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.
Exodus 20:7
Taking On God’s Name
This verse has to do with taking on God’s name after entering into a covenant relationship with him at baptism. (It’s not about pronunciation of God’s name in a frivolous, irreverent manner.)
We take God into our hearts, into our life.
So when we take on God’s name, we need always to conduct ourselves so He looks good. It is a serious business, something not to be done lightly or for the wrong reasons.
Daniel 12:2 seems to indicate some people will have done just that. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
Today, may we do what the psalmist says in Psalm 96:8–9:
“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth!”
I had never realized that is what was meant by that commandment! It seems to be the exact same concept as a woman taking on her husband’s name after marriage, which makes so much sense! Thanks, Lin!
Hi Becky! My Mom used to say to me as a teen-anger before going out with friends or on a date, “Don’t do anything to bring shame on our family name!” Same idea, I guess. The more I thought of the idea of using God’s name or Jesus’ name as an expletive, it hit me that that is blasphemy.