Rooted in Truth: A Devotion in the Ten CommandmentsSample

Honoring God’s Name

For Instruction

It is one thing to call God by a title such as Lord or King. It is quite another thing to know His personal name, Yahweh. Imagine calling a king not just Your Majesty but by their very own name. This sort of privilege would only belong to those closest to the king.

God does not want us to abuse the privilege of knowing His name. In the ancient world in which Israel lived, people believed that one could control a god by finding out and using their personal name. God is telling his people here that they are not to abuse the fact that He has revealed His name to them by using it as a sort of magic charm to try to control Him in order to get what they want (John Walton). Rather they are to use it as an expression of the relationship they have with Him. We may not be tempted today to use God's name as a magic charm, but we are certainly still tempted to try to manipulate and control Him rather than submit to Him.

For Giving Thanks

We should be so thankful to the Lord that He has revealed His name to us. By making His name known to us, He has revealed who He is--His nature, His character. This again points to relationship and is cause for great thanksgiving! Take a moment now and thank God for revealing His character to us.

For Confession

Confess to the Lord the ways that you have tried to control or manipulate Him rather than submit to Him. Do you ever try to force God to move His hand? Have you treated God's name with disrespect or treated lightly the fact that He has revealed His very character and essence to you in the person of Jesus? Confess these things to the Lord, resting in His great love for you and the forgiveness He offers for all these things in Jesus Christ.

For Prayer

My Dear and Precious Yahweh, thank you so much for the revelation of your name! You have revealed yourself to us most fully in the Lord Jesus, who is the perfect expression of your name. Your name is the name above every name and has no equal.