We are in chapter twenty of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. שָׁוְא worthless, futile, emptiness, vanity, inconsequential. It is used 54 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of being valueless or futile. The salvation of people is identified with our word. Psalm 60:11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא for vain is the salvation of man! Psalm 108:12 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is וְ֝שָׁ֗וְא worthless. We see our word used in this similar idea of the sense of trying to prepare without God’s blessing and will. Psalm 127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor שָׁ֤וְאin vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch שָׁ֤וְא in vain. שָׁ֤וְא In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for while they sleep he provides for those he loves. We also see our word used to describe idols. Jonah 2:8 Those who cling to שָׁ֑וְא worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. Our word is used to describe how God’s enemies treat him. Psalm 139:19-20 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name לַשָּׁ֣וְאin vain. God’s enemies treat God this way because they don’t think he is real or can bring life to them. Let’s look at our word in our chapter as part of the ten commandments. Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God לַשָּׁ֑וְא in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name לַשָּֽׁוְא in vain. If we remember earlier God is YHWH the reality true God who brought the people out of Egypt. He is contrasted from everything that can’t give life so we should not treat him like everything else in life that can’t save, love and transform our lives with goodness. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that God is the one who gives us life contrasted to everything else. This is why we shouldn’t treat him like everything else. Psalm 119:37 Turn my eyes from looking at שָׁ֑וְאworthless things; and give me life in your ways.
