7. We should not lie or deceive by God's name. Lying by God's name means telling a lie and using God's name and Word in order to make the lie seem to be the truth. So the false prophets use God's name and Word in order to hide their false doctrines and make them appear as God's truth. "Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues and say, He saith." Jer. 23,31, The hypocrites deceive by God's name. They use God's name, they talk about God and His Word in order to hide their evil life. "Not every one 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." Matt. 7,21. Think of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5.
8. To take God's name in vain is a grievous sin. God is greatly displeased with it. How can we, who fear and love God, grieve Him by taking His holy name in vain? And God has threatened to punish all that misuse His name. "The Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." Ex. 20,7.4
9. God has revealed His name to us in order to bless and save us. He wants us to use His holy name in the right way. "We should call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks." That is the right use of our Lord's name.—He wants us to call on Him, to beg for His help, especially in all our troubles; for He alone can help us in all our needs. God says: "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Ps. 50,15.—We should pray in His name; for in every true prayer we use His name aright. He wants us to come to Him daily and speak with Him, as a child speaks to his father.—We should use His name in praising and thanking Him for His manifold goodness, for all His benefits, all the great things He does for us. If He has delivered or helped us, we should glorify Him. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name." Ps. 103,1. "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; because His mercy endureth forever." Ps. 118,1. If we rightly use the name of our God, we shall be blessed by it. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe." Prov. 18,10.
REMEMBER:—
1. God has given us His holy name that we may be blessed and saved by it.
2. He forbids us to take in vain and misuse His sacred name by cursing, swearing, using witchcraft, lying, or deceiving, or by thoughtlessly speaking it.
3. He commands us to use it aright by calling upon it in all our needs, by praying, praising, and giving of thanks. We should fear and love God and so use His blessed name.
MEMORIZE:—
I say unto you, Swear not at all, but let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay; for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." [tr. note: sic on quotation mark] Matt. 5,34.37.
Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues and say, He saith. Jer. 23,31.