“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.” Deuteronomy 5:11
Let’s start with this question, what does it mean to take
the name of the Lord in vain? The Greek word “shav” simply means – using God’s
name in the sense of desolating - This means not to use God’s name “depressingly
empty or bare”. A. H. Strong’s also adds these definitions, such as evil (as
destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively
idolatry (as false, subjectively), uselessness (as deceptive, objectively; also,
adverbially in vain): - false (-ly), lie, lying, vain, and in vanity. God also
tells us that using God’s name in vain is heathenistic, “For they speak
against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.” Psalms 139:20 Therefore, we must conclude
that at the very least it is a sin to use God’s name in a lesser way than holy,
in majesty, in the highest form of reverence, or righteous way. God said, “He
sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever:
holy and reverend is his name.” Psalms 111:9 The word “reverend” means
- to fear; or to morally to revere – we all know what it is to fear, but what
does it mean to “revere”, it means - to feel deep respect or admiration for His
name. Therefore, let us define what it meant by using God’s name in vain, to show
a little respect for it, to have little or no fear of God, or not to have
enough respect for His name to use it only in a Holy way. God reminds us of
this about Him, “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole
heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of
the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work
is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath
made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of
compassion.” Psalms 111:1 - 4 I believe that the most degrading and
despicable thing a Christian can do is use God’s name in a vain way of any
sort. God’s name, and this is any name referring to God, the Father, Son, or
Holy Spirit is to always only to be used in a Holy and Reverence way. I know that sometimes Christians have a slip,
or sometimes maybe ignorance is the reason for using His name in a vain way,
but if you read this article or any like it, then you are without excuse and
responsible to God. God is Holy and God should be Reverenced or Feared,
therefore it is awful and unholy to belittle God’s name in any way. God is
loving, merciful, and gracious to every single soul that is saved and to use
His blessed name with any sort of vain is unrighteous. One writer said, “The
"Name of God" meant much more than the mere breathing of an
articulate word by which men spoke of Him. It meant God in His reality, in His
immanence, in His eternity. To take His name in vain — that is, to no purpose —
is to trifle with Omnipotence; it is to treat Him as though He were not. Thou
takest His name in vain when thou triest to forget or ignore Him, to live
without Him, more defiant than the very devils, to believe yet not to tremble.”
I must agree, to take God’s name in vain is to belittle God and treat His blessed
name as though it is meaningless. Whenever a Christian uses God’s name in an
unholy and vain way it is dishonorable to His glory, and everything we speak
about our Father, His Son, or His Spirit should only be to edify His glory. Just
as Christians speaks of each other, never should a Christian belittle or dishonor
another believer in Jesus Christ. God said, “Let us therefore follow after
the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
Romans 14:19 God is our Father and Jesus is our Saviour and God controls all,
therefore it is disgraceful to disrespectful for anyone who belongs to God to
misuse His Blessed Name. God said in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “Wherefore I give
you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus
accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy
Ghost.” This word “accursed” means to take the name of Jesus useless or to
think of His works as useless. To do this is like taking God’s name as useless as
using it in vain. We must also consider "To take" the Name of God,
any Name of God, or "to take it up” that is to use it in any way, which
may be done either by speaking to him, of him, for him, or against him.
Therefore, this covers a very wide area of our usage. We are not allowed to use
God’s name in a false sense, but we are also forbidden to falsely swear by it
or use it is a false statement, or a profane way. False teaching for God breaks His law, our
teaching must be truth because God’s word is only truth. God’s Name is only
glorified in Truth, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must
worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23 - 24 This is done by
declaring that God’s Truth in His word, and teaching lies or what he has not
said, is to preach lies in God’s Holy Name. It is because they are denying what
God has said, which is absolute truth. God explains this in 1 John 5:9 - 11 “If
we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the
witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son
of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made
him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this
life is in his Son.” That is, they are calling God a liar and teaching
false doctrine in His name, God is only truth, and anything less is a lie,
using God’s Holy name in a lie. Whenever any servant for God gives his own
thoughts as if they were God's message, he is taking the Name of God in vain.
Or if a man, while professing to speak for God, is speaking with the desire to
exalt himself, he is guilty of the same sin. All honor and glory belong only to
God, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be
glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Amen.” Ephesians 3:20 – 21 Speaking
to the glory ourselves or to credit ourselves using God’s truth or glory is vain
and treating God as useless. “…Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the
LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name;
worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
Psalms 29:1 – 2
Please Do Not Use God’s Holy Name in Vain!
