THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

I'll bless YaHuWaH at all times, HIS praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in YHWH; the humble shall hear of it & be glad. Oh, magnify YHWH with me & let's exalt HIS name together. - Psalms 34:13

Many take the 3rd Commandment to mean we shouldn't use the FATHER's name with profanity. Others say that speaking HIS name while living a life of sin is taking HIS name in vain, however, I've found this Commandment means much more. Replacing the FATHER's name with a title such as 'Lord,' 'God,' 'Adonai,' 'Jehovah,' or 'Ha Shem' is another way of taking HIS name in vain. Let's look at the 3rd Commandment:

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the LORD won't hold him guiltless that takes His name in vain. – Deuteronomy 5:11

In the original, you won't find 'The LORD,' you'd see HIS true name, 'YaHuWaH.' What better way to bring HIS name to worthlessness than to remove it from Scripture & replace it with a title? This is so widespread that few know HE has a personal name. YHWH put HIS name in the Word nearly 7,000 times & each one's replaced with a title in 99% of translations, making each translation a trangression of the 3rd Command! It should be:
 
You shall not take the name of YHWH your EL in vain <7723>: for YHWH will not hold [him] guiltless who takes HIS name in vain <7723>.

This refers to Strong's Hebrew 7723. This word 'Shav' is in another Commandment, here it's translated different: You shall not bear false <7723> witness against your neighbor. - Deuteronomy 5:20

Here <7723> is translated 'false.' We know that to call YHWH's name as 'The LORD' is a false statement. Here's another false statement: I am The LORD, that's MY name & I won't give MY glory to another, neither MY praise to graven images. - Isaiah 42:8

It should be: I am YHWH, that's MY name & I won't give MY glory neither MY praise to graven images. - Isaiah 42:8

If we want to walk in Truth, we should never replace HIS name with a title/false name. We're not supposed to add/take away from Scripture. YHWH tells us the importance of HIS name & brings a warning if we break it. Still, many take this lightly. The Jews have a saying: When YHWH gave the 3rd Commandment, the whole world trembled. In writing HIS name, the scribe was under certain rules, must be newly bathed, must be in full Jewish dress, must never dip his pen in ink in the middle of writing HIS name, if a king addresses him while writing the name of YHWH, he mustn't take notice. These regulations were imposed because they thought it'd keep from taking HIS name in vain. If it's this important, maybe we should give it attention! Ready? Let's break this down!

A. Take = lift up/bear/carry/use. Some depict 'take,' & ask what could be taken from YHWH. You'd think nothing. But, the only thing that HE has that we can take is HIS name. So, if we take HIS name without truly being of HIM, wouldn't that also be stealing?
 
B. Vain = lacks reality/purpose/value/truth; false/curse/fruitless/ profane/ foolish/ ineffective/blaspheme/useless/failure. When Mom married Dad, forsook her parent's name & took his name, this reflected a change in life/status. If Mom took Dad's name, but not changed her lifestyle, she'd have taken his name in vain. She'd had a ceremony, but not a new life & my dad would've been upset, to put it mildly. If you take YHWH's name & say that you're part of HIM, but don't live like it, you've taken HIS name in vain & you won't be considered guiltless. Live with YAHUSHUA as if you're committed to HIM for life, not as if HE's only an acquaintance two hours a week!

C. Guiltless = free/innocent/blameless/unpunished/clean. A person's clean/unclean according to how he uses HIS name. One who talks about HIM but denies HIM in his daily life is unclean. We see HE's concerned about how we use HIS name. We break this Command, not only in speech, but also by using/bearing HIS name in an unworthy way by our conduct. We fear HIS name through obedience & by doing HIS will.

