You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain - for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Deuteronomy 5:11 (English Standard Version)

You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. Deuteronomy 5:11 (New Living Translation)

It's often said that 'taking God's name in vain' is when people say 'Oh God' or 'Jesus Christ' in the same way that others might say 'oops' or 'Oh, hell' – or some other 'four letter' word. It’s using God's name as an exclamation or swear word. And that surely is wrong. To use God's name in a thoughtless and careless way is to misuse it - and it makes us guilty in His eyes. But it goes deeper than just what we say. Listen to what the prophet Ezekiel said many years ago as he explained why God had allowed an enemy to conquer Israel and scatter them into exile.

“The Lord said: 'When the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived . . . they polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived.” We see that it was because of great sin that God had exiled them. But Ezekiel also tells them God was going to bring them back to Israel – but not because they deserved it. Listen to what God said about why He would rescue them:

“When Israel was scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name - for the nations said: ‘These are the people of the Lord, but He couldn’t keep them safe in His own land!’ Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations. Therefore, Ezekiel, give the people of Israel this message: 'I am bringing you back - but not because you deserve it - I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations. I will show how holy my great name is - the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, then the nations will know that I am the Lord.'” (Ezekiel 36:16-23)

So how had God's name been affected by Israel's captivity?

Apart from the bad example of their lifestyle, their captivity had made the nations think that the God of Israel was not very pure, and certainly not very strong. In other words, Israel's behaviour and their defeat had taken away from God's reputation. The nations didn't see God as the Sovereign Lord, someone who was greater than their false idol gods. Years later the apostle Paul said that many of his fellow Jews had still not changed. Because they had 'The Ten Commandments' they thought they were better than other nations. But Paul says:

“You think you can instruct the ignorant and teach children the ways of God for you are certain that God’s law gives you complete knowledge and truth. Well then, if you teach others, why don’t you teach yourself? You tell others not to steal - but do you steal? You say it is wrong to commit adultery - but do you commit adultery? You condemn idolatry - but do you use items stolen from pagan temples? You’re so proud of knowing the law - but you dishonour God by breaking it. No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.” Romans 2:20-24

This is what it means to 'take God's name in vain'. If we claim to be someone whom God has loved and saved, but our life contradicts His character, then we are giving people the wrong impression of what God is really like. We're ruining His reputation in their eyes. We should want to live everyday in a way that people will see everything that makes God so wonderful. It's good, therefore, to take time to think about the way we are living, and to ask the Holy Spirit to help us see those things that need changing so that people will see how good God really is through what He has done, and is still doing, in us.