The Lord's name, that is, his reputation, was directly connected to Israel, and especially to Jerusalem, where God had chosen to put his name (1 Kings 11:36). God’s glory was reflected in Israel’s glory (1 Chronicles 17:21), and in the glory of Jerusalem (Psalm 48). When Israel walked in faithfulness to God, as during the reign of King David and King Solomon, God glorified Israel, causing the nations to glorify the God of Israel (2 Chronicles 9:8).
However, when Israel was unfaithful, the glory of God departed from Israel, and Israel brought great shame upon itself (Hosea 4:7). But by doing so, Israel also brought shame on God’s name. The nations saw Israel’s ignominy, and they blasphemed the name of the Lord (Ezekiel 36:20–22).
At the time of our text, God graciously brought a remnant back from exile. But they despised God’s name (Malachi 1:6) through their disobedience. This had a twofold result. Israel was not glorified by the Lord, and the Lord’s name was not glorified among the nations.
But the Lord declares in our text that this would change in the future. The time was coming when God would raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old
(Amos 9:11). God would glorify Israel (Ezekiel 36:36, Jeremiah 33:9). As a result, the Gentile nations would again glorify the Lord God of Israel.
11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.