“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
In the book of Revelation, there comes a moment in the midst of judgment upon the earth, when we see an angel flying in the midst of the heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth, to “….every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.” (14:6) Not only is this a singular event of importance with regard to the role and purpose of the gospel unto salvation, but it reveals again to all men that God is God, Maker of heaven and earth, Christ being the sole redeemer of men, worthy to be worshiped alone and wholly. This is borne out by the declaration of the angel who says with a loud voice, “Fear God, and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (14:7) By such events, and in response to such declarations, we begin to see why the third commandment, in the list of the Ten Commandments was, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Why is the matter of the name of God, and its presence on the lips of men, so important, and must be revered, and treated as Holy?
In the book of Ezekiel, chapter 36, when it is revealed just how low Israel had descended in her worship of God, we discover something of the importance of the name of God, His character, nature, and all His attributes being associated with His name. He tells Israel through the writings of the prophet Ezekiel: “‘And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,’ says the Lord God, ‘when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.'” (36:23) Because of the fact that Israel, when she was dwelling in her own land, “…defiled it by their OWN ways and deeds,” she was judged. God then scattered the people of Israel among the nations, disbursing them throughout the countries. However, even there they would profane His holy name, not revering Him as holy according to that name. To refuse to worship God in truth, honoring His name above all else, would be to embrace a false idea of Him, lower Him in the eyes of the world, and profanely present an unacceptable, and rejected worship of Him. It is in addressing this need that God would say to them, “I had concern for My holy name,” “…I will sanctify My name…,” and the nations shall know that I am the Lord.” (36:21,23) How would God do this? He would promise to bring the people back to the land, then cleanse them from all sin, declaring, “…I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from your IDOLS.” But God in His mercy and grace does not stop there. He promises them “a new heart,” “a new spirit,” promising to deliver them from all their uncleanness, then making them fruitful.
When Jesus was teaching his disciples to pray, He began by declaring first: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your Name.” (Matt. 7:9) Essential to prayer and worship is the right understanding and truth of who God IS, in His holiness, as Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer in life. The honoring of His name is the first thing, for in worshiping Him in this manner, coming before Him as the thrice-Holy God, worthy to be revered and “feared” in this holy manner, one is in a position to receive from Him His mercy and grace. If the believer would continue to pray for His kingdom to come, and His will to be done, he must see that God’s holiness must permeate all that pertains to His kingdom and the doing of His will.
Well did heaven’s angel loudly declare: “Fear God and give glory to Him.”
Dear Father, Hallowed be Thy name, In Jesus’ name, Amen.