Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the LORD thy God in Vain

Written With the Hand of God

Deuteronomy 5:11

1. Shakespeare opined in Romeo and Juliet, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

2. That is the balcony scene where Juliet tries to convince Romeo that family and name are meaningless in light of love.

3. Yet a name does define us and tells the world something about us.

4. We read books because of the name of the author.

5. We seek out speakers because of their name.

6. We shop based on names.

7. Names really are important. They are the first snapshot that we see of something.

8. Let’s play some word association. I’ll say a name and someone say the first thing that you think of.

9. McDonalds, Wal-Mart, Levi-Strauss, George Washington, Saddam Hussein, Christian, Baptist

10. Each of those names stirred different reactions in each of us.

11. Today’s topic is the third commandment.

12. –Passage—

13. We’ve already established that God wants to be first in people’s lives. He also wants to have all of our worship.

14. The next item on His list is His name.

15. Let us consider this commandment. It’s only one verse, but it is an important verse to deal with.

16. Before we progress any further, we have to deal with the question, what does it mean to take the name of the Lord in vain?

17. ILL: vain: having no real value : idle, worthless; marked by futility or ineffectualness : unsuccessful, useless; (archaic) foolish, silly; having or showing undue or excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements : conceited

18. Taking the Lord’s name in vain would then mean that we in some way use the Lord’s name in a way that makes in of no real value, worthless, or useless.

19. There are two ways that people take the name of the Lord in vain.

20. One way is by what we say. People misuse God’s name every day. They say God’s name without regard, using God’s name and Jesus’ name as curses.

21. They also make promises in God’s name that is certainly taking the name in vain.

22. What about these common expressions? Oh my G… Oh, dear L…

23. What about those Christianized cuss words? You know which ones we hear. It’s the words that parents let their kids say instead of the real zingers.

24. This can be done by anyone. Whether we want to admit it, all of us have probably said something like this. This is an area where both saved and lost people can sin against God.

25. The other way that we can take the Lord’s name in vain is something that only professing believers can do.

26. We make God’s name worthless, useless, or foolish when we openly sin against Him.

27. This is not our normal sin. What I’m really getting at is when we sin and it is marked by open opposition to God’s name and His reputation.

28. ILL: Two preachers caught in scandals. One was a preacher who had a national forum where he cried out about the sin of homosexuality. Resulting aftermath… Another preacher was accused of using funds from the college that he ran to live an extravagant lifestyle. Resulting circumstances…

29. In one case, an open sin was dealt with openly. In the other, an accusation of sin was swept under the rug until it was brought to light and it has not yet been dealt with biblically.

30. When we sin publicly, we take the Lord’s name in vain. We diminish God’s reputation in the eyes of those outside of the church.

31. When the church fails to deal with sin appropriately, we take the Lord’s name in vain.

32. Every person sins and to think otherwise is self-deceit.

33. 1 John 1:8-9 (KJV) 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

34. These two verses make up some of the greatest universal truth in the entire Bible. Everyone sins and every sin can be forgiven and cleansed by the blood of Christ.

35. Taking the name of God in vain goes beyond misspeaking His name. It goes into dragging His name and reputation into the mud of sin and not making any attempt to clean up the mess.

36. Have you ever met someone, shaken their hand, introduced yourself and have them say, “Oh yeah, I know your dad…”

37. You have now entered into the realm of protecting the family name. This person will equate you and your family and your actions might be taking your family name in vain.

38. Let us strive with all that we have to keep this commandment.

39. ILL: Socrates, “Regard your name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of – for credit is like fire, once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it and arduous task to rekindle it.”

40. Believers Must Defend the Name of God.

I. Because of the Importance of God’s Name.

1. God has set His name above all of creation.

2. Luke reminds us in Acts that the name of Christ is unique in all of creation.

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

4. Jesus had earned that highly exalted name by His life on earth.

5. Philippians 2:5-9 (KJV) 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

6. The name is important.

7. We call upon the name of the Lord for salvation.

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

9. There is only one thing more highly exalted in all of creation. That is the Word of God.

10. Psalm 138:2 (KJV) 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

11. The phrase “name of the Lord” appears over 100 times in the Bible.

12. His name is the source of our salvation. It brings deliverance to the soul. It drives away Satan.

13. His name is so important that orthodox Jews and come devout Christians will never write it out completely. They still leave out the vowel to show reverence to His name.

14. God’s name is important.

II. Because of the Implications in God’s Name.

1. There’s more to it than just a name.

2. When we consider God’s name, there’s more than just a name at stake.

3. As we’ve already hinted, behind the name is a reputation.

4. If we take His name in vain, we tarnish His reputation.

5. Think about these words from Moses.

6. Exodus 32:10-13 (KJV) 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. 11 And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

7. When God told Moses that He planned to exterminate all of Israel and start over, Moses asked God to consider His reputation.

8. We all are hanging our future on God’s reputation.

9. Titus 1:2 (KJV) 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

10. Hebrews 6:17-19 (KJV) 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

11. If we didn’t feel that we could trust God, all of the rest of this would be in vain. No, we trust God and trust that His name is not vain.

12. Our entire system of faith is based on the single proposition that God can be trusted. If He cannot be trusted, if His name is vain?

13. 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (KJV) 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

14. Behind God’s name rests that reputation that we have put all of our trust in. His name bears great implication.

III. Because of the Immediacy of God’s Name.

1. God will judge those who misuse His name.

2. God can exact quite a punishment for taking His name in vain.

3. Remember Ananias and Saphira.

4. We know the story in Acts 5. You might ask, “What does that have to do with taking the name of the Lord in vain?”

5. They had made a public promise to sell and to give it all.

6. They had sinned in giving only a part. Had it gotten out that they didn’t give all that they had promised, this would have affected God’s reputation.

7. It’s just like any of these other widely public cases of sin.

8. Do we remember what happened in Jeremiah’s day?

9. Jeremiah 23:30-32 (KJV) 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.

10. Jeremiah 23:38-40 (KJV) 38 But since ye say, The burden of the LORD; therefore thus saith the LORD; Because ye say this word, The burden of the LORD, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the LORD; 39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

11. If we take the Lord’s name in vain, we can forget the blessing of God because it will be history.

12. If we take the Lord’s name in vain, we can say hello to judgment and trouble because that is our lot.

13. The Bible tells us that God is slow to anger.

14. Psalm 103:8 (KJV) 8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

15. Psalm 145:8 (KJV) 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

16. If we want to find the end of His gracious longsuffering, all we have to do is to begin to take His name lightly.

I have been asked what I am passionate about. What is the driving philosophy behind what I do.
I used to say that winning people to Christ was my biggest passion, but not anymore.
I believe in soul winning and I think that we should all seek ways to win souls to Christ every day.
I believe that before soul winning is an active defence of the glory of God in our lives. We should each seek to defend the glory of God.
How do we do it? We do it by keeping this commandment. We must never take the name of the Lord in vain.