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 — Exodus 20:7
It is a most precious sound and defiling it brings great punishment. We are talking about God’s Name – YHWH / יְהֹוָה – Yeshua / ישׁוּעַ. This wonderful name is the key to life, salvation, and eternity itself. Yet to misuse and abuse it will bring incalculable loss.
As we continue our series on God’s ‘Top Ten,’ the Ten Commandments, we now focus on the third commandment. It solemnly warns us not to take the name of the LORD in vain and if we do, we will not be guiltless. First, let’s understand the importance of God’s Name, followed by what it means to use it ‘in vain’ in Part 02
Majesty of the Name
First, God actually does have a name, and it is יְהֹוָה or YHWH. The patriarchs, mightily beloved of God, knew God by His titles but not His Name. Only when Moses came to the scene that he, a friend of God was revealed the divine appellation. In Exodus 6:3, the LORD said to Moses: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name (YHWH) was I not known to them.
The divine name is the tetragrammaton, but notice that it is made of all consonants. This makes it unpronounceable. Yes, there are vowels to the name. Moses knew them and some other key people. But the rabbis have passed on this information. Somehow, the ancient Hebrews wanted it this way. They were so afraid of accidentally saying God’s Name in vain that they preferred not to say it at all. Even until now, some Jewish people write the word G-d, making it unpronounceable too, so that the third commandment will not be violated.
Fortunately, the New Testament is more elaborate about God’s Name. Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer to start off with ‘Our Father in heaven’ and then add ‘hallowed (holy) is your Name’ (Matthew 6:9; Luke 11:2). We learn in Acts 4:12 that there is no other Name, under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved. Though we can’t pronounce YHWH, we can pronounce YESHUA / JESUS, the name above every name.
Yeshua/Jesus uses the phrase ‘in my Name’ 17 times in the gospels: Matthew 18:5, 20; 24:5; Mark 9:37, 39, 41; 13:6; 16:17; Luke 9:48; 21:8 (2x) John 14:13,14, 26; 15:16; 16:23,24,26. Of interest is that we are saved and baptised ‘in the Name’ of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. This is the first time the trinitarian formula is used. Note that, ‘Name’ is singular, denoting that there is One God. Though the Old Testament is replete with references of the possibility of plurality of persons in the Godhead (Genesis 1:26; Psalm 110:1; Psalm 45:6-7), only in the New Testament does it limit the personalities of the Godhead to three.
We learn that by faith in the Name of Jesus brings wholeness, healing, and salvation to those who receive it (Acts 3:6, 16). God gave Jesus Christ a Name which is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus knees shall bow and tongues confess. Is it only Christian knees that will bow and confess? No, it is ‘every knee’ and ‘every tongue’ (Philippians 2:9-11).
In short, God’s Name / Jesus’ Name is the key that unlocks eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, baptism and fulness of the Holy Spirit, power over sin, sickness, the world, danger, devil, death and hell. It is wonderful, powerful and priceless; for this reason we must never misuse or abuse it.
TO BE CONTINUED