Taking the Name of the Lord in Vain

"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." - Exodus 20:7

How does one "take the name of the Lord in vain"? It has been said that to "take the name of the Lord in vain" means to use the word "God" in a profane expression. Certainly, to use the word "God" in an irreverent manner is not good; however, that is not what is intended by the biblical phrase, "taking the name of the Lord in vain". The true meaning of that phrase is made clear if we substitute "bear" for the word, "take". We would then have this for our scripture from Exodus 20:7: "Thou shalt not bear the name of the Lord in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who bears His name in vain."
Jesus told Paul that he was to "bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Bearing the precious name of Jesus with integrity, faith, and charity, Paul turned many to righteousness in the ensuing years. He did not bear, or take the name of the Lord upon himself, in vain. As Paul later testified, "His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all." (1Cor.15:10).

After Moses led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, he took her to Mount Sinai, to enter into a covenant with the Lord. First, though, the Lord sent Moses down from the mountain to deliver His "proposal" to Israel: "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people, for all the earth is mine. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." Ex.19:4-6.
The prospective bride accepted His proposal (v.8), and the date was set for the ceremony: "Be ready against the third day, for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai." Ex.19:11

When a man and a woman are united in a covenant of marriage, they become, "one flesh" (Gen.2:24). And this "one flesh" bears one name. For example, when my sister and her husband were married,she took her husband's name. He has been a great blessing to her life, a wonderful, helpful mate in Christ. And they have one child. She did not take His name in vain. But if she had been unfaithful, or had caused him financial difficulty, or been in any other way a hindrance in Christ, the purpose for her being married would have not been achieved. He would have taken his name in vain, for nothing. Similarly, when we enter into covenant with God by receiving the holy Ghost, we become one with Him in Spirit (1Cor.6:17), and in so doing, we take His holy name. From that time, everything we do or say reflects on the name we bear. We may bear it honorably or dishonorably, faithfully or unfaithfully.

God insisted that Israel bear His name honorably. He chose Israel to be the vehicle for His divine light, and by obeying His Law she would shine, and draw other nations to God. Aware of the risk that Israel would bring disgrace upon His holy name, God gave the warning, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain". Unfortunately, Israel did not heed the warning given.
After demonstrating great patience and mercy on His unfaithful spouse, God finally announced that He would no longer recognize that first covenant. In other words, He divorced Israel. Jesus told the leaders of Israel, "the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof" (Mt.21:43). The prophets often likened Israel to a vineyard which produced bitter fruit instead of sweet grapes. Isaiah (5:7) says, "The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant. And he looked for [justice], but behold oppression, for righteousness, but behold a cry [from the oppressed poor]." "I planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed, " lamented the Lord through Jeremiah, "how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (Jer.2:21). Israel became "an empty vine" (Hos.10:1). Israel took the name of Jehovah upon herself, but then was unfaithful to His commandments and walked not in His ways. Unfruitful in righteousness, she took His name for nothing, in vain.
"Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt. Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it"

Faithfulness, and, so, fruitfulness is required of all who are in covenant with God (cp.Rom.7:4). Israel was given the Law to guide her into the lifestyle that would result in fruitfulness, and Israel's only hope of being fruitful was to obey it, but she did not. The church has been given the Spirit to guide her, and the church's only hope of bearing fruit acceptable with God is to obey the Spirit, and she has not. Without the anointing of the Spirit there can be no acceptable worship, no right doctrine, no profitable labor, and no holy relationships, and it is tragic beyond words that the Holy Ghost baptism is considered by many in the church to be an optional experience. If Israel erred, and was condemned, for not heeding the Law, then can the church be less guilty if we ignore, or relegate to a secondary position, the greater Guide? Paul underscores this by saying, "For as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons of God" (Rom.8:14). Those who are led of the Spirit do not live in sin (Gal.6:16), because there is no sin in Him (1Jn.1:5). Spirit-led believers bear holy fruits of the Spirit, which are these: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. To these we might add Peter's list in 2Pet.1:5-7, with his comment that, "if these be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." We can bear God's name honorably only as we walk in the new life of the Spirit of God. A believer who is not obedient to the Spirit has received that Spirit for nothing, and is bearing God's name disgracefully, fruitlessly - in vain. May God, in His great mercy, help us all to take full advantage of the precious opportunity to live and worship in the Spirit and in the truth, for therein lies our only hope of bearing God's name in a manner which will produce the fruit He requires of His people.

