Exodus 20 v. 1 - 7 v. 7 "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."
1. THE CHARACTER OF THE NAME - "the name of the Lord thy God"
(a) The character of his person - "the Lord" i.e. Jehovah
(b) The character of his power - "thy God" - Elohim"
(c) The character of his position - "thy God" note:-
(a) His Person - "the Lord" - Jehovah - Moses in Exodus 3 v. 13 & 14 "And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you."
3 Hebrew words:-
1. Yehi or Je - future tense - "He will be" i.e. His eternity
2. Hove - present tense i.e. "He that is" - His existence
3. Hahyah or Ah - past tense - He that was - His Antiquity - Revelation 4 v. 8 "And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."
(b) His Power - Elohim - God is the faithful and strong one -
Psalm 111 v. 9 "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name."
Psalm 8 v. 9 "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"
Prov 18 v. 10 "And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind."
Elohim signifies the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
Genesis 1 v. 26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
(c) His Position - "The Lord thy God" - My Jesus I love thee - if ever I loved thee, my Jesus
- God had just ransomed and redemed them from bondage.
Psalm 8 v. 1 "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens."
Psalm 148 v. 13 & 14 "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD."
2. THE CONTENT OF HIS NAME - His name is:-
(a) Jehovah - Jireh - Genesis 22 v. 14 "And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen." The Lord who provides
(b) Jehovah - Nissi - Exodus 17 v. 15 "And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:" The Lord who protects - The Lord is my banner
(c) Jehovah - Shalom - Judges 6 v. 24 "Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: " - The Lord who brings peace and is peace
(d) Jehovah - Shammah Ezekiel 48 v. 35 "It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." - The Lord who is present
(e) Jehovah - Tsebaoth - 1 Samuel 1 v. 3 "And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there." - The Lord of Hosts
(f) Jehovah - Rohi Psalm 23 v. 1 "A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." The Lord who is shepherd
(g) Jehovah - Tsidkenu - Jeremiah 23 v. 6 "In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS." - The Lord our righteousness
Scribes would stop writing, wash, change pens, write name, and throw away the pen - not reused
Jews use Adonai (Lord) not Jehovah or Yahweh as name for God
Psalm 66 v. 2 "Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious."
Psalm 34 v. 3 "O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
Psalm 29 v. 2 "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness."
Matthew 6 v. 9 "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."
3. THE CORRUPTION OF HIS NAME - v. 7 "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."
Through:-
(a) Hypocrisy - i.e. false profession - Matthew 7 v. 22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
in prayer (ask in unbelief), in praise - Mark 7 v. 6 "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."
(b) Perjury - failing to perform our vows - Leviticus 19 v. 12 "And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD."
- court vows or marriage vows
(c) Profanity - cursing - Jeremiah 23 v. 10 "For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right."
(d) Frivolity - v. 7 "for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
i.e. personal - Ephesians 5 v. 4 "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
4. THE CONSOLATION OF HIS NAME - There is:-
(a) Salvation in his name - Matthew 1 v. 21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."
Acts 4 v. 12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Romans 10 v. 13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
(b) Service in his name - Matthew 10 v. 42 "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."
(c) Strength in his name - Acts 3 v. 16 "And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Lame man
(d) Security in his name - Proverbs 18 v. 10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
(e) Supplication in his name - John 14 v. 14 "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
(f) Satisfaction in his name - Revelation 22 v. 4 "And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."
(g) Soverignity in his name - Philippians 2 v. 9 - 11 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
5. THE CORONATION OF HIS NAME - Philippians 2 v. 9 & 10 "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;"
His name:-
(a) Is Venerable
(b) Has been violated
(c) Will be vindicated
(d) Will always be victorious
D.L Moody Story
