Exodus 20:5, “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.”
Happy Wednesday! We are almost to the end of the week, and this week, we have been looking at the “Ten Commandments.” This week and next week on MBC Youth Daily Devotionals, we will examine the “Ten Commandments.” We have already looked at the First and Second commandments. Today, we will look at the Third Commandment. During biblical times, names had deep meanings. Names were reflections of not just the personality of the individual in question but also their character, and at times, they also revealed motivations and who they served. Names were not haphazardly chosen or given at a whim. The name of God is unique. The name of God is holy, for in His name, His perfections and divine character is revealed. The name of God reveals that He is self-sufficient, the Uncreated One, and the Ancient of Days. Again, as mentioned in yesterday’s devotional, God has ordained how He is to be worshipped, and part of that worship is reverence towards His Holy Name. God has commanded that His people, Christians, are not to treat His name lightly but are to show respect, honor, and love for His name. Think about the words of Christ when He taught that in prayer, God’s name is to be honored, “Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (Matthew 6:9).” The name of God, Yahweh (I AM), is personally revealed to His people to assure them of His nature, power, knowledge, presence, love, faithfulness, and greatness overall. It is a name that should cause fear because of His great and awesome power, justice, discipline, and wrath toward sin, but it also produces a sense of absolute security, comfort, and happiness. As we even learn of Jesus (in the original language of the Bible, “Yeshua,” which means “God saves”) Christ (in the original language of the Bible, “God’s anointed, the Messiah/Savior”), there is, “salvation in no one else, for there is no other NAME under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12, emphasis added).” It’s amazing to think that the name of God carries not only so much weight but so much promise, hope, confidence, and security. It is why, young believer, you can call upon the name of the LORD and know that you can trust in the name of God to provide, sustain, protect, and love you in immense and unfathomable ways. The Greatest Name of all should not be taken in vain. The Greatest Name of all should not be some kind of euphemism. God, in all His glory, should only have His name, whether it be “God,” “Yahweh,” “Lord,” or “Jesus Christ,” spoken in praise, thankfulness, adoration, and worship. So yes, “OMG” does break the Third Commandment of God, and anything like it makes you guilty of taking the name of the Lord your God in vain. So, be careful, young believer, because you are accountable to God for your speech and use of His name. Don’t let anyone mock God’s Holy Name because it is the name that brought you life, joy, love, and so much more.
Bible through the Year: Genesis 32-33; Romans 13