APPLICATION
Understanding the Third Commandment is only the first step. Next we need to understand how to apply it to our lives. While it is easy to recognize profanity that uses God’s name, it is not so easy to recognize how we misrepresent God. Fortunately, God gives us some clues about how we do, or do not, represent him. Perhaps the best example is found in Moses in Numbers 20:7-12. We see there and in Numbers 27:12-14 and Deuteronomy 32:45-52 (KJV) that Moses, the greatest of the prophets, suffered a serious consequence for his failure to sanctify God at the waters of Meribah . In his failure to speak to the rock, Moses sinned (rebelled) against God. Although, in a previous circumstance God had told Moses to strike the rock, that was not what Moses was to do this time.

His failure was not just a matter of disobedience, however. God said that Moses failed to sanctify him (God) when he (Moses) did not do as God had ordered. The very important lessons to be taken from this situation are these:

• • Obedience to God’s commands (laws) sanctifies God in the eyes of others. This is good for everyone — including God.
  • Disobedience to God’s commands profanes God’s reputation. This causes trouble for everyone — including God.

This is a subtle, but very important concept that is at the root of God’s intent in the 3rd Commandment. The logic sequence needed to get to the meaning of the 3rd Commandment goes like this:

1. 1. • Moses was a man of God because God chose him.
      • People knew Moses to be a man of God because God did miracles through him.
      • Moses spoke for God to the people.

• • • When the people heard and obeyed what Moses said on God’s behalf, good things happened to the people.
    • People learned to trust God by trusting that God was speaking through Moses.
    • As long as Moses obeyed God, he proved to the people that God was trustworthy.
    • When Moses struck the rock at Mer’ibah of Kadesh, he proved to the people that he was not a perfect man. God did not punish Moses immediately, but his punishments came later when he was denied entrance to the promised land.

With respect to the Third Commandment, here is what we learn from this sequence:

• • When God is fully trusted by the people who represent him (by carrying his name) to the world, he is perceoved as holy, set apart, and sanctified in the eyes of the world.
  • When God is not fully trusted by the people who represent him (by carrying his name) to the world, his holiness is diminished in the eyes of the world. He is no longer unique and set apart. He is no longer sanctified.

Deuteronomy 4:5-15 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and ordinances, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them; for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and ordinances so righteous as all this law which I set before you this day?

To apply these principles to your life, simply insert your name into the sequence above. It is good to keep in mind that your ability to obey depends greatly on your knowledge of God’s character and his commandments (i.e. The Law of Moses). In his wisdom, God has given us a picture of himself through Jesus. He did that so that our minds are engaged in the process of being holy and so that we do not make the mistake of thinking our relationship with God is only super-spiritual. If our minds were not to be engaged, there would be no need for the written Bible. God would do all his communicating with us through the air. Thus, there is much to be learned about God by studying Jesus as he is represented in New Covenant scriptures.

To get a complete picture of the nature of both God and Jesus, however, it is absolutely necessary to study First Covenant scriptures. And although it should not be necessary to say, we will say that the more you study the more you will know about God. If you doubt this, check out these scriptures. Keep in mind, however, that mere intellectual knowledge of God is not enough. Obedience is a necessary part of the covenant relationship. So always be mindful to apply what you have learned in your own life.

When you read about Jesus being revealed in the Scriptures, keep in mind that the only scriptures that existed at that time were First Covenant scriptures. Also be mindful that fulfillment of the Scriptures does not only refer to prophetic fulfillment in terms of foretelling the birth of Jesus. It also means that every aspect of The Law of Moses and all of God’s purposes in revealing his character through Jesus and Jesus’ followers must also be fulfilled. That is what Jesus said when he said in Matthew 5:17 that he “came to fulfill the Law.” And if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, you also must say that you have come to fulfill the law.