Ten Commandments Part 7
The 2nd
Commandment (Protestant 3rd) “You shall not take the name of the
LORD your God in vain.”
Speech is at the
heart of this commandment. It forbids
the abuse or misuse of God’s name. God
desires that we don’t speak his name carelessly. We are to avoid cursing, swearing and lying
by his name (Leviticus 19:12). We are
not to use God to make false oaths. We
are to avoid blasphemy. In terms of this
commandment blasphemy can be defined as uttering words of hatred towards God,
defying him and reproaching him, or speaking ill of him. This is a grave sin, as Jesus points out in
Matthew 12:31-32.
This
commandment prescribes respect for God’s name.
People in the ancient world believed that there was a magical power in a
name. To possess the real name or to
give something a name was to control it.
Adam is given the task of naming the animals (Genesis 2:19). Jacob, in his wrestling with the angel, asks
for his name (Genesis 32:26-29). The
angel refuses, instead giving Jacob a new name–the name Israel. How we respect God’s name is a measure of how
we respect him. Do we honor or despise
him?
We are not to use God’s name in a
careless or trivial way. It is more than
just about profanity. It is more like a
warning at a power plant. “Warning. High
Voltage!” We are warned not attempt to
use the power of God’s name for our own purposes. How many times have we said things like “God
is my witness” or “so help me God?” They
are attempts to control God and get him on our side. But God is not a God who can be controlled or
used to our advantage.
Such words also
imply that our word is not good enough. By
invoking God’s name we try to add legitimacy to what we say. A youth pastor, talking about this says “You should live with such high integrity that your word
doesn’t need attachments to make it legitimate.”[1]
The
literal translation of the Hebrew text is “You shall not carry the name of the
Lord your God in vain.” We often carry
and cite God’s name when we promote a cause.
If the cause is right and just, we are carrying God’s name in
truth. But if the cause is not right and
just, then we are violating the commandment.
Those
who violate this commandment will be held accountable in the eyes of God. It calls us to confession and repentance when
we fail.
Looking
at this commandment from the other side, we are to show great respect for God’s
name. Most Bible translations do not
give the name of God. It is replaced by
the word LORD (all capital letters). In
Jewish eyes, God’s name is so sacred they will never pronounce it. The respect we show God says volumes about
ourselves.
Giving of a name
implies trust and intimacy. God revealed
himself to Moses by giving him His name (Exodus 3:14). He reveals himself to us by giving us his
name. He seeks for us to trust him. He says to us “You don’t need to force me to
help you! Neither by pious works – nor by foolish oaths – Neither by
sanctimonious talk – nor by a Christian dressing of your selfish goals – for
that all means to use my name as your slave.”[2] How we respect (or
disrespect) his name is a measure of how we respect and honor him.
You
wanted me to trust, Lord. But I have
abused the friendship which you granted me. There was always the temptation to
get you in my power: to bribe you with pious words, to carry your name in my
mouth even if my heart was empty, to use you to make an impression on
people. Now it seems that I must either
consciously continue my hypocrisy or tear you completely out of my heart; and I
live among people for whom it is just the same. And the gap between talk and
behavior becomes greater and greater! We
deserve it, Lord, that you should let us perish in our blasphemy and that we
should lose you for all eternity. We
cannot help ourselves, Lord, but be merciful and let us live as your friends
again[3]
1.
What
are ways I’ve misused God’s name?
2.
Can my
word be counted on?
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