God’s name is upon His people in every situation and at all times.

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” Exodus 20.7

The third commandment reinforces the first in emphasizing the privilege of God’s presence among and with His people. God expects His people to “take” His name, to be so closely identified with Him that everyone would understand that they were His precious possession, a people of priests whose calling was to fear, love, serve, and glorify God in every aspect of their lives (Ex. 19.5, 6).

“Take” implies something we carry with us at all times – like a driver’s license or other form of personal identification. If anyone needs to know who we are, we simply display our ID, and that’s that. God called His people “Israel,” which can mean “prince of God,” and the people of Israel were indeed to be priests and rulers before Him. Taking God’s name meant that they lived in the world as His people, in a way that reflected His Fatherhood, purposes, and priorities. To “take God’s name in vain” is to claim a relationship with Him without any external evidence supporting such a claim. Like trying to persuade a police officer you are who you say you are, but that you simply left your driver’s license at home.

It was to help Israel realize this purpose in being so named that God’s Law speaks to every aspect of their lives, teaching and guiding them in how to live out the requirements of love for God and neighbors. The ceremonial laws acknowledge the reality of sin and the certainty of Israel’s failing in her responsibilities within God’s Covenant, and they provide means for being renewed in the name of the Lord and taking that name with a fresh start, cleansed, forgiven, and restored.

Without the ceremonial laws – without these means of being continually renewed in the presence of God – Israel would have no hope for taking the Lord’s name in anything other than vain and worthless ways. But the ceremonial laws worked to help ensure that the people could both abide in the first and third commandments and be renewed in all aspects of God’s Covenant, so that their “taking” His name would be unto His glory, rather than unto their shame.

For a fuller study of the pattern of worship revealed in Scripture, order the book, The Highest Thing, by T. M. Moore, from our online store. These studies and brief essays will help you to see how the pattern of sound worship, which began in the Law of God, comes to complete expression in the rest of Scripture. Pastors, we’re getting ready to start the next season of The Pastors’ Fellowship. Write to me today at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information about how you join in these online discussions. Our theme for the coming series is “The Worldview of God’s Law.” There is no charge for participation, but you must reserve a place for these monthly gatherings. Subscribe to Crosfigell, the devotional newsletter of The Fellowship of Ailbe.