The Ten Commandments, Part 3
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” (Exodus 20:7 NIV) “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7 KJV) I’d say most probably believe that means using His name as a cuss word. While that’s true, it’s only a fraction of the truth. When we say, “I am a Christian,” and act no differently than those who are not Christians, we misuse the name of the Lord our God. It is an affront to God and will not go unpunished.
Taking His name in vain is using it in a trivial or worthless purpose. God’s name is too holy to use in a common manner. His name should never be placed on the same level as other names. Are we following Him, or are we here hoping for a free ride? Are we being productive in His work? Is our faith as useless as we deem His name to be by our treatment of it? Do you get cold thinking about the Lord rewarding you in the same manner which you have treated His name? Or do you place as high a value on the Lord as He does on us?
‘Damning’ other people is one of the most common ways God’s title is misused. Judgment is coming. It is not God’s wish that anyone should perish as noted in 2 Peter 3:9 and Ezekiel 33:11. We are not above God. We have no right to order Him to ‘damn’ someone else.
Do you remember when you were a young child and classmates used your name to make fun of you? They rhymed your name with an unpleasant word, purposely mispronounced it, or used a mocking tone of voice. Do you remember? No matter how old we are, we never seem to be able to completely forget those childhood taunts. Have we been taunting God? Who are we? Are we more powerful than He? Have we lost the fear/respect that is necessary to love our Creator?
There’s a lot in a name. Names identify who we are. Taking God’s name in vain/misuse by using it irreverently, casually, or profanely, displays our attitude toward Him. It tells Him that we do not respect or love Him. Names have a meaning and a purpose in the Bible. For example Abram’s name, which meant ‘exalted father,’ was changed to Abraham, which meant ‘father of a great multitude.’ So many of the Hebrew names were a direct representation of what that person or entity was. English names do not reveal the specific functions of God, as do the Hebrew names; nevertheless, they do disclose His Divinity and Power.
The Hebraic/Biblical names of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and their meanings are: Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) means ‘the sacred breath of life from Yehovah’. Yehoshuah (Jesus) means ‘Salvation of Yehovah.’ Yehovah (God) means the ‘Absolute Ultimate Eternal, I AM that I AM.’
The Hebrew word ‘shav’ is translated as vain/misuse in most translations but it can also mean false. For example, if I were to call you Zeus, this would offend you because it would be misusing your name…completely. The same applies to the name Jesus. God’s Son was Hebrew. He spoke Hebrew. His mother and Yoseph (Joseph) were Hebrew. There is no ‘J’ in Hebrew. Although we know He was never called Jesus while He walked here on earth people still call Him that. His name is Yehoshuah. The same applies to others throughout history as well; however, Satan’s name we hold sacred, as it has never changed nor been taken vainly or lightly. I use the English names only because many Christians do not know of the Hebrew names. It is my hope and prayer that people will see and worship His holy name in the light of truth. (We do not need to call on His exact name as I have seen many wonders performed in the name of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. God hears our heart… far more than our tongue).
There is no one that would do for me what Yehoshuah (Jesus) did. No one. No one would be accused, beaten, whipped, spit upon, drag a cross through streets of hatred, and die to save my life. Thank Yehovah (God) for the unequaled love He showed for a sinner like me…like you. We would do good to honor His name. What is His name? His name is I AM…not I was or I will be, but I AM! I AM is worthy to be exalted, I AM is worthy of praise, I AM desires you, I AM, the name above all names, deserves the most love we can show.
“They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.” (Psalms 139:20) Adversaries misuse His name! Jesus gave a clear example of how God’s name is misused in Matthew 15:8-9. Let us be on guard that we not become the King’s adversaries.
Then, there is the matter of using the Lord’s name in oaths for the purpose of backing up one’s word, perhaps in a court of law. One should never swear in a court of law. Simply say, ‘I affirm.’ (Matthew 5:33-37, James 5:12, and Leviticus 19:12) Your word given is that of a Christian. Keep it!
Titles such as ‘Holy,’ ‘Father,’ and ‘Reverend’ do not belong to any man. They belong to God alone and should not be titles of men. (Matthew 23:7-10) God’s name can also be misused by constantly repeating it over and over in religious services. (Matthew 6:7-8) How serious is the misuse of God’s name? Well, in Leviticus 24:16 we see that during Old Testament times, to take God’s name in vain was a capital offense; in other words…offenders were executed. Is the justice of God any less today? Read and see in Hebrews 10:28-31. We need to think seriously about this sin and make every effort not to be guilty of it ourselves! Lest we hurt the One who loved us first.