Hold High God's Name

When We Honor God’s Name, We Honor God Himself, Who Died to Save Us from Our Sin.

Luther’s explanation to the Second Commandment states: “We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks” (Luther’s Small Catechism, pp. 11–12).

The Second Commandment reads, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Ex 20:7). The term “in vain” means to empty of significance, to disrespect, to belittle. The issue of the Second Commandment is reverence.

We are an irreverent society. We like to knock people off their pedestal. We are happy to hear about the weaknesses and failures of the rich and famous. Like me, you may glance furtively at the sensational headlines on tabloids as you stand in the checkout lane. We have an obsessive need to pop everybody’s bubble, to reduce everyone to our level of ordinariness. Is that also why we are so irreverent with God’s name? We don’t want even Him considered special?

In preparation for this evening I read about a man and wife who took a trip to New England. The man wrote how they amazed that they hadn’t heard any swear words. He wrote about a difficult hike up a steep mountain along with a group of high school youth. Not even the teenagers had used any swear words despite the slipping, sliding, and scraping. At the last stop, they asked the hostess why there was no swearing in this part of the country. The hostess’ first response revealed what she thought of the Midwest, where we live, “Perhaps people are better educated here.” (She apparently associated vulgar language with lack of culture.) To which the man replied, “Plenty of people with doctorates use that kind of language too.” Then she guessed, “Perhaps it has to do with the Puritan background in this part of the country.”

That makes sense. The Puritans indeed did revere God’s name, and perhaps they set a standard that remains today. They feared God and would never use his sacred name casually or disrespectfully.

What does the word god mean to you? I must admit that when people say, “O God,” I don’t get as upset as when they say “Christ” this and “Jesus” that. To me, apparently, the word god is generic. It’s common to all religions and has many meanings, different for a Hindu or a Muslim or a Christian.

The Second Commandment is Reverence.

But the name of Jesus is different. That name is important to the faith. That is the name of the Son of God who became flesh and blood like you and me—who loved us enough to die on the cross in our place. That is the name through which we are saved and have forgiveness of sins, new life, and the assurance of eternity in heaven. Peter says, “There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

That is the name God exalted over every name and sat at his own right hand. Paul says, “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9–11).

Many years ago I was invited by a friend to attend worship with a group of Messianic Jews; Jews who confess Christ as Lord. As I watched and observed I noticed that every time the name of God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit were mentioned, they would cover their face with their hands and bow their heads. Now, we may not literally bow our head or knee at the name of Jesus, but do we bow spiritually? Do we humble ourselves and honor that name before the world?

Growing up in San Francisco Bay Area, I heard four-letter words everywhere. It was common, not a misuse of the name of God; it was just coarse and vulgar according to our culture. Of course, my mother didn’t like it at all. But what’s interesting, most of my Roman Catholic friends got into trouble when they said “Gee,” or “Gee wiz.” These are shorthand for “Jesus” and “Jesus Christ.” Their families deeply revered the name of their Savior and resented anyone using that sacred name flippantly.

The Second Commandment confronts us with a personal question: how deeply do we revere our Savior? There is a liturgical custom that each time the name of Jesus is mentioned in worship—in a Gospel reading, hymn, or prayer—all worshipers should slightly bow their heads. I don’t personally follow that practice, though I do bow my head whenever the name of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, is mentioned.

A Jew never says Yahweh, the name God told to Moses at the burning bush, meaning “I am who I am” (Ex 3:14). When those letters appear in Hebrew text, a Jewish worshiper will avoid saying the sounds. He will switch to Adonai, another name for God in the Old Testament, but will never say Yahweh, the real name of God. That would be sacrilegious and irreverent.

Through Jesus’ name, we are saved and have forgiveness of sins.

Do you feel that way about the name of Jesus?

Do you count it a privilege that you know this name and all it means for our life and salvation?

How would your life be different if you did not know this name?

St. Paul says, “Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17).

Luther includes that thanks in his explanation of the Second Commandment: “We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.”

Hold high the name. When you hear the name Jesus, do you think of him on the cross, going through hell in your place? Do you honor his name by praying? Do you think of him rising on Easter and going to prepare a place for you at his side for all eternity? Do you honor his name by rejoicing?

Each time an opportunity arises to come attend the Divine Service, do you relish the opportunity to join with fellow Christians to fall at Jesus’ feet and hear his words of hope and direction?

Do you honor his name by listening?

Do you look forward to every opportunity to come to the Lord’s Table and receive His body and blood through the bread and wine, to fill yourself with his love and forgiveness?

Do you honor his name by coming?

Hold high the name! The next time I hear Jesus’ name misused, I pray that God’s Spirit will embolden me to say, “You know, that’s the name of my best friend and Savior.”

When We Honor God’s Name, We Honor God Himself, Who Died to Save Us from Our Sin.