Today's Scripture Reading (October 25, 2022): Psalm 135
The Bible often gives us
definitions for the various names it uses because it believes that the names we have been given often reflect our character, or more likely, the
character to which we would aspire. The name Jacob, given to the Jewish patriarch, means "heel" and was given to him because he was seen grasping at
his twin brother's,
Esau, heel. "Grasping the heel" was a literary way of describing someone who was
deceptive in his relationship with other people. And if you know Jacob's story, you know that Jacob lived up to his name.
But after wrestling with the angel of the east side of the Jordan River, a place located in modern-day Jordan, God changes his name from Jacob to Israel,
which means "Struggles with God." Jacob seems to have lived up to both of his names.
God's name is important to him. It is the subject of the
third commandment, commonly understood as "thou shalt not take the Lord's name in vain." Traditionally, this is understood to mean that we shouldn't say the word "God" in normal conversation or without the proper respect. But that understanding actually misses the point.
The third commandment is not just being broken by responding with "Oh my God" to the latest football scores. It is broken whenever
we do anything that causes dirt to fall on the name of God. Christians engaged
in gossip within the community are taking the Lord's name in vain. So are those who spread slander with
their conversations. Anything done in the name of Christ that allows dirt to
fall on the name of God is taking his name in vain. Saying "Oh my God" might be the least of the possible infractions.
God's name, at least as we know him, comes from Moses's experience at the burning bush. Moses asks God if he will tell him his name, and God replies that his name is "I am that I am" or "I will be what I will be." In Hebrew, God's response was "haya haya." Over time, that name changed to
Yahweh. But it is a mistake to focus on the literal name of God. The meaning we
should take from the name is that He is the God who exists. Whatever it is that we might call him, God's name is important, and we should be careful to do nothing that would allow dirt to fall on God's name.
The Psalmist says that God's name is forever. And there is a truth in that statement.
Historically there have been many actions that should never have been taken in the name of God. Wars have been fought in His name, and the crusades to Jerusalem were created in His name. Popes and religious leaders, who should have known better, have done evil in his name and caused dirt to fall on
God's reputation. Yet, the next generation has always been able to restore the glory of God's name, allowing the fame of God to flow through the ages.
And today, that is precisely
the job in front of us. We are the ones who get to not only refrain from using the name of God in vain, but we also get to restore God's name by repairing any damage caused to his name by others, restoring
the name of God in our community.
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading:
Psalm 136
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