Don't Take God's Name In Vain Series

This Memorial Day we continue our series on the Ten Commandments. How are you progressing on memorizing the Ten Commandments?

Two weeks ago we saw the “Who” of worship when we examined the first commandment – “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2). God has always been a monotheist. Then last week we saw the “how” of worship – “You shall not make for yourself a carved image…” (Exodus 20:4a). God is the God who is seen and not heard. He is not to be worshiped by anything that represents Him. And now we return once again to the “Who” of worship.

Most of us simply think of today’s commandment as God saying not to cuss. Yet, you are about to discover this commandment is much broader than you previously thought.

Today's Scripture

“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).

In this commandment, God jealously guards His name. I want to ask three questions of this text: 1) How Do I Misuse God’s Name? 2) Why is God’s Name So Important? 3) What is the Penalty for My Misuse?

1. How Do I Misuse God’s Name?

Our understanding of this verse is far too simplistic. Our grasp of this verse is too superficial. We think, “It’s as if God has compiled a list of words I am not to say, and if we avoid this list, we will do well.” Yet, there are numerous ways in which both those outside the church and inside the church violate this command daily.

To take God’s name in vain is to malign God’s name. It’s to misrepresent Him. The word “vain” in verse seven is a synonym for futility. We are not to use God’s name in a futile manner or in a trivial manner.

God’s name is sacred. It’s not that His name is magical. It’s not that the three letters of His name to be used for incantations. It’s because His name represents His essence. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). He is great and weighty and lofty and consequently, both He and His name are to be treated as valuable. We should not treat Him or His name carelessly. He, nor His name, is to treated flippantly as if He or His name didn’t matter. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain....” (Exodus 20:7a).

When we take His name in vain, we empty it of its’ importance. We should treat His name as if it is trademarked property. God has graciously licensed the use of His to anyone who will use it according to His written instructions. Yet, with the use of this trademarked property, God has not released His name into the public domain. God retains legal control over His name and threatens serious penalties against unauthorized misuse of His name.

Here are five ways we commonly profane or empty His name of its importance.

1.1 God’s Name is Misused in Profanity

For those of you old enough, you remember where you were on November 22, 1963 – the day John Fitzgerald Kennedy was assassinated. His last words were reported to have been, “My God. I’m hit.” How the former president meant these words, we cannot be sure. Among the last words Jesus Himself spoke were ““My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46b).

When these words are uttered as genuine prayer, there is absolutely nothing wrong with such a saying. There is nothing wrong with saying, “Oh, My God” when you address God Himself, particularly in times of anguish and pain. Yet, in our day that expression, “My God” is a part of the normal speech patterns of millions of people. “Oh, My God,” we’ve won the playoffs. “Oh, My God,” I forgot our appointment. This reduces the serious invocation of the name of God to something trivial, to something vulgar. This violates the third commandment. Many of you will say to me this morning, “I don’t talk like that. I don’t swear.” Yet, there are other ways to profane His name.

1.2 God’s Name is Misused in Hypocrisy

A saloonkeeper sold his old tavern to a local church. Enthusiastic church members tore out the bar, added some lights, gave the whole place a fresh coat of paint, and installed some pews. Somehow a parrot that belonged to the saloonkeeper was left behind. On Sunday morning that colorful bird was watching from the rafters. When the minister appeared, he squawked, “New owner!” When the men who were to lead in worship marched in, the bird piped, “New floor show!” But when the bird looked out over the congregation, he screeched, “Same old crowd!”