01 Oct 2008

October 2008 - The Ten Commandments: Precepts for God?s People (3)

Misusing the Name of the LORD

 

NIV: You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
NRSV: You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. 
                                                                                                                    Ex. 20.7; Deut. 5.11

Following from the First and Second Commandments requiring exclusive worship of YHWH based on the truth about Him, the Third Commandment pertains to the name of YHWH. In Old Testament times, particularly in nations such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, Israel and Persia, names were not just names or labels. Names carried with them the bearer’s character, nature, acts (past and present) and even power to act. The use of the name may even invoke the power that the bearer carried.

Magical rituals and divination carried out in the names of different gods was not uncommon during Old Testament times. Misuse and abuse of the names of deities and gods was regarded as a fundamental violation. Indeed, the Israelites lived among people whose allegiance was given to many different divine manifestations and power.

So we read in Exodus 3, where Moses encounters God in the burning bush and asks for His name. God’s answer to him is, “I am who I am.” YHWH alone is God, there is none other; thus, there is none other who could name Him. His name is “I am who I am”. The name of YHWH when mentioned or called upon speaks of the Exodus story (Ex. 3.13–15). The pestilence, the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, the crossing of the Red Sea, the pillars of clouds and all the miracles that the Israelites experienced have to do with the identity and reputation of YHWH’s name (Ex. 9–16). This jealous guarding over YHWH’s name so that it is not brought to disrepute is the concern of the Third Commandment. The Old Testament has much to say about the abuse and misuse of YHWH’s name. The prophets called out the abuse of His name and condemned such abuses.

Herbert Hoffmann … said the focus of the commandment is to make sure that God is not made an accomplice to one’s falseness. In other words, we are not to use God’s name to support our agenda or justify what we say or do, … God’s holy name is wrongly used when it is dragged into the context for our own purpose, associating His name with the cause we want either to promote or to reject.
Misusing God’s Name
The word lashav in the commandment has been rendered “wrongful use”, referring to lying and using of God’s name for no purpose or for triviality or frivolousness. Martin Luther taught that the misuse of God’s name happens when it is used in any way to support falsehood of any kind. William Barclay, a Bible scholar, equates misusing God’s name with using it “for unreality”. The use of God’s name so as to regard lightly the power and presence of God is what is prohibited in the commandment (Ex. 23.1). Swearing falsely in or by the name of God is condemned as sins akin to those of adultery and sorcery (Mal. 3.5). The seriousness of swearing by the name of God falsely is clearly noted here.

Herbert Hoffmann (“The Fundamental Code Illustrated: The Third Commandment” in The Ten Commandments — The Reciprocity of Faithfulness, William P. Brown ed., 2004) said the focus of the commandment is to make sure that God is not made an accomplice to one’s falseness. In other words, we are not to use God’s name to support our agenda or justify what we say or do, especially when we know that God has nothing to do with what we propose, suggest, say or do! God’s holy name is wrongly used when it is dragged into the context for our own purpose, associating His name with the cause we want either to promote or to reject.

While the Old Testament speaks of oathtaking and swearing by God’s name to show one’s truthful intention, Jesus’ words put a stop to such swearing and calls us to simply let our “yes” be “yes”, and our “no”, “no” (Matt. 5.37). Christians are reminded by the commandment to honour God’s name and avoid at all cost any attempt to make God an accomplice to our falsehood or selfish agenda aimed at misleading the people.

Heeding the words of the commandment, as Christians, we may need to rethink some of the phrases that we have rather conveniently employed to convince another Christian to support our agenda. Those phrases include “The Lord spoke to me…”, “The Lord impresses upon me…”, “The Lord said this…” and the like. The Third Commandment compels us to think carefully before we utter those phrases, lest we be too confident and flippantly suggest that God is “on our side”, especially in instances of conflicts and differences of opinions. Instead of taking the easy way out by simply invoking the phrases, it is wise to humbly subject ourselves to the collective views and guidance of a community given over to obeying God, His Word and serving Him.

