One time as a
young teen I remember seeing the word ‘Grand Prix’ and not realizing the x was
silent, I voiced it out. My Mom promptly
slapped me across the cheek for swearing and I was dumbfounded. I had never heard that swear word before and
didn’t even know what it meant (it was over 30 years ago!). We knew better than to take the Lord’s name
in vain (swearing using God’s name) because that was against the 10
commandments and we’d be in worse trouble than for non-God swear words.
3. You shall not take the name of Jehovah your God in
vain. For Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. Ex.
20:7
And you shall not swear by My name falsely; nor shall
you profane the name of your God. I am
Jehovah. Lv. 19:12
name- shem- name, reputation, fame, glory,
designation of God
by implication- honour, authority, character (His significance)
vain- shav- emptiness, vanity, falsehood,
nothingness, worthlessness
While I
thought this one would be easy, still thinking it merely meant not swearing
using His name, looking up the two main words changed everything. We are not to take His name, reputation,
fame, glory, honour, authority or character irreverently, falsely,
indifferently, making it worth worthless or nothing. That’s a mouthful. So even if we never use God’s name as a
swearword, we can still break this command.
Why is this
even important to God that He should put it in the ten? God’s nature and attributes, the totality of
His being, and especially His glory are reflected in His name. Think about it: if people use His name,
authority and such disreputably, then it can damage His character, reputation
in other’s eyes. Do not be quick to say
things such as: “God said,” “The Lord gave me a word for you,” “By God if you
don’t…” “You need to ____ because God said so in the Bible.” What if you are incorrect? Know before you attribute (by any method,
verbal or other) something to God.
This command
also includes those who swear by God’s name.
God’s judgment was on those “who swear by the name of Jehovah and make
mention of the God of Israel
(but not in truth nor in righteousness).”
(Is. 48:1) And those who use God’s name for their own benefit, for gain of
money, reputation, fame are at risk. God
will judge if they are doing it for Him or for self? God knows every heart (Lk. 16:15 ; Jr. 17:10; Rm. 8:27 ).
Blasphemy is damage
to God (name, reputation, character), by denying that which is due and belongs
to Him, or attributing to Him that which is not true to His nature*. Have we ever done things like this? Do our words or our actions make Him common,
defile or violate who He is or bring Him into contempt? Lv. 24:15 says not to do this (curses). I imagine commandment # 3 includes any indignity
offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent
words uttered impiously against Jehovah.
Am I taking
this all too far? Reread the meanings of
the original Hebrew and decide for yourself.
I think it means far more than we ever though and thereby we are
condemned.
Commandment
# 3 – broken too much
*Of interest- The beast of the sea that the Harlot sits on
(Rev. 13,17) had (a) name(s) of blasphemy on it’s 7 heads and had a mouth
speaking blasphemies. This beast is
anti-christ.