Timeless Truths for Troubled Times #4 God’s Name is Not a Swear Word Exodus 20:7
Introduction: 1. Ted Turner declared the Ten Commandments obsolete some years ago. a. "We're living with outdated rules. b. The rules we're under are the Ten Commandments and I bet nobody even pays much attention to them because they're too old. c. When Moses went up on the mountain, there were no nuclear weapons, there was no poverty. 2. Today the Ten Commandments wouldn't go over. a. Nobody around likes to be commanded. b. Commandments are out!" 3. Turner is wrong when he says that the Ten Commandments are outdated – we are seeing that they are as fresh as ever 4. Turner was right when he said that no one likes to be commanded 5. We must have rules or laws for society to operate properly a. Imagine if there were no rules or laws in math b. Imagine if there were no laws or rules in physics or chemistry c. Imagine if there were no rules in sports 6. Each of us here today has a tongue a. Though relatively small compared to the rest of the body, the tongue is very powerful b. We can split the atom and put a man on the moon, but we still have difficulty controlling that tongue c. Bible has much to say about the tongue - Ja 3:1-12, Eph 4:29 7. The key to understanding the Third Commandment lies in "in vain." a. Hebrew expression means "lightly, frivolously, loosely, casually b. Taking God's name "in vain" = to use it in a light, frivolous or casual way. 8. The issue here is whether or not we take God’s name seriously a. The main point of this commandment is not about swearing. b. The issue is whether or not we take God’s name seriously 9. This commandment was given to the Jews—not to the Canaanites. a. Pagans can swear / blaspheme, but their’s is a pale imitation of ours b. Consider these words of G. Campbell Morgan: “The profanity of the church is far worse than the profanity of the streets. The blasphemy of the sanctuary is far worse than the blasphemy of the slums. 10. Illustration - In the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey, there live a certain variety
of cranes. These birds tend to cackle a lot, especially when flying.
All the noise gets the attention of eagles, which then swoop down and
seize them for a meal. The experienced cranes avoid this threat by
picking up stones to fill their mouths. This prevents them from
cackling and from becoming lunch for the eagles. Some people would do
well to fill their mouths with stones so that filth does not pour out
of their mouths.
I. God's Name is a Venerable Name A. Announcement of God's Holy Name 1. Names in the Bible are very important 2. They usually reveal something about the person 3. How we treat a person’s name, reflects how we view that person 4. You and I have a first name, middle name and family name 5. God’s names are different a) Each name reflects another aspect of His nature b) Gods’ nature is so complex that it takes many names for Him to reveal His many attributes / qualities to us 6. LORD = Jehovah a) This describes God as the self-existent One b) This is the name used in Ex 3:14 when God revealed Himself 7. God = Elohim a) This is the strong and faithful One b) When God stepped out of eternity to reveal Himself to man He used this name in Gen 1:1 – “In the beginning, God…” c) Ps 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
B. Adoration of God's Holy Name – Ps 111:9 9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. 1. Names are important. a) Your name is important to you. b) It may not matter to anyone else in the world but you care about your name because it identifies who you are. 2. Think of how much time parents spend naming their children. a) They spend hours thinking about the possibilities b) Discussing, debating, arguing, writing down a first name, then adding a middle name, then reversing the order or dropping one and adding another. 3. God's name is to be held in highest reverence and adoration 4. To take God’s name lightly… a) is to scorn His nature and character b) to underestimate his power + show contempt for his presence c) to misrepresent His reputation to others d) to treat the awesome privilege of His relationship lightly 5. Here is the only use of "reverend" in the Bible and it is referring to God and not to man 6. The Jews held God's name in high regard a) Scribes coming to the name of God when copying the OT would stop. They would wash themselves, change pens, and then write the name of God. They would then throw away that pen so that it would not write another word b) Orthodox Jews today still won't say "Jehovah" or "Elohim", they say "Adonai" instead 7. We have lost that holy respect of God's name 8. Bible commands us to hold God's name in reverence
