Yes! There is Good News! 10.19.18

“It is not about us and what we want. Rather it is about Him and what He wants!” And so we come once again to the Third Commandment. Here we see that God’s name is not something to be taken lightly. It is this name that one may call on to attain salvation. We find this statement in both the book of Joel in the Old Testament, and the book of Acts in the New. (Joel 2:32 & Acts 2:21)

But what does it mean to “call upon the name of the LORD”? In our previous article, we saw that this statement in Joel is shown to mean “Everyone who calls on the name of the One who is LIFE itself will be saved.” The God that we serve is not only good and kind and loving, He is also awesome. The book of Hebrews tells us this: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold to grace and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

The name of God – I AM THAT I AM – is not just His moniker; it is a statement of who He is. It is the awesome name of an awesome God!! His name is indeed a heavy name. What do I mean by this?

In Psalms 29:2 we read, “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name.” Have you ever thought about the word glory? And why is it that God’s name is due glory? In Hebrew the word for glory is “kabowd” and by definition it means, “a weight, a great quantity, a copious amount.” When applied to God it means “to recognize His importance, worth and significance.” (Vines Expository Dictionary)

Backing up one verse in Psalm 29 we are admonished to “Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.” God himself is due glory from us, His children, and as such, His name is also due glory. So when I said, up above, that we should not take God’s name lightly, it was because His name is due a great weight of glory!

Now, back to the Third Commandment, “You shall not take the name of God in vain (that is, in an empty manner).” God’s name is not empty. It is full. His name is not light. It is heavy. And so God says, “For the LORD will not hold guiltless anyone who takes His name in vain.”

May I run a few scriptures by you? Psalm 5:11, “May those who love your name, rejoice in you.” Psalm 8:1, “O LORD our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 9:2, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.” Verse 10, “Those who know your name will trust in you.” This stroll through the book of Psalms could go on and on. Psalm 34:3, “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.”

When you read in the scriptures the all capitals “LORD,” it is a signal that the name of God “YHVH” is being used. This is a convention that most of the translators have used over the years.

Call upon the name of God for salvation, but do not do it lightly. There is a weight to that name and it is to be used reverently. It is God alone that we must revere!!