name has been lowered by the exile, and this act of returning the people will make it holy once again in the eyes of the world [אברבנאל].