God’s Name in Vain
Introduction: The Ten Commandments are listed in Exodus 20 and repeated in Deuteronomy 5. There is probably much more depth of meaning in the third commandment than many Christians have given thought to it. A first reaction might be to believe that a non-Christian would be much more likely to “take God’s name in vain,” but those who would be called Christians have a great responsibility to guard themselves against associating the Lord’s name with emptiness and commonality. The basis and foundation of our faith is more important than words or outward appearance, if we are to keep this commandment through the power of the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the KJV.
A — The Third Commandment
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.”
Psalm 139 “20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.”
Comments: The wording is exactly the same in Exodus and Deuteronomy for the third of the Ten Commandments. It should not surprise us that those referred to as enemies of the Lord in Psalm 139 would take his name in vain, since they cannot honor the name of one they fail to recognize. But there are also those who remain as enemies when they offer worship to the Lord in their own righteousness. And for those who know “the Lord thy God,” we must be careful that our actions do not bring empty value to his name. David concluded Psalm 139 with “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
B — Who Are They That Take or Bear the Name of the LORD?
Joel 2 “32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.”
Romans 10 “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Acts 15 “14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.”
Comments: We bear, or we have taken, his name when we are saved; and those who call upon the name of the Lord are saved. In the Old Testament one of the common designations is those who “fear the Lord,” and in the New Testament a common designation is Christian; but in each case, not all who were outwardly part of those groups were truly saved. I relied on the process of comparing scripture with scripture for my overall assessment that our heart’s response is the most important factor to assure that we do not “take the Lord’s name in vain.”
C — Speaking or Acting in Vain or from Vanity
Isaiah 1 “13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.”
Ezekiel 13 “7 Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?”
Comments: The Hebrew word translated as “vain” in the commandment conveys emptiness, falsehood, deception, promise that does not produce, something of non-effect, that which is contrary to outward appearance. Anything done in vain, or that could be characterized as being vain, would have those qualities. The uses of this Hebrew word in these scriptures set a tone for a straight-forward meaning for the word. The result stated in the third commandment is a very serious result indeed if the God of all creation will not declare us as innocent.
D — God Will Not Accept the Vain Praise or Worship of Man
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. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
Matthew 7 “21 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. 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Comments: Religious practice in the name of God can easily be a vain effort, and the Lord God is consistent in both testaments of the Bible about this issue. God has no difficulty in seeing the genuine attitude of man’s heart. The True and Living God requires truth in worship — emanating from a living faith. The meaning of the word vain is very consistent in both the Old and the New Testament, and brought a strong response from God whenever he confronted those who turned their backs on being his people.
E — Unpunished, Guiltless, and Innocent
John 5 “24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Romans 8 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Comments: When we are secure in Christ, we are innocent (or guiltless) because we are made new in the righteousness of Christ. God’s mercy cannot conflict with his righteousness. He will not clear the guilty who remain in their sin, but he will allow the sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God with unlimited righteousness, to atone for those who accept the gift of everlasting life by faith. The wrath of God for sin remains with those who reject Christ, but there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Taking the Lord’s name for salvation will indeed not clear us of the guilt of our sin if we have taken his name in vain by not receiving the Holy Spirit.
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, in my youth I thought I was a Christian because I heard only of your love, and I had no real understanding of my sin or the consequences. As I matured, I began to listen to other beliefs of man, and I tried to use my own reasoning to determine truth about mankind and God. I drifted further from truth and deeper into vanity until your Spirit brought me to the Word, and I reached the point of surrender of my will and ways to yours. Now, therefore I believe that my faith is not in vain, and I have complete confidence that you will declare my innocence because the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God has taken away all my sin. I praise you my precious Lord and Savior for the gift of eternal life, not through works of righteousness which I have done, but according to your mercy. I ask that you direct me away from vanity so I will honor and lift up your name through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Published 15 May 2006