A The Baptist Deacon

The Third Commandment

deaconfarley | July 22, 2008 08:35

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 The third commandment.

How often do we in today’s world  hear someone take God’s name in vain? I venture to say it is daily.  Just look at the filth that is on television and in the movies we go see. Does it offend you that “Hollywood” chooses to make those shows and movies where they have to make their point by swearing?

Do you work in an environment where everywhere you turn some is using God’s name in vain? I used to be in that situation. I was always uncomfortable. Thank God I am in a place now where I have not heard God’s name taken in vain by anyone I work with. 

People use God’s name in vain like it is a natural use of the word. I for one believe it shows that their ignorance runs before them. Have we gotten to the point that we just do not care if we offend God? That is a very dangerous place for a person to be in.

The third commandment concerns the manner of worship, that it be with all possible reverence and seriousness. All false oaths are forbidden. All light appealing to God, all profane cursing, is a horrid breach of this command. ~ Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary.

As you can see from the commentary above there is more too it than just taking God’s name in vain. I for one had not given much though about more being involved than just God’s name in vain. It also refers to how we worship God. If you are not worshiping in Spirit and in truth without superstition and human inventions you are making a mockery of God and thus taking Him in vain.

The second half of this commandment contains a warning: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Guiltless, who among us are guiltless? Who among us uses God’s name in vain like it is just normal speech? Who among us does the Lord not hold guiltless?

God requires and deserves our respect. For the person that disrespects God I pray that you will see the error of your ways as the Lord will not hold you guiltless!

God Bless You!

To be continued…

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Comments

Re: The Third Commandment

Frank | 07/24/2008, 07:25

You are so right, Brent. There is so much more to "taking the name of the Lord in vain" than just "cursing". I happen to think that swearing in anger is one of the most sorrowful, disrespectful vulgar ways in which the name of the Lord is used, because that anger is directed toward and at God Himself. One, figuratively, shakes his fist at God and blames Him. Read Job chapter 2. Is there a danger of reading into it, another attempt by satan through a woman to get the man to sin against God? It is important to note that God does not damn, God saves! I think the world has it backwards. I, for one, cannot find the word "damn" in either the KJV or NIV concordances. Vain means, among other things, (according to the Interlinear and Vine's) - deceitfully, fraudulently, wrongly, lying, empty, idle, without purpose. It is important to remember that the Jews would not say God's name for fear of saying it "in vain". I agree with you (if you didn't say it explicitly, I will), "we are guilty of irreverent and vain use of the Name of God". Be careful (take heed), you who are thinking of chiming in to say, "Not I". We would probably be shamed by a good study of "taking the Lord's name in vain". The Lord Bless you... and I MEAN that! : )

a bit more

loreelle | 08/03/2008, 18:14

a sermon i once heard talked about using God's name in vain. the main talk was about any use of "God" or "Jesus" outside the context of holy conversation with Him. i personally take offence with those who add the word "damn" after saying "God" in exclamation. it is one of the things we had to endure during clinicals. one of those in our care was severly brain damaged and was only able to utter about six words. other expletives were thrown at us by him, as well as fists and feet toward our heads. we all wore the name properly given a female dog and that was preceeded by the most ghastly expletive. i laid my hands on this man and asked God to heal him; rebuked satan and commanded him to flee from this victim of brain damage; gave this man the same care and respect i would give my daddy and cried all the way home. i believe we should come alongside those who do not know the seriousness of misuse of His name and LOVE THEM all the way to the foot of the cross. i was raised using foul language and adding the Lord's name to some of those icky words. we didn't know any better until we were humiliated in the world. and again, let grace abound, amen.
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