D. Name = a mark/sign, a word by which a person/place/thing is known. A name identifies, signifies & specifies. It expresses its bearer's nature & isn't given without purpose. Adam was named because Adam means 'first man.' To know YHWH's name is to know HIM as HE's revealed HIMSELF & to understand HIS nature. Scripture shows a name exercises constraint on a person to conform to it. Look how Abigail pleads for Nabal 'Fool' before David: Let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name & folly is with him. - 1Samuel 25:25

Hebraicly, names are bound to existence; nothing exists unless it's named. To cut off a name is to end his existence. Also, a change of name sigifies a change of postition/character as with Jacob to Israel & Saul to Paul.

To speak/act in another's name is to act as his representative & participate in his authority. When we pray in the name of YAHSUHUA, we ask on HIS authority. To be called by another's name comes under his authority/protection. This Command shows the test of our spiritual cleanliness in how we use HIS name. But there's a lot of names for the FATHER, right? Don't confuse roles or titles with HIS name. The following are not HIS names:

YHWH-Yireh = (It's the name of a place.) Genesis 22:14
YHWH-Mekaddishkem = (What HE does.) Exodus 31:13
YHWH-Nissi = (This is the name of an altar.) Exodus 17:15
YHWH-Roi = (This is what HE is, not HIS name.) Psalms 23:1
YHWH-Ropheka = (This also is what HE does.) Exodus 15:26
YHWH-Shalom = (Another name for an altar.) Judges 6:24
YHWH-Shammah = (This is the name of a city.) Ezekiel 48:35

Many are singing praises to altar/cities as part of their worship to the FATHER out of ignorance, breaking another Commandment!

Those who bear HIS name are to witness HIM as the true El. What does your life speak of HIM? If we fail to live up to HIS name's reputation, we break this Commandment & profane HIS name. We hallow/profane HIS name by our conduct. This Command tests the quality of our witness. We know that to 'see' YHWH, me must be like HIM, not vice versa! By faith, we can emulate HIM through HIS SPIRIT. We show our love to HIM by obedience. We should worship HIM to the greatest of our abilities without excuses, HE did it 2,000 years ago, if we die to self, HE can do it in us today!

An obvious way of breaking the 3rd Commandment is using HIS name in abusive/vulgar slang or that of HIS SON, YAHUSHUA. Anyone who carelessly uses these names in everyday speech simply doesn't know HIM as he should. Yet, many think & insist they do. In a way such a one is similar to Job, who explained his perspective of YHWH, both before & after he was pointed out how pride was motivating much of his thinking. 'I've heard of YOU by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees YOU.'  (Job 42:5) Job finally realized that he hadn't known YHWH as well as he thought. Many have heard much about HIM & assume they know HIM that they have an acceptable relationship with HIM, yet they've never learned to respect HIM. They degrade HIM by using HIS name in vain in everyday conversation. 'Praise GOD, the LORD told me, Jesus loves you, etc.' Misusing HIS name in anyway spiritually defiles us in YHWH's eyes. We need to repent of attitudes leading to irreverence. So, one should use their names with reverence as in prayer, preaching, conversations, etc. All should meditate on HIS majesty/purity so our heart is impressed with a sense of HIS exalted character.

When using HIS name/title in an oath & then lie is an act of denial of what YHWH requires - truthfulness. It places a false representation on HIM, as though HE approves of lying. It's a serious matter when HIS name's taken lightly & used with a falsehood or in an act that's disobedient to HIS Law. Other ways to profane HIS name: Borrowing money & not paying it back / Running up a bill with no intention to pay / Unfaithful to wedding vows / Unfaithful to vows (promises) made to YHWH.

It's misusing HIS name when people give themselves titles such as 'Reverend, Father, or Rabi.' Constantly repeating HIS 'name,' this is vain repetition.

Prayer lacks punch if we don't stand in awe of HIS name! Without understanding this Command, there's a lack of power in prayer. Prayer's often used to try to manipulate YHWH because of this. Fasts are called when the 'corporate church' gets in financial trouble, or when there's disobedience in someone's life, etc. 'Obedience is better than sacrifice.'

