Honor God with Your Words
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Introduction
Introduction
When I was a kid my dad used to have a print shop in our basement...
When many people think about the third commandment, often they think it has to do with using God’s name as a curse word.
However, throughout Israel’s history this wasn’t common, as it is in our day.
In fact, like the first two commandments, this has to do with man’s relationship to God.
The focus of the first two commandments are appropriate worship.
Worship God only
Don’t worship the false gods of this world
The focus of the third commandment has to do with the way we honor and reverence God with our words.
So, this command is much more than the curse words my dad used to use.
In fact, taking the Lord’s name in vain is far more than that.
Body: Deuteronomy 5:11
Body: Deuteronomy 5:11
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain?
What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain?
More literal idea is: “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord” or “You shall not lift up the name of the Lord your God for nothingness.”
The idea being someone who uses the name of the Lord for their own personal profit or gain and for those who misuse God’s name in different ways.
In this case, “you shall not take” means to use or lift up something verbally.
So, God tells His people not to use or lift up His name wrongfully or for nothingness.
In the OT times it took three major forms:
Sorcery - Using God’s name as if it had some sort of magical properties that could be used by a human to bring about his or her hoped for results.
In essence, God’s name would become a sort of verbal good luck charm or incantation to bring about a desired result.
Biblical Illustration of this: Acts 19:11-16
False prophecy - Using God’s name to advance the prophet’s own agenda.
A prophet was expected to bring a word from the Lord to the people. But, when prophets would bring a word that wasn’t from the Lord, it was a grievous sin against God.
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.
Taking false oaths - Using God’s name to lend credence to one’s testimony despite the testimony being false.
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
Why was this so important for Israel?
Why was this so important for Israel?
Because the “name” of the LORD meant more than simply an identifier. It represented everything about God.
Thus, God’s honor and reputation was at stake.
Taking the Lord’s name in vain was to treat God’s honor and reputation as something that has absolutely no real value.
One of Israel’s responsibilities was to bring worship of the One True God to the people of the earth.
Using the God’s name in vain would destroy their testimony…which in many ways happened because their interpretations of the law became more important to them then telling the world about the greatness of God.
They took the Lord’s name in vain by claiming to be God’s representatives, but not representing Him to people.
That should be a warning to the church!
What is the punishment for breaking this commandment?
What is the punishment for breaking this commandment?
not hold him guiltless = not leave unpunished
The punishment isn’t specific here. Which leaves room for God to determine the appropriate punishment for each circumstance.
And God will use various forms of punishment when people lift up His name in vain.
So What?
So What?
How might someone use the Lord’s name in vain today?
How might someone use the Lord’s name in vain today?
Lying under oath...
In a legal setting or even in other interpersonal relationships.
Claiming something is of God that is not...
The idea being trying to convince someone that what you want is what God wants.
Scripture is the key for determining this!
Using the Lord’s name to get rich...
This doesn’t mean those in Christian ministry shouldn’t get pain. The worker deserves his wages.
But, there’s a difference between those who would mass market Jesus, use the church for business contacts alone, or turn the church into a business.
Using the Lord’s name to boost one’s own reputation...
These are those who would make the focus of the faith themselves and not Jesus.
This is done very obviously at times and, more often, subtly.
Represent the Lord poorly to the world around us.
I read a story this week about a leader of a major Christian college that was paying someone to have relations with his wife while he watched. What do stories like this do to the cause of Christ?
We must realize that we represent Christ Jesus to the non-believing world around us. And they are looking for us to misrepresent Him because, in their minds, it justifies their rejection of Him.
So, how do you represent Christ?
What should we do instead?
What should we do instead?
Show reverence for God’s holiness.
God’s name should be invoked for prayers, praise, and thanksgiving.
To worship God not only means having no other gods, and not worshiping false gods, but it also means honoring God with our words.
Focus your attention on God’s agenda.
Know God’s agenda and make it your agenda!
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.
Show others the greatness of Christ Jesus.
The more we show the world the greatness of Christ, the less likely we are to dishonor and misrepresent Him.
Don’t confuse what you want with what God wants.
It’s easy to do this. It’s because most of us would like to think that God is on our side.
But the far more important question is, “Are you on God’s side?”