For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.
Last time
- The first four commandments amplify the "greatest commandment": to love the Lord our God with all our heart (Deuteronomy 6:5).
- As we learned, the first commandment is to worship God only, allowing no false god to capture our heart. The second forbids concretely disobeying the first -- creating an idol. The third also follows from God's nature as holy and absolute: reverence for his name.
Text
- Third commandment
- Exodus 20:7: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
Comments
- Taking the Lord's name in vain does not directly refer to "swearing" -- unless actual oaths are in view.
- God's name is misused when we appeal to it in an oath we do not intend to keep.
- Under the new covenant, we do not need oaths.
- Jesus' teaching (Matthew 5:33-37; see James 5:12) is susceptible of two understandings.
- We are forbidden to make or take oaths.
- We should be so trustworthy that we don't need oaths (or contracts, etc).
- God's name is also misused when it becomes a handle by which we aim to manipulate him:
- To assure good luck
- To receive "yes" answers to our prayers
- To wring concessions from the Lord
Thought questions
- Do I have a mechanical approach to faith?
- How do I react with others dishonor God's name?
- Am I a man/woman of my word?
- Further study: listen to the podcast on The Name of God, in which I reason that
- It is unnecessary to sign off prayers "in Jesus' name," as though failing to do so is like failing to put a stamp on your letter.
- Baptisms are de facto in the name of Jesus Christ when performed to submit the one being baptized to the Lordship of Christ, regardless of which baptismal "formula" is used -- or any at all.
- God's name represents his authority, presence, and nature.
Next time: the fourth commandment.