Take God Seriously
Remember as we consider the third commandment that the Ten Commandments are given to Moses after God has delivered the people from slavery in Egypt in a remarkable way. The God of the Exodus is not to be trivialized, trifled with or tamed. God is not to be taken lightly but demands to be taken very seriously. This is especially true of the use of God’s name. In Exodus 3:6, God reveals himself to Moses saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then in Exodus 3:14 God says to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.”a To make sure they didn’t break the third commandment regarding God’s name, the Jews never pronounced the name of Yahweh and replaced it with the expression “the Lord,” a tradition that has largely continued in the church and in English.
March 27, 2011
Exodus 20:7, Matthew 5:33-37, Take God Seriously
Douglas Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church
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The third commandment says (Exodus 20:7), “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”
A literal translation of this commandment reads, “You shall not lift up the name of the Lord your God to emptiness because God will not hold guiltless the one who lifts up his name to emptiness.” We are to treat God’s name with the weight and respect it deserves. This is a commandment that is frequently broken. Yesterday I saw a CNN story from London that “OMG!” is no longer a just a teenage expression, but officially a word found in the dictionary. An abbreviation taking the Lord’s name in vain by using it flippantly and without thought is now formally recognized by the Oxford English Dictionary, one of the world’s principal English-language dictionaries.
The third commandment is often misunderstood by folks who think it primarily means no swearing or vulgar or bad language. I was in the locker room at Willy’s Gym last week and a guy was apologizing to me because he had said something to me the day before by mistake because from a distance in the gym he thought I was someone else. Another man said to him, “Do you know Doug? He is the pastor of the Brewster Baptist Church.” The guy looked surprised and the first thing he said he was, “I’m glad I didn’t swear.”
Why did he say that? Why do people often apologize to me if they swear in front of me or if they use God’s name inappropriately?
More is at stake with the third commandment than not cursing or using obscenities, although I do recommend not cursing and swearing. I have been guilty of doing that myself at times, however, I always try to remember that swearing with the same few short words used by so many people and in the movies is a reflection of a lack of imagination and intelligence. Where did the habit of using God’s name or Jesus Christ as an expletive, a curse, or a swear come from? Somewhere deep I suppose. Why don’t people say, “Buddha!” when they hit their finger with a hammer? Maybe they do in the Far East, I don’t know. I don’t mean to offend anyone in saying this but we do well to remember that God’s last name isn’t “damn it.” (If something has happened to cause us to say that, perhaps God already has, but that’s beside the point.) We shouldn’t say, “Jesus Christ!” when something goes badly or we’re mad as if it is Jesus’ fault and not our own or something beyond our control.
The Israelites had awe and reverence for the name of God. The name of God represents the nature of God. To dishonour the name is to dishonour God. The divine name is not to be lifted up for any frivolous or malicious purpose or as if it is magic. God is to obeyed, not controlled. Behind this commandment is the idea that a name is part of the being who bears it, and that the bearer of the name is present in some mysterious way in the name. So anyone who knows divine name can make use of the divine power in the name to bless or to curse.
In Genesis 32:26b-29 Jacob is wrestling with an unknown adversary, “Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,c for you have striven with God and with humans,d and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.”
In the world of the Bible your name expressed who you were and what you stood for. Throughout the Old Testament we see God acting powerfully for the sake of the Divine name. We also read repeatedly of God’s anger and judgment on those who disgrace God’s name. The words of the prophets are full of God’s anger toward those who misuse God’s name. The books of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah are loaded with dozens and dozens of verses of condemnation for prophets and priests and people who claim to speak for God while ignoring God’s commands, disregarding the needs of the poor, the widows, and the orphans while indulging themselves, committing injustice, adultery and idolatry with other gods. For example, Jeremiah 14:14 says, “And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.”
According to God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, the destruction of the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem was in part due to the failure of the people to honor God in their speech and in their actions. Isaiah put it this way, (Isaiah 29:13-14a), “The Lord said: Because these people draw near with their mouths and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me,
and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote; so I will again do amazing things with this people, shocking and amazing.”
The shocking and amazing things the Lord refers to here are not good things – the first half of Isaiah 29 is about the siege of Jerusalem.
The last Old Testament book, Malachi, opens with God saying plaintively (Malachi 1:6-11), “A son honors his father, and servants their master. If then I am a father, where is the honor due me? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. You say, “How have we despised your name?” 7 By offering polluted food on my altar. And you say, “How have we polluted it?” By thinking that the Lord’s table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not wrong? Try presenting that to your governor; will he be pleased with you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now implore the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. The fault is yours. Will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh, that someone among you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.”
