Are you taking the Lord’s name in vain?

The fight in the camp had been allowed to happen, but when Shelomith’s son blasphemed God, even the stubborn hearts of Israel were so shocked that the fight immediately stopped, and they brought the man to Moses. Blasphemy is a serious sin. It is damaging against God. It is maligning His Holy Name. It is using His beautiful name as an exclamation or without purpose.

A name was not simply a label for a person. Names were chosen carefully, they meant something. Names were the symbolic representation of the person and his character. God’s name is Holy.

Blasphemy was indicative of dishonor and defiance toward God, and its penalty was death by stoning. This penalty may seem severe to us, but it was no doubt a deterrent. Moses had so much respect, reverence, and deep affection for God and His name, that this punishment was not considered extreme at all.

The third of The Ten Commandments states, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Blasphemy is certainly taking the Lord’s name in vain. Though that is certainly inappropriate and showing the utmost disrespect for Him, that is not all that is meant by this command. Most people think cursing is using dirty language. In the Bible, to “abuse the Name of God by cursing” is to speak blasphemy against God. Blasphemy, at its root, is to speak sacrilegiously against God, to treat him inappropriately or falsely.

Another way we can take His name in vain is to use it casually in phrases such as "Oh, my God!" or "Jesus!" Even phrases like "Thank God" or "Praise the Lord" are often used in a less than sincere and reverent manner. These types of phrases are commonly used in daily speech without really giving any thought to God. We can also take God's name in vain when we use it to swear an oath such as "I swear to God." If we lie or do not follow through on the oath, we have taken His name in vain.

But as bad as all these misuses of the Lord's name are, there is still an even more serious way in which we can take His name in vain. The wrong use of the Lord’s name, the one the Bible warns against, is using God’s name for evil. Doing that would require much more intent, effort, and indicate that we do not have the right relationship with God.

As believers, we can’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit. But we, by our careless words and actions can cause others to blaspheme Him. We represent Jesus, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are chosen by the Father. When we cause someone to hate God, we cause them to blaspheme Him. When we cause someone to hate God, they may just reject Him completely and blaspheme the Holy Spirit who has been calling them, tugging on their hearts to come to know Him.

A few examples of situations where someone could be said to be misusing God’s name are: Anyone who claims to speak for or know the mind of God, or who claims to be an earthly representative of God’s exact truth. A man who goes to church and professes Christ but is physically or emotionally abusive to his family at home. This is particularly shocking if he uses the Bible to justify his behavior. Anyone who quotes the Bible out of context to justify a sinful choice. Promising before God, or just based on one’s Christian faith, to uphold a promise, and then intentionally violating said promise.

Be careful of what you say.

Application Questions:

1. Why did God consider cursing and blaspheming such serious offenses?

2.What is God's name worth to you? How does the value of God's name change the way you live today?

Quote:

There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express. - Billy Sunday

Prayer:

Lord, I thank You that Your name is above all names. Help me never to misuse Your name but to represent Your name in this world. Amen.