Using God’s Name

 
The second commandment tells us, "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God."

What is God’s Name?

God’s name reveals to us who He is. In the Bible, names often mean something. Often the name which God reveals to us describes something to us about how He relates to us.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of the birth of the Son of God saying:

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The angel told Joseph to name the child of God, Jesus which means "the Lord saves". (Matthew 1:21)

How do we misuse God’s name?

The Lord tells us that He will not overlook it when we misuse His name. So it is very important for us to understand what God means by using His name and how we should use and not use His name.

We can misuse God’s name by not being conscience of how wonderful it is that we are God’s people and can call upon Him with His name, but instead use it carelessly. We can especially misuse God’s name when we curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or decieve by His name.

Believe it or not people do use God’s name to curse. Sometimes people use His name to curse God Himself as they did when they mocked Jesus when He was dying upon the cross. (Matthew 27:39-43) Other times people misuse God’s name by calling down curses upon other people. Even when we feel the cause is just, it is not our place to invoke the wrath of God on a person’s life and wish them harm and injury.

James 3:9-10 Sometimes it (our voices) praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against those who have been made in the image of God. [10] And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!

We should also be careful about swearing by God’s name. We may be required to give a vow for God’s glory or to help our neighbor, such as in the court of law or the taking of wedding vows. But we should not undertake such a vow swearing absolutely by God’s name lightly. We certainly should not use God’s name to make a false promise.

Romans 13:1 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God.

Numbers 30:2 A man who makes a vow to the Lord or makes a pledge under oath must never break it. He must do exactly what he said he would do.

Leviticus 19:12 "Do not use my name to swear a falsehood and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.

Even in today’s modern world, we still find people who use God’s name to practice Satanic arts. Satan is a very real person, and will try to trick and deceive whomever he can with his power.

1 Peter 5:8 Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

People misuse God’s name by using His very name to claim special powers to perform acts that are supernatural with the help of Satan. Many times you will find those who claim to talk to the dead, speak the future, give guidance into living, all in the name of a supernatural ability they claim is from God, but is from themselves.

Nor is it honoring God’s name when Christians seek the help of such people or engage in Satanic worship. But misusing God’s name in this area does not have to be so obvious. It could be as seemingly innocent as consulting a horoscope, because in so doing we are seeking out a supernatural power that will tell the future.

Deut. 18:10-12 For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling or sorcery, or allow them to interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, [11] or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. [12] Anyone who does these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.

People also misuse God’s name when they lie or deceive by using His name. This is a little different from taking a vow to God knowing it is a lie. This pertains to lying about God and one’s relationship to God.

People misuse God’s name when they teach something against His Holy Scriptures claiming it is from God and true to God. God clearly makes the point that we are to hold to His teaching in Scripture and not change it to fit what we desire it to be.

Unfortunately, the church has always been challenged with false teachers who claim what they say is of God. Many times the desired end they try to bring about is worthy, for example the desire to bring unity back to the church in the world. But the goal does not justify the means when the means goes against God’s expressed command to keep His teaching pure and not to compromise on issues of teaching and doctrine.

1 Tim. 6:3-4 Some false teachers may deny these things, but these are the sound, wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are the foundation for a godly life. Anyone who teaches anything different is both conceited and ignorant..

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2 Tim. 3:13-14 But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will go on deceiving others, and they themselves will be deceived. But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

Nor should we deceive by God’s name by hiding a sinful life or an unbelieving or unrepentant heart by pretending to be a Christian.

Matthew 15:8 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away.

How can we use God’s name?

With great joy we may use God’s name. Jesus is the one who saves, for remember, Jesus means the Lord saves. He has died to take away all our sin so that our relationship with God is restored and healthy. We are God’s children because of Jesus. (John 1:12-13) And so we may call upon God using His name.

God wants us to call upon Him all the time, whenever we have need or just to talk to Him and give Him thanks and praise. God will hear every request we offer in the name of Jesus.

John 16:23 . . . The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name.

Because Jesus had given Himself for our sins and He and the Father and the Spirit is our God, we may use God’s Holy name to:

Call upon God (Psalm 50:15)

Praise our God (Psalm 103:1)

Give our God thanks (Psalm 118:1)

Teach and give witness to His truth (1 Tim 1:3)

Praise be to God for His Holy Name which is above every name.

 




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Rev. David D. Reedy 2002

 

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church   

Dayton Tennessee   

423.775.4253

Prince of Peace is a LCMS congregation located in Rhea County Tennessee, serving the entire county of some 32,000 people.