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The sins of Israel, as well as the resulting punishment of exile, have negatively affected God’s reputation among the nations.
God is therefore acting to restore Israel, not because they deserve it, but because of his holy name.
God will again reveal the holiness of his name through Israel, and the nations will know that Israel’s God is the true God.
This restoration will involve return from exile, cleansing from sin, renewal of heart, and enablement by God’s Spirit to live God’s way.
They will be God’s people, and Yahweh will be their God.
God will cleanse their filthy behavior, give them bountiful harvests, end famines on the land, repopulate the cities, and rebuild the ruins.
And when they remember their past sins, they will despise themselves for all the detestable things they did.
The second lesson introduces Paul's ministry in Ephesus.
When Paul arrived, he met some disciples who had insufficient knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah and had not yet experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
They have not even heard of the Holy Spirit, but have done water baptism for repentance.
Paul reminded them of John the Baptist's statements that Jesus would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Paul placed his hands on these men, and the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
Then Paul entered the synagogue and preached boldly for three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God.
But Paul was eventually forced out of preaching at the synagogue by some stubborn people who rejected his message.
So, Paul took the believers with him and began a daily discussion session at the hall of Tyrannus, and this went on for two years.
By this, the people throughout the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.