When do we thank and praise God’s name?

We thank God’s name everyday in our individual prayers and our home devotions. Together we thank and praise Him in prayer, and with our hymns and offerings at the worship services of our church.

Col. 3:16: Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Prov. 3:9: Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.

Jonah 2:9: I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving

How are we to use God’s name?

God wants us to use His name in accordance with the Bible in a sincere and respectful manner.

Ps. 115:1: Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.

1. God wants us to trust in His name in all times of trouble.
   
   

   Ps. 50:15: Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.

   
   
   Assignment: Read Matt. 8:23-27: The disciples in distress; Matt. 15:22: 60
   The Canaanite woman; Luke 23:42,43: The thief on the cross.



2. God wants us to trust in His name when we pray:
   
   

   Matt. 7:7: Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.
   

   
   Luther says: “For this end it is also of service that we form the habit of daily commending ourselves to God, with soul and body, wife, children, servants, and all that we have, against every need that may occur; whence also the blessing and thanksgiving at meals, and other prayers, morning and evening, have originated and remain in use.”



3. God wants us to thank and praise His name. This occurs in our prayers of thanks and hymns of praise and at other times when we confess that we have received all the good things we have as gifts from God.
   
   

   James 1:17: Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.
   
   Ps. 103:1,2: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

   
   
   Assignment: Read Luke 17:11-19.



4. God wants us to tell others about Him with our words and deeds.
   
   

   Ps. 145:10-12: All Thy works shall praise Thee, O Lord; and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

   
   
   Confessing that we are Christ‘s disciples, faithfulness and honesty in our everyday lives, conscientiousness and a sense of responsibility in all things at home, at work and elsewhere, a contented and friendly spirit – all these are noble testimonies of our faith.
   

   
   2 Cor. 3:3: Ye are...the epistle of Christ.




5. God wants us to confess His name before our fellow men. This happens especially when we teach the pure doctrine of God‘s Word, defend it against false teachings and commit everything we have to the glory of God and the eternal salvation of souls.
   

   
   Matt. 10:32,33: Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
   
   Mark 8:38: Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

In What way does god warn us not to take this Commandment lightly?

God has added a serious warning to the Second Commandment: “For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”

Assignment: Read Acts 5:1-11: The punishment of Ananias and Sapphira.

What is lying and deceiving by God’s name?

The person who, in God’s name, spreads, defends and promotes false doctrine and a godless life, lies and deceives by God’s name.

Jer. 23:31: Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

Matt.15: 8,9: This people draweth nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matt. 7:21: Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.

What is using witchcraft by God‘s name?

Using witchcraft by God’s name is using God’s name in a superstitious way; for example, to heal sicknesses, reveal secret matters and to predict the future. People who engage in this sin may, as a punishment, become allied with the devil.

Lev. 19:31: Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.

Deut. 18:10-12: There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.

Assignment: Read 1 Sam. 28:5-14: Saul’s delusion; Acts 8:9-24: Simon, the sorcerer. Discuss occultism and spiritism in the light of the Bible.

When are we permitted and even required to swear?

All swearing or taking an oath in God’s name is not forbidden. An oath is proper, permitted and commanded when it is required to confirm the truth in important matters. In such an instance it is for the glory of God and the welfare of our neighbor. When we swear by God’s name we call upon God to witness the truth of what we say.

2 Cor. 1:23: I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet to Corinth.

Deut. 6:13: Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and serve Him, and shalt swear by His name.

Heb. 6:16: Men verily swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

Eccl. 8:2: I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

Assignment: Read Gen. 14:22,23 and 24:2-9: Abraham, the father of faith, took an oath and demanded an oath from his servant; Matt. 26:63,64: Jesus agreed to an oath. Cite some examples of proper oaths in our day and age.

When is swearing forbidden?

Swearing is forbidden under the following circumstances:

1. False oath: A person swears he is telling the truth even though he is lying:
   
   

   Zech. 8:17: Love no false oath.

   
   
   Assignment: Read Matt. 26:72: Peter’s false oath.



2. Swearing in sinful matters:
   
   Assignment: Read Acts 23:12: The Jews swore they would kill Paul.



3. Swearing in uncertain matters: When we swear that something is true, but are not sure that it is:
   
   

   Zech. 8:16: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor.




4. Thoughtless and frivolous swearing:
   
   Assignment: Read: Matt. 14:6-10: Herod’s frivolous oath.



5. Swearing in support of something that is wrong:
   
   Assignment: Read 1 Sam. 28:8-10: Saul’s oath.



6. Swearing in unimportant matters of everyday life:
   
   Assignment: Read: Matt 5:33-37: Jesus’ warning.

What does God say about wishing evil on someone?

Wishing evil on someone by God‘s name is calling down God‘s anger and punishment on any person or ourselves. All wishing of evil is forbidden.

James 3: 9,10: (With the tongue) bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Rom. 12:14: Bless them who persecute you; bless, and curse not.

Zech. 8:17: Let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor.

Assignment: Read II Sam. 16:7,8: Shimei cursed David; Matt. 26:74: Peter cursed himself; Matt. 27:25: The Jews called down God‘s anger and punishment on themselves. Discuss: Why is it not right to use God‘s name as a curse word or complaint, and why is it also wrong to use other curse words?

What does the Bible say about blaspheming God?

The Bible says:

Lev. 24:15: Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.

Assignment: Read Lev. 24: 11-16: Shelomith‘s son blasphemed the name of the Lord. Matt. 27:27-31: The soldiers blasphemed the Lord Jesus.

What does God forbid in the Second Commandment?

God forbids the wrong use of His name. We must not use God‘s name carelessly or uselessly, nor are we to use it to support a sinful matter. The following are forbidden: Blaspheming God, cursing and swearing, wishing evil on someone, calling down God‘s anger and punishment upon any person or thing, taking a forbidden oath, using witchcraft and lying and deceiving by God‘s name.

What does the Bible mean by God‘s name?

God‘s name is God Himself as He has made Himself known to us by His Word and deeds.

Ps. 48:10: According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth.

Ps. 8:1: O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who has set thy glory above the heavens.

What does God speak about in the Second Commandment?

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain. What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by his name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

In this Commandment He speaks about the use of His name. Luther says: “As the First Commandment has instructed the heart and taught faith, so this Commandment leads us forth and directs the mouth and tongue to God.”