"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
As a brief follow-up to the first three posts about taking the Lord’s name in vain, let’s consider the last phrase in (v.7), “the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” This additional phrase is particularly pertinent to this command because it is one we are so used to hearing (and even breaking ourselves?), we may be tempted to dismiss it as, “no big deal”.
But it is a big deal! It is a big enough deal that God adds words akin to saying, “And don’t think this doesn’t matter. It most certainly does matter!”
Courts let criminals slide, sometimes by finding the guilty “not guilty,” or by minimizing, or even suspending the sentence. That cannot happen in the absolutely just court of God.
The court of public opinion scoffs at this offense. Television omits or “bleeps” numerous forms of profanity, but taking the Lord’s name in vain is routine even in shows deemed appropriate for younger viewers. Walking down the street we commonly hear people of all ages using the Lord’s name in vain and it is considered, “no big deal!” The fact that so few think taking the Lord’s name in vain matters is also taking the Lord’s name in vain by considering it “common.” Yet the Lord’s judgment stands.
Lets us, therefore, be more concerned with God’s ruling than the rulings of either our courts or popular opinion. And though none of us can personally change our blasphemous culture, let us be doubly sure that we do not personally break this commandment because it matters to God.