Ten Commandments (1972)_b.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong

46 The Ten Commandments
KNOW and worship Him in spirit and truth - and to avoid
using any image, picture or physical object to "remind" us
of the great Creator as an "aid" to worship.
The third commandment deals with God's name, His
office, His position as the great sovereign RULER of the
universe:
"THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD THY
GOD IN VAIN; FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILT­
LESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN" (Exodus 20:7).
In the Bible, personal names have a meaning. The
original Hebrew name of Abram was changed to Abraham
- for Abraham means "a father of many nations." And
Abraham was destined to become just that - "a father of
many nations" (Gen. 17:5).
So it is with God.
God's Name Reveals the Kind of God
You Worship
Every name or title of God reveals some attribute of
the Divine character. In studying God's Word, we learn
new facts about God's nature and character with each new
name by which He reveals Himself. In other words, God
names Himself what He is!
If men use the name of God in a way which denies the
true meaning and character of God, they are BREAKING
the third commandment.
God declares through Isaiah: "Hear ye this, 0 house
of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are
come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the
name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel,
but not in truth, nor in righteousness" (Isa 48:1). People to
whom this prophecy applies use the name of God, but fail
to obey the revelation of God contained in His name.
And shocking though it may be, many religious people
repeat over and over the name of God in sermons or
prayers. They are taking God's name IN VAIN - to no good
use or purpose!
The original command says: "The Lord will not hold
him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." The Hebrew
word here rendered "guiltless" may also be translated