So, what’s the big deal about taking God’s name lightly? In the context of the Ten Commandments, God was giving special instructions on how to live a righteous and holy lifestyle. This holy lifestyle was not just to be different from their neighbors, but it was to show the world that a relationship with a holy God was possible, dynamic, and permeated all aspects of one’s life. God had a special covenant relationship with the people of Israel. Yahweh gave them hope and a special identity. That was something to be taken seriously, honored, and protected.
As followers of Jesus, we are in a covenant relationship with God through Jesus Christ. He’s given us hope and a special identity, and that is something to be taken seriously, honored, and protected. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, the very first phrase, the first thing we are to pray for and strive for is to treat God’s name with the weight and respect it deserves. “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Every time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we’re reminded of the importance of the Third Commandment, even if we haven’t realized it before.
In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:33-37) Jesus also touched on the idea of swearing to God or anything else in the vain attempt to give our words more significance. “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.”
Jesus encourages us to use plain, simple speech to avoid using the Lord’s name or heaven or a “stack of Bibles” or anything else to try and give our words more weight or to justify what we’re saying. Not only is there power in Jesus’ words, the New Testament is clear that there is power in the name of Jesus. Some individuals are able to prophesy, cast out demons, and do deeds of power in Jesus’ name even though Jesus calls them evildoers and tells them to get lost because he never knew them (Matthew 7:22-23). More positively, Jesus said (Matthew 18:20), “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” When we invite Jesus into our midst even in small groups, he promises to be present with us.
During his final week the people cry out as Jesus enters Jerusalem (Matthew 21:9), “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Jesus warns that after he has gone false teachers will come claiming his name and warns us not to listen to them (Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6). The Gospels also state there will be times of persecution when Jesus’ followers will be hated because they bear his name (Matthew 24:9; Mark 13:13; Luke 21:17).
The name of Jesus is important and it has significant consequences.
We are to pray in Jesus’ name (John 14:13-14), “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask for anything, I will do it.”
In Acts 2:21 we learn that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Peter concludes his message with the words (Acts 2:38), “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Colossians 3:17 tells us plainly we are to honor God in every aspect of our life, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
While we are not facing persecution and the threat of death like some of the believers to whom the Book of Revelation was addressed, in challenging times, we also want to be “holding fast” to Jesus’ name (Revelation 2:13).
One of my favorite American 19th century authors Henry David Thoreau wrote, “A name pronounced is the recognition of the individual to whom it belongs. He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.” There is a sense in which this is what God and Jesus are saying to us, “He who can pronounce my name aright, he can call me, and is entitled to my love and service.” Who is this Jesus Christ, whose name is used so glibly sometimes by us and in our culture? Jesus is the One who can forgive all our sins, wipe away our guilt, heal our hearts deepest hurts, and restore our dignity. The name Jesus means Saviour. The name of Jesus carries power. The 20th chapter of John (20:31) concludes with the summary statement: “But these (things) are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
Jesus is the so that can understand
Bread of Life Bakers
Water of Life Plumbers
Light of the World Electricians
Cornerstone Architects
Sun of Righteousness Astronomers
Hidden Treasure Bankers
Life Biologists
Door Carpenters
Great Physician Doctors/Nurses
Teacher Educators
Lily of the Valley Florists
Rock of Ages Geologists
True Vine Horticulturalists
Righteous One Judges
Pearl of Great Price Jewelers
Wisdom Philosophers
Word Actors
Good Shepherd Farmers
Alpha & Omega Scientists
Way Traffic Cops
Truth Politicians
In Acts 4:12, Peter says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
Paul tells us in Romans 10:13, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” That is what is called a conditional promise. You do your part and God says, “I will do my part.” God says I will rescue you if you will believe in my name.
The Book of Revelation says when a person receives Jesus Christ as Saviour their name becomes eternal – it is written down in the book of Life.
Response
- Do you need to call on the Name of Jesus?
- Do you want to have a relationship with Jesus – the Son of God?
- Have you misused God’s name to insult, indulge yourself or intimidate?
- Are you willing to become more respectful in the way you speak the holy name of God?
- Is there a gap between your belief and your behaviour?
We need to keep on going to Jesus. Like pianos, we need frequent tuning.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ. I know that taking your Name in vain is an issue of the heart. Cleanse me I pray from the inside out. Create in me a clean heart and touch my lips. Fill me with the presence of your Holy Spirit.
Lord Jesus, please guard my mouth that I may never take you for granted or speak of you in a foolish way. Help me to honour you in my thoughts, words and deeds. We ask this in your Name, Amen.