10C's #3: don't diminish God's name
i've had a real hard time wrapping my brain around this one, and as i'll show, i'm not much worse off than the commentators. i consider my opinion no better or worse than theirs. a couple immediate observations.
1-the Lord's Prayer begins with the positive response to this commandment, "hallowed be your name"
2-the punishment is not pronounced on subsequent generations but on the offender. i think there is a rich vein to mine here on why the idolaters are punished to 3rd and 4th generations but the vanitizer/diminisher/devaluer is punished solely. but i'm not smart enough for that one. can someone compare and contrast this for me? i do think it negates arguments of God did things one way then changed later on. it seems he had restraint in the verse after the one He seems in our modern perspective less restrained.
so what's the "vain" word mean? i looked in some concrodance software and its not the same word as the one used in Ecclesiastes. Job uses it alot, so do the Psalmists, and somewhat in the prophets. what's the word mean?
here's one def
Meaning: emptiness, vanity
Origin: from an unused word
Usage: deceit(2), deceitful(1), deception(1), emptiness(2), empty(1), false(9), false visions(4), falsehood(7), lies(1), vain(18), vanity(3), worthless(4).
it doesn't seem like a good word. "vanity" isn't quite the same for today's speaker, but "worthless" works. don't treat God's name as worthless. OK. but what does that mean? it seems everyone has an opinion, and i'll share a few of them.
A-against syncretism
Of special interest is the use of the term in the third commandment in Exod 20:7 (par. Deut 5:11): NIV “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God” (more lit., “you shall not lift up . . . to falsehood” [aCö;ti alàø... aw“V-;l']). The traditional view has been that the command is a prohibition against using the Lord's name lightly, in anger, or in the swearing of oaths. The Israelites are commanded, however, to take their oaths in Yahweh's name (Deut 6:13; 10:20). And while there are no other prohibitions in the Pent. that would correspond to a light or unthinking use of the Lord's name, there are several warnings against using the Lord's name in giving false (rq,v&,) testimony (Exod 23:1; Lev 19:12). These data, together with the replacement of rq,v&, in Exod 20:16 with aw“v; in Deut 5:20 [17], make it tempting to regard the commandment as a prohibition only against the use of the Lord's name in giving false witness.While the evidence is impressive that this is most likely the primary sense, several have rightly cautioned against restricting the scope of the commandment since aw“v;, while in the same semantic field as rq,v&,, is not merely a synonym for it (Childs, Durham, Reiterer). The suggestion of von Rad and Mowinckel, that the term refers to evil magic, seems tenuous and has not been generally followed as being the primary sense. One particular suggestion is more attractive; because of the prohibition's location in the Decalogue, in juxtaposition to the first two commandments, which deal with false gods, and the fourth commandment, which has to do with worship, what is being forbidden may be syncretistic worship, i.e., the Lord's name being lifted up along with that of idol gods, or even in some way being attached to idols. (New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology)
B- no magic use of God's name, which is somewhat syncretistic
third commandment. As the second commandment concerned the issue of exercising power over God, the third turns its attention to exercising God’s power over others. This commandment does not refer to blasphemy or foul language. Rather it is intended to prevent the exploitation of the name of Yahweh for magical purposes or hexing. It also continues the concerns of the second commandment in that someone’s name was believed to be intimately connected to that person’s being and essence. The giving of one’s name was an act of favor, trust and, in human terms, vulnerability. Israel was not to attempt to use Yahweh’s name in magical ways to manipulate him. The commandment was also intended to insure that the use of Yahweh’s name in oaths, vows and treaties was taken seriously. (IVP Bible Background Commentary)
C-but maybe it is blasphemy, i love it when a publisher has opposite opinions...
Blasphemy connotes a word or deed that directs insolence to the character of God, Christian truth or sacred things. In its purest form blasphemy is ‘a deliberate and direct attack upon the honor of God with intent to insult him’ (NCE 2, p. 606). A violation of the third commandment (Ex. 20:7; Dt. 5:11), blasphemy robs God of his majesty and holiness and thus is regarded by Scripture as a heinous sin.(IVP - New Dictionary of Theology)
D- taking oaths one never intends to keep of just plain old swearing or near swearing...
Taking Gods name ... in vain is forbidden. This means to swear by Gods name that a false statement is actually true. It could also include profanity, cursing, minced oaths, or swearing to a promise and failing to fulfill it.
William MacDonald; edited with introductions by Arthur Farstad, Believers Bible commentary: Old and New Testaments [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1995 by William MacDonald.
Taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain has to do with using God’s holy name for purposes other than worship. Also, Christians ought to shun minced oaths such as the use of Gee, Gosh, and Golly. (KJV Bible Commentary - Nelson)
E- all of the above
The third commandment concerns the sanctity of God’s name (see 3:14, 15). The revelation of God’s name, Yahweh, entailed some risk. If it was broadcast among the people there was more likelihood that people would not hold it in reverence. Use of God’s name in vain involved: (1) trivializing His name by regarding it as insignificant; (2) trying to use it to advance evil purposes by coaxing God to violate His character and purposes (one of the ways priests of false religions often used the names of their false gods); and even (3) using it in worship thoughtlessly. (Nelson Study Bible)
takes His name in vain. God’s name was a gift of grace to Israel. Not through an idol, but in the name, Israel had access to God in worship. God’s name is therefore to be revered. This command forbids the use of God’s name in false worship, for incantations or divination, as well as for attesting falsehood or speaking blasphemy (Deut. 28:58). Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God would hallow His name, and Jesus hallowed the Father’s name on the Cross (Matt. 6:9; John 12:27, 28). (New Geneva Study Bible)
The name of the LORD should not be misused, for His name and His character are inseparable. The name of God has been misused in magic, in substantiating truth through the use of oaths and in profane utterances. The Third Commandment deals not only with the use of God’s name, but with controlling one’s tongue as well. (Spirit Filled Life Study Bible)
In vain has the idea of “for nothing, uselessly, falsely” (Ex. 23:1). One use of the Lord’s name was in taking oaths, in which the speaker affirmed a statement by saying, “As the LORD lives” (that is, witnesses my words and will hold me accountable; see Lev. 19:12; 2 Sam. 2:27; Jer. 4:2). The Lord’s name includes His nature and reputation, which the Israelites were to guard, so as not to associate Him with any lie, pagan cursing, magic incantations, fortune-telling, or any other empty or insincere purpose. To take the Lord’s name “in vain” amounted to denying the reality of His existence or moral character. More than verbal profanity is prohibited here (see also Matt. 6:9; John 17:6; 2 Tim. 2:19). (Woman's Study Bible)
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold guiltless anyone who takes his name in vain. (NET)
שָׁוְא (shav’, “vain”) describes “unreality.” The command prohibits use of the name for any idle, frivolous, or insincere purpose (S. R. Driver, Exodus, 196). This would include perjury, pagan incantations, or idle talk. The name is to be treated with reverence and respect because it is the name of the holy God. (NET notes)
i agree to most of these. the gosh and golly admonition is weak to me. but i think reflecting on God's name these ideas possible. the principle is simple and the application is myriad. as Moses got it negatively Jesus presented it positively. when i use God's name am i bringing glory to Him? if i'm not, i'm a 3rd commandment violator, and i haven't and i am. i am guilty, but i've been forgiven and Jesus has taken my punishment and covered my sins with his blood. Thank you Lord Jesus!
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