Taking the Lords name in vain

I work at Walmart, over Christmas I had to help stock the toy isle and I saw a toy there that made my skin crawl! They are called O.M.G. (that stands for oh my god). Now you would think with a name like that they would be Bible story dolls, maybe one comes with a boat and a bunch of animals, or a giant one that comes with a little boy carrying a sling shot. But no, these dolls come complete with fishnet stockings, short skirts, and cleavage about the neckline.

That’s what our society has come too, that when we see something like this, we think its no big deal, after all its just a doll, what harm could it possibly do?

Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

So, what exactly is, “taking the Lords name in vain? In my studies I have come to understand that, Taking the Lords name in vain is a lot more complicated than it first appears. I thought it simply meant cursing at someone using the Lords name, at that is part of it but there is much more to it than that.

Main body

I. Taking the Lords name in vain can mean curse

A. When we use our mouths to speak of God, we need to do it in a reverent way Giving our creator and our savior his due respect.

B. We need not be like Peter while Jesus was on trial for his life.

Mark 14:66–72 (NKJV)

Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.”

But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed.

And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” But he denied it again.

And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.”

Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”

A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

Point out a couple of things

1. Peter had walked with Jesus and promised him he would never betray Him.

2. Peter was afraid of the crowd.

3. Peter was hanging around the wrong crowd.

4. He uses language uncommon to him and he did it on purpose!

All of these things ad up to, Peter took the Lords name in vain! But Peter did not mean to do this, he let his circumstances get the better of him. Yes he broke the commandment but he later repented of it and Jesus forgave him.

II. Another way to take the Lords name in vain is to use his name in order to scam someone or gain in some way.

A. There is another person mentioned in the 14th chapter of Mark, that took the Lords name in vain.

Mark 14:10–11 (NKJV)

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.

1. Judas had walked with Jesus, saw all his signs and wonders

2. Judas created the crowd.

3. Judas had taken up with Jesus so that he might profit from him.

4. Judas would later betray Jesus with a kiss.

Just like Peter, Judas had taken the Lords name in vain. But unlike Peter Judas did not repent, only realized that he really messed up and he went out and hung himself!

CONCLUTION

We as corrupt, fleshy humans are for the most part more like Judas than we like to admit. I know that I have taken the Lords name in vain more times than I would like to admit.

For my last verse of the day, I would like you to turn to:

Isaiah 6:1–8 (NKJV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

The whole earth is full of His glory!”

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

So I said:

“Woe is me, for I am undone!

Because I am a man of unclean lips,

And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

For my eyes have seen the King,

The Lord of hosts.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips;

Your iniquity is taken away,

And your sin purged.”

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,

And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Here is the biggest reason for the commandment, GOD IS HOLY! HOLY! HOLY! He can not stand to be in the presence of anything or anyone that is not HOLY. He gave us his son to take our place and be our righteousness. I pray that God will touch my lips with that hot coal and let me speak as Jesus, and never take the Lords name in vain again!