It may not be too far-fetched to think that the commandment calls us to reexamine some of the phrases we use when we pray, such as “Lord, do this… right now…” or “Lord, heal… right now…” or “Lord, come… right now…”. We question the use of these phrases because it suggests that God is at our beck and call, and we wonder who is telling whom what to do? What kind of a God do we portray through these presumptuous prayers? And what do such prayers say about our faith and, more importantly, our concept of and reverence for God? Have we made our God too small? Have we reversed the roles of Master and servant?

Making false prophecy in the name of God is a misuse of God’s name (see Jer. 14.13-15). Jeremiah had to contend with the prophets’ lying and deception. In their pursuit to be popular, they misused God’s name and prophesied peace for the people that God never spoke of.

14 Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds.

The Third Commandment calls us to be very careful before we hold ourselves out to be the spokesperson for God, speaking and prophesying in His name.

Using God’s name frivolously or making light of His name comes within the ambit of the commandment. God is holy, God’s name is holy. We do not therefore use His holy name any way we like, making it sometimes an exclamation or simply a remark or just for the fun of it because our friends use God’s name so. This sounds petty, does it not? But if we would take a moment and recall all that God has done and all that God has revealed about Himself in the Scriptures and in our world, we would perhaps be more ready to think it not a petty matter. Rather, our frivolous, playful and thoughtless mouthing of the name of God dishonours God! When God’s name is used or invoked, be it carelessly or carefully, God’s nature is disclosed wrongly or rightly. Ex. 34.6–7 says, “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.’” So, the next time we are tempted to follow the crowd in its careless and even blasphemous use of God’s name, we must refrain and even disapprove of such wrongful use of His name.

Honouring God’s Name
Positively, the commandment calls for the exaltation of God’s name. Terrence Fretheim (Interpretation. A Bible Commentary for Preaching and Teaching — Exodus, 1991) said the commandment was to “protect the divine name from being used in any way that brings God or God’s purposes for the world into disrepute”. When leading the people out of Egypt into the Promised Land, God’s concern was “that My Name may be
declared throughout all the earth” (Ex. 9.16). His name was declared throughout all the earth when the people, once held in slavery were freed to worship Him. An almost extinct nation, because of YHWH’s mighty deeds, grew into a strong nation because they had YHWH for their God. His name was declared when His people chose to be holy because YHWH their God is holy. The people, through their words and life declared God’s name throughout all the earth. If the invocation of God’s name is for mission, then we want to ask how we may speak of God’s name and live our lives that it exalts God’s name and draws others into a relationship with the One whose name we exalt and honour. We want to see that God’s name receives honour and respect. Let God’s name be exalted in our worship and praise. Let God’s name be exalted in our prayer. As the Psalmist said,

“I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” (Psa. 69.30)

“I will perpetuate your memory through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you for ever and ever.” (Psa. 45.17)
 
Yet, words can be cheap, as Roland Chia grimly reminds us (Laws of the Heart — The Ten Commandments for Christian Living, 2008). Our actions speak louder than words. Roland Chia gives us insight into this truth when he wrote about the early church persecution by the Roman government. Some Christians were required to trample upon religious symbols like the cross as evidence that they had renounced their faith in Christ. Many refused and were speared or thrown into the arena where they were torn to pieces. Testimonies of this nature challenge us to ask ourselves hard questions how we have honoured God’s name in the social and political context in which we live today. Honouring God’s name entails paying great costs at times, most of the time.

We may verbally exalt God, but our actions may be contrary to what our lips profess. Martin Luther made charges against the religious of his time for dishonouring God when they paid mere lip service to God by their religious activities but lived lives of duplicities, which turned many away from God. Again, our actions speak louder than our words in the way we, people of God honour or dishonour one another and respect or disrespect one another. How have we honoured God’s name in this aspect of our lives together? “We blaspheme God not just by what we say, but also by what we do. When we act in a blasphemous way, we invite others to blaspheme against God as well.” (Roland Chia, p.27)

The commandment must cause us to examine our lives and repent — if what we say and what we do are to exalt, honour and glorify God’s name, then we may pray meaningfully, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”

Rev Ting Moy Hong is the Pastor of Emmanuel Methodist Church, Petaling Jaya.