The world's attitude toward God is often shaped by the lifestyles of those who bear His name. How many immoral and idolatrous lives were changed by the good influence of the Apostles' lives! The apostles understood the importance of holy living. They knew that unbelievers are influenced by the conduct of those who are called by the name of the Lord, either to reverence or disdain him. They were adamant that the church live so "that the name of our God and his doctrine be not blasphemed" (1Tim.6:1). Jesus demonstrated this same concern when he said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Mt.5:16).

Our lives are the only Bible which some will ever read. Are men reading good things about your heavenly Father in your life, my brother? my sister? What kind of God would those around you say that God is, based upon your lifestyle and conversation? Would they think He is slow to anger? Could they believe that He is merciful? holy? a compassionate God, not wanting any to perish?

Unfortunately, it sometimes happens that, because of the manner of some believers, the unconverted hold a low opinion of the Lord. Speaking of the Lord's Old Testament people who were evil, Paul wrote, "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" (Rom.2:24; Isa.52:5). What a sad commentary on their lives! Yet, even those well known for their devotion to God have, by stumbling into a transgression, sometimes brought shame upon the holy name they bore. Sternly rebuking King David, who was crushed with remorse for his sin with Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan said, "by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" (2Sam.12:14). Nathan was not concerned that the Lord's enemies would blaspheme David for his sin. What disturbed him was, he knew that sinful souls would use David's sin to defame the God David served. Oh, how it must have grieved David to think of the disgrace he had brought upon the One who had lifted him from the lowly status of shepherd-boy to be King of Israel! David's heartfelt confession of sin included an acknowledgement that his sin had actually been against God Himself (Ps.51:4), for it was God's holy name which was brought into disgrace by David's evil deed.

It is not surprising that one of Paul's requirements for one who would occupy the office of a bishop was that "he must have good report of them which are outside [the faith]" (1Tim.3:7). Paul knew that living honestly toward those outside the faith lends more credence to one's verbal witness. How can one expect to win someone to Christ if he owes that person a debt and will not pay it? or if that person beholds in the believer any unrighteous conduct? It is imperative, for the sake of Christ Jesus and for the souls of men, that we "give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" (1Tim.5:14). If anyone refuses to serve the Lord Jesus, it is important that the reason they refuse to serve him not be that one of Jesus' followers has mistreated him! In every circumstance, our highest priority should always be to bring glory to God.

Dear friend, soon this little life will be ended. Soon those who love us will be gathered around our graves. What will your life have told them about Christ Jesus? Oh, let us make the most of these fleeting hours and strive to "adorn the gospel of God our Savior in all things", so that we leave no shadow cast upon the name of Jesus. What greater epitaph can we have figuratively engraved upon the hearts of those who knew us than for them to know, in their hearts, that we lived "soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"? What greater gift could we give?
How strongly I feel the compassion of Christ in the injunction Paul gave, "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2Tim.2:19). My friend in Christ, let us be "followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which is not convenient, but rather giving of thanks."
If you are among those who have strayed from the right path, consider again what others are thinking about your dear Lord because of you. I once wandered away from the Lord, and I remember that when I had rejoined sinful company, my unbelieving friends would sometimes make light of faith in God, and in doing so would confidently look at me, as if I should most of all agree with their scornful words. To them, I was living proof that trusting and serving God was worthless, for I had "tried it" and then returned to the ways of the world. They didn't blame me for my unfaithfulness to God. They assumed that God was an unreal figment of man's imagination. That always made me uncomfortable, for nothing could have been farther from the truth, and I knew it.
Thinking now of the harm I did to the name of Jesus, and to my friends, who needed desperately for someone to be a light for their lives, I am filled with all the more awe and gratitude that the Lord called me to himself again. Needless to say, I am resolved that, by the grace of God, my life shall never again be other than a testimony to His mercy, His holiness, His wisdom, and His power. God forbid that any of us should ever again give cause for another to reproach the name of Jesus. Let us love both God and sinners that much.

What more compelling reason could we have for living a holy life than to bring honor to the holy name we bear? Genuine thankfulness for being forgiven is demonstrated by consecrated living. Nothing declares the goodness of God to the world any more clearly or forcefully than does an honest, holy life. Let us all determine not to take the name of our Lord in vain. On the contrary, by the simplicity and sincerity of godliness let us "show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1Pet. 2:9). It is for that purpose that He sent us His Spirit. And it is only in accomplishing that purpose that we do not bear His holy name in vain.

Reference: The Holy Bible