The Infinite Worth of the Name of God
July 26, 2006
Pastor Matt Black
Midweek Service
Leviticus 24:10-23
Discipleship: What are the Ten Commandments of God’s moral law?
(Quote them.)
Introduction: Open your Bible tonight to Leviticus 24. We come this evening to a passage of Scripture that I believe will be a great rebuke to all of us. Many of God’s people blaspheme God’s name daily. We claim to love God and honor His Name, but what we are going to learn tonight will I think open your eyes to the fact that most of God’s people indeed are blasphemers. They use God’s name in vain. The title of tonight’s message is “Infinite Worth of the Name of God, Part 1”.
Let’s read Leviticus 24:10-23, “10And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; 11And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. 13And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 14Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death. 17And he that killeth any man shall surely be put to death. 18And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. 19And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; 20Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 21And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God. 23And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
Personal illustration: I was a new believer and a Junior in high school, minding my own business, when I heard the gentle rebuke of Sarah Aulgur, the daughter of a local Baptist pastor, “You just took the Lord’s name in vain.” Her face was one of sadness and concern, but I could not understand what she was talking about. “What do you mean Sarah? All I said was ‘Gee, I just want to get to my next class.’” She told me to look up “Gee” in the dictionary, so here it is:
Main Entry: 2gee
Function: interjection
Etymology: euphemism for Jesus
-- used as an introductory expletive or to express surprise or enthusiasm[1]
I was shocked to find this out. I had heard such great legends of morality and family wholesomeness as Beaver Cleaver and Andy Griffith use such language. I always thought that if a word was used in Mayberry, it must suitable for use anywhere. I was wrong. In fact, what I have found in the years since that early time of my Christian life is that Christian people swear and curse almost as much as lost people. You may think that I am exaggerating, but I do not believe I am.
Learn not to Blaspheme
As I read the Third Commandment of God’s moral Law, I shudder. It says: “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” (Exodus 20:7). In other places, breaking this commandment is called “blasphemy” (Leviticus 24:11). Tonight, it is my hope that we as God’s people might as 1 Timothy 1:20 says “learn not to blaspheme.”
Verses 22-23 tells us that God’s Law is universal, “Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God. 23And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.” The third commandment is not just for God’s people, but it is a law for the whole world. Here you have “a ‘foreigner’ [that] has cursed the name of God, and the decision goes forth that there is the same law for foreigners as natives, and that ‘[blaspheming] the name of God’ is for a foreigner, too, an ‘offence worthy of death.’”[2] Believers and unbelievers are all accountable!
Blasphemy is wrong. Most people excuse themselves and say it is done in ignorance. Whether it is done in ignorance or blatantly, it is just as wrong! Ignorance does not take away the offence to a holy God.
1. “But I didn’t know!” is Not an Valid Excuse
The problem we face in our churches is that most people do not consider euphemisms of God’s name, person, or work as a direct act of blasphemy. They are ignorant that it is a sin. Tonight, we are going to find that God’s Name is precious, and any form of using God’s Name lightly is a form of blasphemy whether there is knowledge of it or not. Not knowing something does not clear the crime from our account. It is legal in the Netherlands to use narcotics in public, but if a Netherlander comes to the USA and begins to do this, he will go straight to jail whether he was aware of the laws here or not! “I didn’t know” is not a valid excuse for breaking any law, especially God’s Law.
And so, I ask you to open your heart to the light of Scripture, so that we might be blameless before the Great Judge and King Jesus, who will judge us according to every word that we say. Turn over to Matthew 12:36. We read, “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment”. May God move your heart tonight to make us ready for that Great Day of the Lord when we shall all give an account of every word we speak.
2. “Everyone else is doing it” is not a valid excuse.
Many Christians are sinning against God out of ignorance, but when they are enlightened, they figure it can’t be wrong since some of the saintliest people take God’s name in vain. Oh, they do not take His name in vain outrightly. They use euphemisms. To say “Oh my heavens” is blasphemous. Who made the heavens? Are they your heavens? No, they are God’s. Some of the saintliest people say “Golly or Gosh”. That is a euphemism for “Jesus”. It’s ungodly and wicked, filthy sin. We ought to repent of these things and esteem God's name is precious. Recently I was at a well-known Christian campus, and I heard God’s name taken in vain repeatedly through euphemisms and even used in vain directly.
I have heard God’s Name blasphemed through euphemisms and directly in our church and in every church I’ve been a part of. How can this be? How can we as God’s people be flippant toward the God who sits upon His throne in sovereign majesty, who could crush us to dust in a moment? And yet, this is truly the case. Far too many Christians have no idea of the implications of the third commandment (“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain”), and are quite ignorant of the infinite worth of God’s name. We need address our own ignorance and hold ourselves accountable, because we will most certainly give an account before the Lord for “every idle word” we speak.
3. “I work in the world, and I don’t realize what I’m saying” is not a valid excuse!
Don’t get your counsel from the world!We are in the world so often, and we fall into the trap of blasphemy, because we hear it so much. The world is certainly guilty of blasphemy; this much is certain. Every day we hear God’s name taken in vain in our neighborhoods, on the television, in our work places, and yes, even in our churches and Christian institutions. Some of the nicest people blaspheme God on a continual basis. Does this disturb us as God’s people? It ought to! I am praying that the Lord rid us of slack talk and idle uses of His worthy name. God is a holy righteous God. He’s not like us. His holiness is awesome. May we learn to give reverence and fear to the dreaded majesty of God’s name.
A Test
Let’s take a test. Think back to the last time you were surprised or in sudden pain. Perhaps you dropped a hammer on your index finger or someone snuck up behind you to surprise you. Perhaps you heard a tidbit of information that was just unbelievable to you. What did you say? Did you take God’s name in vain? Whether you are aware of your own blasphemy, you are still accountable!
So we see the Scope of God’s Law—it’s universal. You and every person on earth is accountable to keep it, and no excuse will take away your accountability.
Conclusion: Are you blaspheming God in your heart? You may have been ignorant before, but you are not now! Is Christ the Name above all names in your life?
Closing Hymn: 170 That Beautiful Name
[1] Philip M. Parker and Webster's Online Dictionary (websters-online-dictionary.org), 2004. “Gee.” Accessed 3 September 2005.