HOW HOLY IS GOD’S NAME?

Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.  Psalm 103:1

Isaiah 57:15 states that God’s name is holy, and He dwells in the high and holy place.  When Isaiah saw a vision of God on His throne surrounded by seraphim, their constant cry was “Holy, Holy, Holy is Yahweh of hosts.  The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isaiah 6:3).  Isaiah’s response to this awesome scene was “Woe is me, for I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5).  Nothing has changed today as the angelic host proclaim day and night, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!” (Revelation 4:8).  It is also no shock that the Lord expects us who are His children to live holy lives separate from sin (1 Peter 1:15-16).

Exodus 20:7 says “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.”  You would think by the way society and even some Christians speak of God today, that He has revised or even dropped this command.  Did you know that we take God’s name in vain whenever we use the common euphemisms such as “gee,” “gosh”, “darn” or “OMG” as well as many others?  Check out the dictionary meanings or a thesaurus under swearing. It’s so easy to do when seemingly everyone else is.  The question is, “Is God worth being treated as holy, sacred and set apart?” 

We should pray, “O Lord, may You be viewed, treated and spoken of with the reverence, respect, honor and godly fear that You deserve in this sinful world, and may that start with me!”  How do you treat God and speak of Him?

Bob Kulp