This week, we are looking at The Third Commandment. 2 of the 10 have to do with your speech. Did you know you can sin with your words? Sins of speech are serious. Exodus 20:7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
People love to hear their own name. I would tell my kids growing up what my parents and grandparents told me, “Don’t forget what your name is.” They spent a lifetime building a good name don’t go mess it up in one weekend. This is how God feels about His name. God does not want His name to be defamed. The name of the Lord your God is to be respected and protected.
The Majesty of His Name
Psalm 8:1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.
God’s name is majestic, magnificent, and excellent. Psalm 34:3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
I love the new songs but I grew up in church singing All hail the power of Jesus Name let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all. There is a name I love hear, I love to sing it’s WORTH, it sounds like music in mine ear the sweetest name on earth. His name is Wonderful. His name is wonderful. His name is wonderful Jesus my Lord. He is the might King, master of everything His name is wonderful Jesus my Lord. He’s the great shepherd the rock of all ages almighty God is He. Bow down before him. Love and adore him. His name is wonderful Jesus my Lord.
There are over 700 names for Jesus in the Bible. Why? because our God is so great it takes hundreds of names just to begin to describe His majesty and each name reveals something about the character of God. The more you know about the names of God the more you know about God. Lord is Jehovah. He is Jehovah Mekadesh. The Lord is holy. Jehovah Rapha The Lord our healer. Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there. Jehovah Jireh the Lord who provides. Jehovah Rohi the Lord is my Shepherd. Jehovah Nissi The Lord is our banner. He is our mighty warrior. Jehovah Shalom The Lord is my Peace. God is Elohim. He is the creator, sustainer, and supreme judge of the world. Elohim is plural. Showing us the triune God. Sometimes the word Elohim is shortened to El and used as part of a longer name. El Elyon means God Most High or The most high God. El Roi God Who Sees. He sees what you are going through. He is El Shaddai God is more than enough. All sufficient! When Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3 God said I AM. There are 7 I am statements of Jesus. I am the bread of life, light of the world, good shepherd, the door, way, truth, life, true vine, resurrection and the life.
Personal names of people include the name of God: Daniel God Is My Judge, Nathanael (“Gift of God”), Samuel (“Heard by God”), Places named after God Bethel House of God, Israel Prince of God.
David came against Goliath saying you come to me with a sword and spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. There is power, victory, and safety in His name. Prov 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
How did Jesus teach us to pray? Matt 6 ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. We are to treat God’s name with respect. Psalm 22:2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.
The Misuse of His Name Exodus 20:7
Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
The word misuse or vain is used twice. It means without purpose or empty. God says, “Don’t throw my name around or be causal about my reputation.” God’s name carry’s weight. When you throw God’s name in a conversation you are claiming authority. You can’t forge someone’s name. Don’t falsify God’s name. Forgery and ID theft, Spam, Spoofing is masquerades as another. If you lie to me that is one thing, but if you lie to the FBI or under oath you can go to jail.
God judged the people at Babel in Gen 11 because they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves instead of His name. God’s name is trademarked. He is not going to let you use his name in an unauthorized way. Profanity is small people using small words. Late night shows, comedians, are taking God’s name in vain but when it is His own family, own children, we have a problem and God has a problem with it. Eph 5:3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Don’t swear His name but wear His name. I am not ashamed of the gospel. Bear His name. Acts 5:41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. If your name is on it you stand behind it. Don’t make promises and not keep them. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.
Do you get frustrated when people twist your words and say you said something you did not say? How much more God feels that way. When people call good evil and evil good. Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. The reason we live and do ministry is to make much of His name. We make His name known. We make His name great.
The Miracle of His Name
Exodus 20:7 Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God, because the Lord will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.
We have all broken the 10 commandments. We have all sinned and taken the Lord’s name in vain. We all deserve eternal punishment. You will either pay for your sins for all of eternity in a place called hell or you let Jesus pay for your sins.
Matt 1:21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” Phil 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Acts 2:21 whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Ro 10:13) 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Jesus lived up to His name! He saves people from sin. On the cross Jesus wore our name so we can wear His name!