Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Exodus 20:7

Commentary

Did you know that God's name is not God?! The word that we see throughout the Bible translated as LORD is actually a transliteration of the Hebrew letters that make up God's name, meaning, "I AM that I AM". God said that this would be his name for all generations.

God's people, the Israelites, were permitted to use his name in swearing solemn oaths, but they were not to use God's name to pledge or make promises that they never intended to keep or for personal gain. To use God's name in making a vow was to command the power and holiness of God himself into the relationship. It was to show others that we could be trusted because God was trustworthy. If we are keeping no other gods before God (the 1st Commandment), then we will never invoke God's name and glory for personal gain. "Oh, you can trust me, I'm a Christian..." That would be putting our self and our desires before God's. God cares deeply about keeping first position in our lives and is not pleased when we misrepresent him, and use his name to make us look like "gods" to others.

Today's Commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities

Exodus 20:4-5a - You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,

Exodus 20:4-5a

Commentary

We can mistakenly think that what God is talking about here are merely idols made by human hands-things like totem poles or statues of other gods or people. But bigger than that are the idols of the heart. An idol is anything that takes first place in our life and affections; anything that becomes a "functional god" in our life is an idol. What are the things you put your trust in? What controls your thinking and actions throughout the day? Is it your job, education or social status? Maybe it is approval from a certain person in your life. When any of these things take first priority, above God in your life, they are idols.

If we truly live out the first commandment, "have no other gods before God", we will not bow to success, public opinion, savings accounts, career or anything else that is not actually the living God himself. He alone will be our God having first place in our hearts and lives, displacing all other idols.

Today's Commentary by:
Caesar Kalinowski, Pastor, Soma Communities