II. God's Name is a Violated Name 7 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. A. When It is Used as a Curse Word 1. "vain" = empty, idle, insincere, phony, frivolous 2. Profane comes from pro = before and fane = temple a) Enemies attack a city would go to their temple and bring out their god and smash it on the street in front of the temple b) Something is profaned when it is taken out of the temple and used outside a spiritual environment c) To take spiritual terms like "damn" and "hell" and God's name and use them in curses is profanity 3. Sadly, we hear God's name degraded far more often than we hear it exalted a) Books, magazines, music, TV are full of profanity b) Today’s comedians are garbage mouths c) Profanity – weak people using strong words. 4. Even Christians use slang terms that are derivatives of God's name… a) Gosh b. Golly c. Gee whiz d. Jeeze 5. Others use a substitute for "damn" a) Darn b. Gosh darn c. Dag nab it 6. Using God's name in vain makes us guilty of violating the holiest of all names
B. When We Use It Casually 1. How often is God's name attached to false statements? a) "I swear to God that this is the truth" b) Lev 19:12 2. No one says, “Oh, Hitler!” or “Oh, Satan!” 3. People use God’s name which makes it seem worthless and commonplace instead of something to be held in high honor
C. When We Act as Carnal Christians 1. Call yourself a Christian and you bear testimony to God's name 2. Borrow money and don't repay it you hurt God's name 3. Fail to live for the Lord and you damage God's name 4. By our lives we honor God's name or we dishonor God's name
D. When the Lost Use It as Camouflage 1. One of the worst ways to degrade God's name is for the lost to pretend to be Christians and take God's name 2. A Christian is a miniature Christ and if someone calls himself a Christian and really isn't saved he is taking God's name in vain.
III. God's Name is a Vindicated Name – Ex 20:7 7 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. A. There is Punishment for the Violator 1. God will deal with those who willfully violate his name 2. God takes His name very seriously
B. There is a Path for the Christian 1. Acknowledge the Privilege of a Relationship with God a) We can take God’s name more seriously by acknowledging the privilege of our relationship with Him b) We sometimes forget that it is incredible to have a personal relationship with God c) Imagine that you were invited to a conference of world leaders at Camp David. You pass through all the layers of security and enter the room where the officials are meeting. In hushed, respectful tones, chiefs of staff are speaking to their respective leaders, “Mr. President,” “Mr. Chairman,” “Ms. Prime Minister” Some of the world leaders notice you and come over to you with their hands extended. You nervously respond, “Mr. President, Mr. Chairman, Ms. Prime minister.” They respond, “Enough of that, no formalities for you. Please call me Bill, call me John, call me Boris, call me Margaret” How would you respond? In giving you their names, they are opening up new personal relationships. That scenario will never happen, but something greater has. Through Jesus Christ, the God of creation, the great I AM has extended his hand to you and me and has not just given us His names, but he has asked us to call Him Father. 2. Am I doing anything to hurt His reputation? 3. Am I speaking highly of God when given the opportunity? 4. How are you using your tongue? A missionary to the orient witnessed a man approach a heathen idol. He bowed before it and then pulled out a knife and cut out his own tongue, placing it before the idol. Within minutes the man collapsed in a pool of his own blood at the base of the idol. God's doesn't want you to cut your tongue out, but He does want it dedicated and consecrated wholly to His worship, adoration and glorification. How are you using your tongue?
Conclusion: 1. Thank God right now for the privilege of a relationship with Him. 2. Think of one thing you can do this week to enhance God’s reputation in your surroundings…. And do it. 3. Refuse ever to speak of or treat God lightly, even in jest. 4. Attempt to remain conscious of God’s nearness throughout the day tomorrow. 5. Consider how God’s power might help you face a current obstacle or dilemma 6. Speak highly and freely of some of the great things that God has done for you. 7. Take a walk in a park and consider the greatness of the One who made what you can see. 8. Meditate on Scripture passages that speak of God’s presence and power (Psalm 8, 23, 139; Rom 8:28-39) 9. Behave with complete integrity in your work, school, home and community.
