The Third Commandment
' 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
This commandment focuses on respect, it addresses the way we should communicate our feelings about God to others and to Him. It encomapsses each of our attitudes, or speech and behavior.
Respect is the cornerstone of any good and full relationship. Our relationship with God depends on the love and the regard we have for Him. We are as believrs expected to honor who and what He is.
The use of God's name in a careless or disrespectful manner expresses an attitude of disdain for our relationship to Him. This can vary from careless diregard to outright hostility and antogonism. And who can deny, that at the time of this writing that there is an overwhelming disregard not only respect wise for God, but a proliferation of disdain for His authority.This apparent movement away from God and His moral law is not only within the secular segment of society but is an ever increasing segment of the faithful (sic). The following is from the In Touch Ministries monthly magazine, January 2000 issue, from the weekly devotion portion, Monday the 24th,' There are two categories of God's will. First, there is God's moral will. It applies to every person and consists of the do's and don'ts listed in the Bible,including the Ten Commandments. It is within God's moral will that all men be saved.' The pastor writing this message is Charles Stanley, a highly respected minister within the Southern Baptist denomination. It is well known that Baptist's, aside from the Seventh Day Baptist's, do not observe the Sabbath; this in turn is false teaching, as Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:19,' whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does and teaches them, he shalled be called great in the kingdom of heaven.'
Now we know also on the time of this writing 1-2-2000, that is a great ressurgence across this country to have the Ten Commandments displayed in schools and goverment buildings. But as Christ stated in the verse above, that those who breaks a commandment and teaches others to do so will not be be condemned, but will yet make it to heaven, but the reward will be getting called the least; it is a fact that among most denominations the Sabbath is not observed, in other words they teach Nine of the Ten and stumble on the Fourth Commandment which concerns the Sabbath.
When preaxchers stand in the pulpit and teach and teach not the complete word of God, they teach God in vain. They bring confusion to many, as they see the Ten Commandments and note that the Fourth is not observed, this is a stumbling block to a greater reward, not only for the individual but for the Church of Christ as a whole.
So we say that any false teaching, no matter how small, is using our Creators name in vain.
Profanity, is not the only way to blaspheme the Lord. The name of our God is not a name to be used casually, but should be used to convert, to demonstrate our love, our relationship with Him. Anyone who caelessly uses the name of God - or Christ - in their everyday speech simply has lost sight of how great God's grace and majesty is. Yet because of centuries of slightly altering Gid's moral law many think and insist that by observing the Nine and not the full Ten Commandments, they do take God in vainity and make for themselves another god, suited to their needs and not the needs of God.
In some ways such a people are similar to Job, who explained his perspective of God - both before and after God pointed out to him how Job's pride was motivating much of his thinking. 'I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,' confessed Job,' but now my eye sees You,' (Job 42:5). Job realized that he had not known God as well as he had thought.
Many who have - heard - of God, think because they have heard, they know Him. They believe this is an acceptable relationship with Him; and sadly many leave it thus, and never strive to fully learn and respect Him; so much of the teaching today is geared sadly, in this manner.
" For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because although thew knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.' Romans 1:18-21
Most of us, if we honestly confess, have at one time expressed disrespect for God. Like Job we probably have had to - or still need to - reevaluate our own attitudes towards our Creator. And like Job, we may come to see ourselves in a more realistic light. ' Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes,' ( Job 42:6).
From Strong's Lexicon AV - LORD 6510, GOD 4, JEHOVAH 4, variant 1; 6519 Jehovah = the existing One 1) the proper name of the one true God 1a) unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136 .
' And God said to Moses,' I Am WHO I AM.' Exodus 3:14 and ' I Am has sent me to you.'
'You have wearied the Lord with your words; yet you say, " In what way have we wearied Him?" In that you say," Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them," or ,"Where is the God of justice?" Malachi 2:17
'Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying : " These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrine the commandments of me." Matthew 15:7-9
The Existing One. I AM WHO I AM, there is no descriptive way for us to call God as He truly is. But He cared enough to give us something to grasp. But so many have come to give Him with little more than lip service. Prayers across the world are sprinkled with a variety of names we have given Him, but by the plentitude of hypocrisy in our lifestyles, and the lack of admiration for His wisdom, love, fairness and judgement, make these prayers fail to get the ceiling.
We should follow the admonitions found in the Psalms to give Him thanks and to praise Him, openly before men expressing our appreciation for that He has done and is doing.
" I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord, praise Him!' Psalm 22:22-23
' I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.' Psalm 35:18
' Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.' Psalm 50:23
And no less does the Son demand respect for we are told in Romans 14:11 that ' For it is written: " As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
And in Revelation's 4:12, ' Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to recieve power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!'
And in the same book 15:3, ' Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord and glorify Youir name? For you alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgements have been manifested.'
And again in the same book, for those who have overcome,' They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever,' Revelation 22:4-5.
And how did they overcome, ' Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,' Revelation 14:12.
Though many consider this commandment as one of the least, it is no less important as any of the other, for we can read in Revelation 12:17, that - the dragon (Satan) was enraged with the women, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We can honor God most of all by loving Him so much that we desire above all things to be like Him, and to accurately represent Him to everyone we come in contact with. If that is the mind we have in us, even the thought then, of ever misrepresenting or disgracing His name will be repulsive. Our strongest resolve will be to never knowingly take any of God's names in vain.
go to the Fourth Commandment
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