3 Ten Commandments

Have you ever used something to do a job that it was never intended for? A shoe for a hammer, or a butter knife for a screwdriver, or your teeth for a bottle opener? I know a man that used his brand new Chevrolet Suburban to pull up a stump. Not a good idea. His new transmission cost him several thousand dollars.

Today we continue our study of the Ten Commandments. Commandment three is found in Exodus chapter 20, verse seven. We are told, "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." This commandment is all about people using God's holy name in ways that it was never intended.

The ancient Hebrew language did not have vowels in its written alphabet. God's name was written in four consonants. In Hebrew, they are Hey, Vav, Hey, and Yad. This is where we get the name Yahweh, or Jehovah. The Jewish people were so careful to speak the name that they used Adonai, which means Lord.

God's name was too holy to speak. It was so revered before the invention of the printing press, when scribes would copy the Word of God, every time they came to the name of God, or the four consonants together, they would get up, wash, often change their outfit, pick up an unused quill, pray, and then proceed to write the name. They would do this every time, sometimes multiple times in a verse. That's how respected and revered the name of God once was.

Growing up, I thought that this commandment was simply about cussing. I did not, that I do not use God's name that way. You've heard it too often. I've heard people say the name of Jesus in very inappropriate ways, the name of God.

Modern translations translate Exodus 27 this way: "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name." I like that translation. How do people misuse God's name besides using it to curse? There are several.

One way to misuse his name is by not taking it seriously. Do you remember the story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira, found in Acts chapter 5? I'd encourage you to read that. It's found in the first 11 verses of Acts 5.

As the story goes, the early Christian people were very giving. In fact, they were so giving that many sold their property and gave the proceeds to the apostles for God's work. This couple, Ananias and Sapphira, sold some land and made a big deal, a big spectacle, about giving the money to the apostles. That's great. However, Ananias and Sapphira kept a portion.

Well, there's nothing wrong with that. The problem was that they told everybody that they gave it all away. They were lying. It's an interesting read. Both Ananias and his wife died suddenly as a result of their lying and deceit.

I will read to you one verse from the end of that story. It's Acts chapter 5, verse 11, and it says, after both Ananias and Sapphira died, it says, "Great fear sees the whole church and all who heard these things." I guess so. What Ananias and Sapphira did was take God too lightly. They took God in vain, if you will.

There are several biblical stories I could use to apply here. Adam and Eve took God too lightly, and we're still paying the consequences to this day. Samson took God lightly, and his life ended all too soon. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, took God lightly and suffered the consequences. King David took God lightly, and his family suffered greatly.

What story would you pick? Those are just a few. Send me a note and let me know what you would choose. This is not a new problem, but in today's world we see it all the time. God has joked about and poked fun of.

How many movies or TV shows have you had to turn off because of this? If you haven't turned them off, maybe you're taking God too lightly yourself. This commandment should be like the signs that you see at power stations: "Danger: High Voltage." So one way that God's name is misused is by not taking God seriously.

Another way that this third commandment is broken is by some people that say they are speaking for God. You ever seen a non-Christian try to speak for God? Maybe a celebrity will say something like, if you love God, you'll vote for their calls or their candidate. Maybe it's a friend or a pastor saying something like, I know what the Bible says, but do this anyway.

We were told 10 years ago that the world was going to end on May the 21st, 2011, and then the date was changed to October the 21st, 2011. Christian teachers that set dates are not taking God seriously when they think they really are. And I say that because the Bible is clear in teaching us that no man, nor angel, not even Jesus himself, knows a time of the return. That's in Matthew chapter 24, verse 36, by the way.

Another way that God's name is misused is likely the most common. Many people break this commandment by not using God's name at all. If I go a day without praying, aren't I taking God too lightly? If I think my lucky stars are good luck, or good fortune, or coincidence for a blessing, aren't I misusing God by not giving him the credit?

Do you pray before your meal to give God thanks? If not, why not? Don't ignore God. That misuse is all too common.

Each week we have tried to find a positive way to state these commandments. "You shall not take the name of your Lord God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain" becomes "Thou shalt take the name of the Lord thy God in earnest." Today, that is my prayer for me, for you, for this world: that we take the name of God seriously and in earnest. What a different world this must be if just this one commandment was followed.

Let's pray together. Lord, help us to never ignore, to never presume, to never speak something that is not the truth backed up by your Word. Lord, help us to take you seriously. Forgive us of the times we have not, and thank you for your forgiveness that we've all experienced.

God, we pray for our lives, for our families, and for this world that desperately needs to reconnect with you. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.