Through the Bible - Exodus 23-25, Matthew 20:17-34
Good morning
If you asked people on the street to name the 10 commandment many, if not most, would probably be able to rattle off don't lie, don't steal, don't murder and a few more would ad don't commit adultery. But I would hazard a guess and say that few would quote "Thou shalt have no other God before me. For today's verse we'll go to another one that would not often be quoted.
Exodus20:7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. NLT
or from the NKJV
or from the NKJV
Ex 20:7 "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. NKJV
Sometimes the New Living Translation is looked down upon by some for it's paraphasing as varying from the original intended meaning. In today's case, it may actually do a better job of conveying the meaning. Many people would limit the meaning of "taking the name of the Lord in vain" (NKJV) as the all too often heard cursing. We should make it more of a point to consider what "misusing" the name of the Lord might mean. Could it include texting "OMG" which stands for "oh my God"? How about when it is used as sort of an exclamation point?
Matthew Henry comments, , "The sinner may perhaps hold himself guiltless, and think there is no harm in it, and that God will never call him to an account for it. To obviate this suggestion, the threatening is thus expressed, God will not hold him guiltless, as he hopes he will; but more is implied, namely, that God will himself be the avenger of those that take his name in vain, and they will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." God takes the use of His Name seriously, we should too. We should be careful of how we use the Lord's name. It should be used much more in praise, adoration, and prayer and not in any derogatory manner. The way we use His Name reveals a lot of what is in our heats. May this be the attitude that is in our hearts today.
The Lord's Prayer should give us some indication of the way we use and revere the name of the our Lord should be of first importance. Matt. 6:9 "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." NKJV
I'll close with an example of a praise and a prayer that would honor God.
Ps 118:28-29
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever. NLT
His faithful love endures forever. NLT
This is a prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, it is a powerful model for us:
"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy."
Consider this today, honor His Name.
In Christ,
Mike
Ex 20:1-18
Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community
20 Then God gave the people all these instructions:
2 "I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
3 "You must not have any other god but me.
4 "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 "You must not murder.
14 "You must not commit adultery.
15 "You must not steal.
16 "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." NLT
3 "You must not have any other god but me.
4 "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
7 "You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 "You must not murder.
14 "You must not commit adultery.
15 "You must not steal.
16 "You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." NLT
1 comment:
The entertainment industry has gone through a complete reversal in the last 50 years. It used to be that one of the rules of censorship would be that God's name could not be used except with reverence. Now it is the opposite. God's name is taken in vain and with disrespect so much on TV and in movies that I suspect there is a reverse censorship going on - they won't make a movie or air a TV show unless God's name is used disrespectfully at least once.
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