Four clergymen had the same names in four neighbouring towns. They were all called the Reverend Wright. In order to distinguish them they all had nick names. One they called ‘upright’ another was called ‘outright’ and yet another they called ‘downright’. What could they call the next one but ‘forthright.’

Perhaps these names sum up the qualifications for a preacher!

The third commandment is one of two that deal with sins of the tongue. The other is found in verse sixteen of Exodus twenty.

Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

The ninth commandment protects our name.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Eccles. 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

Men and woman would go to court to preserve the integrity of their good name.

The third commandment protects God’s name.

I wonder how concerned you and I are about his good name?

Some men would die for the good name of Ulster but what about the name of God?

Speech is a wonderful gift from God. How debasing and how degrading to take the name of the Lord in vain. "The thing insisted upon here is that great care must be taken, that the holy and reverend name of God be not profaned by us or taken in vain."

The word vain simply means empty. Other translations use the words "misuse" or "irreverently using his name."

When we take the name of the Lord in vain, we empty his name of any real meaning.

Exodus 20:7 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.

A Name With Tremendous Beauty.

Names reveal a lot about people in scripture. We can learn about a person’s character from their name. Take Nabal as an example, Nabal means fool and he was a fool.

A name is associated with reputation, what sort of a name do we have in the community?

A name is associated with a person’s personality.

A name reminds us of someone’s authority.

As a telescope is to a scientist the name of God is to a believer. We can see the personality, character, reputation and authority of God wrapped up in his name.

When we talk about the name of God we are thinking about his whole being, his nature. God has revealed through his name what he is. As the hymn writer has penned.

There is a name I love to hear I love to sing it’s worth,

It sounds like music to my ear the sweetest name on earth.

Oh how I love the Saviour’s name.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear.

It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds and drives away his fear.

The name of Jesus is the complete revelation of God.

Col. 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Philip. 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

What a name! What a refuge for God’s people!

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Oh how beautiful and how wonderful the name of God is.

Psalm 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

Psalm 72:17 His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.

Deut. 28:58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

"Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins," Oh how precious is the name of the Lord. .

"Blessed be the name of the Lord the end of this precept is that the Lord will have the majesty of his name to be held sacred by us. Whatever we think and whatever we say of him should savour of his Excellency and correspond to the sacred sublimety of his name and tend to the exhalation of his magnificence." John Calvin.

There is tremendous beauty with the name of the Lord.

The Truth Behind Some Of The Names Given To God.

There are over three hundred names given to God in the word of God. There is no ‘one Name’ that could convey the character, nature, reputation and attributes of our God.

When the orthodox Jew was copying the scriptures, if he came the name of God he would stop, put down his pen, go and wash, change his clothes and take a new pen. He would then write the name of God. They held the name in real reverence, how lightly we sometimes use that blessed name.

Let us consider some of the names given to God that we might take in the immensity of this commandment.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

The word for God is "Elohim," which means ‘God is faithful.’ It was used in creation what power is in his name.

Oh how dare we trifle with such a name. It literally means the strong faithful one and is used about two thousand times in the Bible.

We also have the word, "Adonai," or Lord.

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Adonai simply meant master. A slave would use this word when speaking of his own master. What did a master expect what did a master deserve from his slaves? Absolute obedience, Here is a God who deserves our absolute obedience. He is Lord.

Can’t you see how when we deny his Lordship we take his name in vain. When we minimise his power we take his name in vain, we empty his name of its meaning.

Another name used for God is, "El- elyon," which means the most high God.

Genesis 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

"The possessor of heaven and earth," this reminds us of his ownership.

Deut. 32:8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

It is God’s sovereign right to do what he wants. When we attack his sovereign plans, when we fight against his will or his purpose, we take the name of the Lord in vain.

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

"El- shadia," means the almighty God. He is the all sufficient one, he is the giver and sustainor of life. Can we depend on such a God? When we doubt him, deny him and deviate from him, are we not taking his name in vain?

I have left out the most famous of all God’s names, "Jehovah," the self-existing one.

He is the promise keeping God.

What’s in a name?

How dare we take his names in vain. How dare the world mock and blaspheme such a name.

Isaiah 42:8 I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

Let me consider the name Jehovah. This name is coupled with another on ten occasions in the scripture. They all give us a further insight into the nature and character of God. Knowing his names will help us to avoid this terrible sin.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

"Jehovah Roi," this speaks of the guidance of God. Can you say the Lord is my shepherd?

Do you submit to his guidance?

Do you take your concerns to him?

Do you listen to him?

Do you follow him?

Do you just want him to rubber-stamp your decisions?

If we are not open to his leading and do not sincerely say, "The Lord is my shepherd," you may be taking his name in vain.

Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.

"Jehovah Shammah," do you count on his presence?

The Lord is there, the lord is there with us, the Lord is there watching over us, the Lord is there restraining us.

Do you live as if the Lord is present? Or do you take the name of the Lord in vain? Do you empty it of it’s meaning by your living?

Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi:

"The Lord our banner," this speaks of victory.

A Christian who is continually asking for forgiveness repenting and seeking cleansing is a very unhappy child of God. What about praising him for victory. If we live defeated lives, we are saying, "The Lord is not victorious." We are on the victory side. Don’t take the name of the Lord thy God in vain by living defeated lives.

1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

God has provided for victory in every situation.

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

"Jehovah Machaddesh," means ‘a God of holiness.’

Is God’s holiness, purity and sweetness revealed in your life?

At Paul’s conversion we are told that the Lord sent Annanias to speak to Paul. What did the Lord say of Paul?

Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

We also bear the name of Jesus and if we don’t live holy lives, we are taking his holy name in vain.

Psalm 24:10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

"Jehovah tsabboth," means the Lord of hosts.

This would remind us of the authority of God.

Do we really bow to his authority in our lives?

Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

The Lord sees.

Judges 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

The Lord our peace.

Jeremiah 23:6 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.

Jehovah Tsidkenu it is his righteousness we depend upon.

When God implants into our hearts the Holy Spirit we become guardians of his name, what a responsibility.

Jehovah loves and saves sinners.

Genesis 3:8-9 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. [9] And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Jehovah hates and judges sin.

Genesis 6:3-7 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. [4] There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

[5] And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [7] And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

Jehovah is a God of holiness.

Exodus 15:11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

How much of his character do we display?

Have we a love for sinners and a hatred for sin?

Are we talking his name in vain?

The Tragedy Of Breaking This Commandment.

This command is broken in many ways.

• By profanity that is irreverent, frivolous, disrespectful, filthy or vulgar talk.

Walk down our streets and listen to the kids or listen to parents in the homes, listen at the work place and you would think they had been to hell for school and the Devil was the teacher.

What an insult to the God of heaven.

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Leviticus 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

Some people are like the leper, they would need their mouths covered. Listen to Television or Radio, read a magazine. It is difficult not to hear or read, at least once every day the Lord’s name being taken in vain.

Jeremiah 23:10 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.

Augustine said this; "They do not sin less, those who blaspheme Christ, who is now in heaven, than the Jews who crucified him while here on earth."

• By frivolity that is taking the name of God lightly.

Perhaps using it for jokes and not attaching to it the reverence that is due to that name.

God’s people may be guilty of this without being aware of it. Words like "gosh" and "gee" are derived from God and Jesus.

Ephes. 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

• Hypocrisy this is where God’s people step into the picture again.

1. We could take his name in vain in our prayers.

We ask in his name but we don’t believe he can deliver.

We ask in his name but we don’t reveal anything of his character in our lives.

2. We could take his name in vain in our praise.

Mark 7:6 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.

Do you sing the hymn, "Take the world by give me Jesus," and you don’t mean a word of it.

Do you sing the hymn, "My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine, for thee all the pleasures of sin I resign. Do you sing it and mean it?

Our participation could involve taking the name of the Lord in vain.

1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Are you doing it for His name or to make a name for yourself?

3. We could take his name in vain by our profession.

Matthew 7:21-22 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. [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?

They did a lot in his name but they never knew him.

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

If our lives don’t match then we are talking his name in vain. Are we saved?

A lady came to Alan Redpath and said, "I think you don’t know my Saviour, I told mum a lie and asked for forgiveness and that’s the God I know . I do it all the time."

Alan replied, "I don’t know your Saviour, mine didn’t save liars he saved people from lying."

A Christian who has taken the name of Christ should be an expression of the character of God. Like Peter they may be times we fail but persistent and consistent lives showing a character not befitting his name is evidence of an unchanged heart, an unchanged life and an unsaved soul.

Let’s be careful not to use God’s name in oaths to convince people we are telling the truth.

James 5:12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

The breaking of this commandment is serious.

Exodus 20:7 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.

It could be translated, "the Lord will not hold him clean," It is dirty in the sight of God to take his beautiful name in vain.

The Terrific Blessing.

Let us turn this around and consider how blessed it is to glorify his lovely name.

The name that has transformed drunkards, harlots, adulterers, addicts and sinners galore. Think of the blessings we have through his name.

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

That which appears insignificant becomes massive if done in his name.

Matthew 10:42 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.

We have a wonderful message if truly delivered in his name.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

John 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

What blessings if we glorify his name rather than take it in vain. Away with our sin and our own name. Away with our light heartiness and our coldness. Let’s really exalt the name of Jesus.

A name that will adorn us in heaven.

Rev. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

A name that the whole world will reverence one day.

Philip. 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

One day that prayer will be answered, "Hallowed be thy name."

Jesus the name high over all,

In hell or earth or sky.

Angels and men before it fall,

And devils fear and fly.

We need to ask him to clothe us with his loveliness that we might exalt his name and be true guardians of his reputation.

Take the name of Jesus with you child of sorrow and of woe.

It will joy and comfort give you, take it then, wherever you go.

Email Pastor Ian Wilson


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