When you spread forth your hands, I'll hide MY eyes from you; yes, when you make many prayers, I won't hear. - Isaiah 1:15

Prayer without obedience is a form of blasphemy, so is praise with an attitude of rebellion against HIS ways: These people draw near to me with their mouth & honor Me with their lips; but their heart's far from Me. But in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matthew 15:8–9

One of the main reasons the world is going to hell…

One of the worse abuses in when false preachers rise up & offer their lying vanities as YHWH's Word. To deceive is a great sin, but is greater when they try to justify it & seek to confirm it by invoking HIS name & using it as a cloak for shame.
 
You who teach another, don't you teach yourself? You who preach that a man shouldn't steal, do you steal? You who say a man shouldn't commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast of the law, do you dishonor YHWH through breaking the Law? For HIS name's blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. - Romans 2:21–24

The ones who claimed to represent YHWH were guilty of dishonoring HIS name by their actions, therefore being a poor witness. It's impossible to profess to be a Believer while disobeying HIM. This unwillingness to live up to what's represented by HIS name is sending multitudes to hell. The world can see through hypocrisy, as Believers, we need to start using discernment as well.
 
Another way of taking HIS name in vain is using it in an oath of condemnation. This is done by damning others. Those who damn others, using YHWH's name to buttress their imprecation, are misrepresenting HIM & don't realize what they're doing. It was a capital offense to misuses HIS name back in the day, is HIS justice any less today? 
Anyone who's rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of 2 or 3 witnesses: Of how much worse punishment, will he be thought worthy who's trampled the SON of YHWH underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing & insulted the SPIRIT of grace? For we know HIM who said, 'Vengeance belongs to ME, I'll repay & again, 'YHWH will judge HIS people. It's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living EL. - Hebrews 10:28–31

The name of YAHUSHUA (Jesus is the deceived name) is crucial to our salvation, but just repeatedly saying it without understanding its significance & allowing it to influence our lives is meaningless. So, what's done is to be done by HIS authorization. Those who use HIS name in vain prove they don't know HIM! Example: 'God' loves the sinner, not the sin; 'Jesus' loves everyone; I have a word from the 'Lord,'  etc

He who says, 'I know HIM' & doesn't keep HIS Commandments, is a liar & the Truth is not in him. - 1 John 2:4

YHWH uses prophecy to warn of future events, to call to repentance the disobedient & to show what would happen for breaking HIS Law, not 'prophe-lying' big houses, cars, money, or pink elephants; prophesying falsely in YHWH's name is vanity. Making up false ideas/dreams & misinterpreting Scripture has been a huge plague for Christianity. 

Christianity is full of man-made false doctrines, which breach this Commandment & attack HIS Law. The praying to Mary & other saints to have a false messiah intervene is useless, as are beads & such forbidden things. The efforts of gathering 1000's together in arenas, preaching to them to accept a false messiah is vain & abusing HIS name. Modern songs such as the 'Just as I am' styles, are a breach of this Command, showing no understanding of the need of repentance & they're a fulfillment of the 'howling' of Amos, which was prophesied to fill our places of worship. The Sunday morning 'preaching about 'Jesus' is all taking HIS name in vain & breaks many other Commandments: They worship ME in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. - Mark 7:7 NIV

All denominations that claim to work for the Bible that effect or change the Law order are taking HIS name in vain & breach HIS Law. If they teach contrary to the Word, then they take HIS name/authority of no effect. It's not permissable to worship YHWH in the name of YAHUSHUA & yet reject HIS Sabbaths/Feasts while implementing pagan systems of worship/Sun cults.

The authority of YHWH extends to both spiritual/physical rulers. Have an issue with the President & you have an issue with the FATHER, HE placed him in that position.

