“Peace be upon you,” “Upon you be peace” came the greeting between two scribes headed for their day of coping scripture.
“You know we are in for a busy day. We’ll probably be waterlogged by this afternoon.”
“I know. We reached the sentences in the Neviim [prophets] which mentions Addoni’s name five times in two lines.”
“That means ten ritual baths in one day and five new pens.”
“But the elders told us we must honor His name in this way or chance taking His name in vain.”
Such a dialogue between ancient Jewish scribes seems strange to us today, especially Gentiles. Copying scripture to a new scroll required precise procedures. When the scribes came to God’s name, they stopped, performed a ritual bath, used a new pen, a special ink, and took another ritual bath after writing His name.
1 Kings 19:11 records God’s name five times, so ten baths. In the above hypothetical discourse the word, Addoni refers to God’s Hebrew name Yahweh or as some versions translate it Jehovah. When you see the English word LORD with all capital letters this refers to Yahweh. No one today actually knows the correct pronunciation. Originally, Hebrew contained no vowels but only consonant letters. So Yahweh is literally spelled YHWH. Since no one would speak His name, the pronunciation was lost. The Jews used the word Addoni or Lord instead when they referred to Yahweh. All this fearing they would break the third commandment and take the LORD’s name in vain.
Today God’s name has become little more than a swear word or slang for many. I enjoy watching house renovation programs where the home owners leave and a contractor repairs or remodels their house. When the owners return and see their refurbished home almost every time the first words out of their mouth is “Oh! My God”. I recently noticed the letters OMG repeated in an article. Not knowing what it meant I looked it up and found this was an abbreviation for “Oh! My God” used for texting. The press wrote must about Tiger Woods, a Buddhist, when he yelled “Jesus Christ” at reporters during a recent tournament because their cameras clicked mid swing. I’m sure he was not witnessing or praying. All these examples misuse the name of the God.
Ok! You expect this from the non-Christian world around us. Believers can say any of God’s names. We aren’t required to take a ritual bath after writing God or Jesus. However, how often do we use ‘God’ or ‘Jesus’ in an inappropriate manner? My son told his friends he has never heard his dad say a curse word. He honored me by his comment; however, this is no feather in my cap but only by the working of the Holy Spirit in me. Yet, several years ago, the Spirit made me aware I was unknowingly using ‘God’ loosely with phrases like ‘my Lord.’ He also helped me change this habit.
Believers should be cautious about using the name Jesus as a magical word. I worked in a church where the pastor’s wife, when something bad happened, began chanting, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus . . . as fast as she could like a mantra. She would do this for hours. The name Jesus is not a hocus pocus formula. The power in speaking His name revolves around a relationship with Him. The seven sons of one Sceva learned the hard way when they were beat up by a demon possessed man. They attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (Acts 19:13-15). The New Testament records demons cast out and the sick healed through the name Jesus. Yet, in every example, the apostle or disciple was in a personal relationship with Jesus who gave them authority to use His name.
Paul warns that among Christians there must be no obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place (NIV 5:4). Profane language increased by 69% in the past five years on television, how much more has that percentage gone up in everyday society. The most inserted editorial sound in broadcasting is “bleep”. I suggest a good rule of thumb. If network television must bleep certain words, should these obscenities ever be part of a Christian’s vocabulary. If we bear the distinction of being a Christian, do we take God’s name in vain when we dishonor Him by our speech?
Sustaining Word for the Week: Remember whose name, whether God, Jesus, or Lord, you are saying. Honor His name and let others know you are a Christian by your speech.