HIS COMMANDMENTS. “This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:”1 John 2:3-5 HCSB“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.”Exodus 20:7 NKJV
The above Scripture and commandment is not just saying the curse word a lot of people throw around haphazardly. The word “vain” means empty, futility, meaningless and prohibits all employment of the name of God, not only the name of the Lord, but any of His attributes, ordinances, and works by which God hath made himself known; for meaningless (vain) purposes, in lies, or make use of it for any idle, frivolous, or insincere purpose.
It’s used in Isaiah to denote Israel’s emptiness in religious service, “Stop bringing useless (vain) offerings. Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons and Sabbaths, and the calling of solemn assemblies — I cannot stand iniquity with a festival.” Isaiah 1:13 HCSB We are not to make use of the name of the Lord in a light and trifling way, without any show of reverence of Him, and affection to Him; whereas how we speak of Him ought never to be mentioned but in a grave and serious manner, and with an awe of the greatness of His majesty upon the mind.
Our Lord Jesus told us to pray this way, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name”. His name and ways are to be honored, respected and highly esteemed. This word “vain” includes not only false swearing (perjury, false witness against God), but trivial swearing and every use of the name of God in the service of untruth and lying, for imprecation, witchcraft, or conjuring. False prophets prophesying lies is taking the name of God in vain. When you say, “Thus sayeth the Lord!” And God has not said, you take His name in vain. Those who say, “God told me to do this”, and it goes directly against His Word; you take His name in vain, breaking His commandment and making it of none effect, showing irreverence for Him.
We take God’s name in vain: 1) By hypocrisy, making profession of God’s name saying, “I am in Christ”; but not living up to that profession. 2) By covenant-breaking. If we make promises to God, and perform not to the Lord our vows, we take his name in vain. 3) By rash swearing, mentioning the name of God, or any of his attributes, in the form of an oath, without any sincere devotion to obey Him, to no good purpose, or to no good. 4) By false swearing (perjury). 5) By using the name of God lightly and carelessly.
Not in any superstitious way as the Israelites who would not even say His name, but in a way in which God’s name is honored and revered in your life and reflected to the public. God, who is jealous for his honor, will not hold the one who takes His name in vain guiltless. God will Himself be the avenger of those that take his name in vain. Take warning- His Word and commandments are not suggestions. If you don’t know, now you know. “For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”Hebrews 10:30-31 HCSB#runyourrace
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