You shall not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of your people. - Exodus 22:28

All who follow YAHUSHUA are known by HIS name & perform their service to YHWH in HIS name; their behavior either honors/dishonors HIM. HIS Word portrays those who obey HIS Commandments as the 'salt' & 'light' of the world. Paul states whoever calls themselves Believers & 'pose' as HIS people, while refusing to obey HIM, are blaspheming HIS name. We honor HIM by loving HIM so much that we desire above all else to be like HIM & accurately represent HIM. If that's the mind in us, the thought of disgracing HIS name will repulse us, this is truly having the 'mind of MESSIAH'.

YAHUSHUA was falsely accused of blasphemy due to their Scriptural ignorance. Most Believers would put HIM to death if HE came today, cause the message HE'd give differs from what they want or were led away to believe. In the Middle Ages, HE'd been burnt at the stake from HIS own Word!

When people see us, they see all they know of MESSIAH. It's not that we need to put on a show for the world, (like the 'church' does) but that the world will honor HIS name because of our lives. If we claim to know HIM, yet persist in sin/self-rule, YAHUSHUA's shamed & we've taken HIS name in vain. If we walk in the SPIRIT & live a life of HIS love & holiness, then HIS name's honored. Who we are, not just who we say we are, has eternal implications.  Is it enough to say that YAHUSHUA is KING & MESSIAH, but never live as if HE did? FATHER, help us to know & to do your will...

YHWH knows HIS children & nothing's hidden from HIM. Yet, people fool themselves, thinking they can hide their true motives. They do it with a wordy prayer, a recitation of verses, or maybe a superficial act of charity for show rather than from love. Some also try to impress with a public display of words that are designed to show how 'holy' they are, or how well they know the Bible. Their motives may not be bad, but their words don't heal the hearts & minds of others, because they're nothing but words. These people use HIS name as a shield to cover their sins, or lack of understanding. Perhaps HIS name, spoken loud & long in public, has become a window-dressing, fronting an empty store: a heart/mind void of real love/understanding of HIM. How does this happen to those who had an original motive to worship HIM, learn more about HIM & share HIS Word? I feel it's from stopping too soon or not digging deep enough into what's revealed in the Word. We become satisfied with immature ideas & the early progress we've made, but unwilling to devote time/personal sacrifice needed to plant ourselves in spiritual understanding, having superficial knowledge of HIM isn't enough.

This is eternal life, that thry may know YOU, the only true EL & YAHUSHUA haMashiach whom YOU've sent. I've manifested YOUR name to those you've given ME out of the world. FATHER, keep them through YOUR name, that they may be one as WE are. I've declared to them YOUR name & will declare it, that the love that which YOU loved ME may be in them. And I in them. - John 17:3, 6, 11, 26

HE defines eternal life as 'to know YHWH.' 'Know' suggests a very close intimacy. It indicates experimental knowledge, not theoretical. In Amos 5:4; YHWH exclaims: Seek ME & live!

HE's saying, 'Turn to ME & MY way of life; seek to know ME,' not 'Search for me,' because HE's already revealed HIMSELF. HE's saying, Seek to know ME by living the same way I do.' That's how experimental knowledge of HIM becomes an intimate knowing of HIM. HE'll walk with such people. (Amos 3:3)

Those who know YOUR name will put their trust in YOU; for YOU, YHWH, haven't forsaken those who seek YOU. - Psalms 9:10

Bottom line: There's more to seeking the FATHER than going to 'church,' if you truly know HIM, you would be HIS walking temple!

Then those who feared YHWH spoke to one another & HE listened & heard them; so a Book of Remembrance was written before HIM for those who fear YHWH & HIS name. 'They shall be MINE,' says YHWH, 'on the day that I make them MY jewels & I'll spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.' - Malachi 3:16-17

Ask yourself... Can YHWH stamp HIS name on your attitudes, motives, actions, lifestyle, financial choices & relationships?  Does your life exalt HIM or profane HIM?.... your lifestyle is HIS reputation! Do you represent the FATHER or the devil in your daily walk?

Jason Desmond
Ambassador of HIS Kingdom