Precious Name

O. T. #293   "Precious Name"
May 21, 2014
Leviticus 24-Part 2
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.  Exodus 20:7

LET IT GLOW

If we told someone in this generation that they were blaspheming, would they understand what that meant? How often do we hear people say/take the precious name of our God and Savior in vain, using it as a curse word? Oh, how it saddens me! I tell them to not talk about my Father that way. Hopefully, it will bring to their attention what wrong they are doing. We are told to sing praises to our Holy God, honor His name, and thank Him for all He does for us. Precious Name, oh how sweet-Jesus!
This chapter mentions one who blasphemed the name of the LORD. Read on to find out what happened to him.

For the rest of the chapter (verses 10-23), we read about the laws for regulating conduct in the Israelite camp:

• stoning of the man who blasphemes God's name; to blaspheme means to speak with irreverence; the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God; the act of claiming the attributes of deity; irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable(Webster's Dictionary)
• two or three witnesses laid hands (on head) publicly as a testimony of one's guilt (Deut.17:6-7);
• congregation stoned guilty person because he had not only sinned against God but against community also;
• law of retaliation-a man kills another man, then the murderer was to be put to death;
• punishment of personal injury was restricted to that injury being returned to the guilty one, such as a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, nothing more; this was not a command but a provision;
• when a beast was killed, the owner restored it; replacement or fine of damaged property.

Capital punishment was required for:

• murder;
• hitting or cursing parents (Ex. 21:15, 17);
• kidnapping (Ex. 21:16);
• violation of the Sabbath (Num. 15:32-36);
• blaspheming God's name (Lev. 24:16);
• any type of witchcraft (Lev. 20:27);
• various types of adultery and incest (Lev. 20:10-12).  (Falwell)

Wow! Wouldn't our society change if we followed and taught these laws of the Israelites?
Oh that we would repent and turn from our wicked ways, begging for God's mercy! 


LET IT GROW

What can we learn from David Guzik concerning this?

• Only the High Priest of Israel was allowed to pronounce the holy name of God (Yahweh)? That was only done once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
• The proper pronunciation was passed on to his processor with the passing priest's last breath.
• Jews did not write God's name because if  the paper was destroyed, it might be considered blasphemous. They would write Adonai (Lord) instead of Yahweh; instead of God, they'd write G-d; refer to God with names like the Name.

Jesus was accused of blasphemy when He said, I am the Son of God. (John 10:33-36)
False witnesses testified against Jesus, thus according to the Jewish law, Jesus should be put to death.
(Matt. 26:59-67) Of course, we know the outcome of the trial was death of our dear Savior.

Jesus warns us that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matt. 12:31-32) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (verse 34)

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thought, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  (Matt. 15:18-19)

Our words indicate what is in our heart. It is the heart where Jesus looks and judges us. How important it is for us to watch our words.

What did Jesus teach us?

• Concerning the eye for an eye law, don't we humans tend to want to hurt our attacker worse than they hurt us? We are told to turn the other cheek and not retaliate with words or physical injury. (Matt. 5:39) 
• Forgiveness is hard, dear friends, but it is required of us. (Matt. 6-Model Prayer)
• Love, bless, do good to, and pray for your enemies. (Matt. 5:43-44)
• Be reconciled with our brother, then give our offerings to God. (Matt. 5:23-24)

Let us know of others that I have left out.


LET IT GO

Love God and love others.

Respect and love God's name. Teach others to do the same.

Confess our wrongs and ask forgiveness.