The Doctrinal Heading for this section of questions (Q43-62) is The Means of Grace: The Commandments: The First Table. (see Harmony Index)
WSC Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
As we continue our study in the third commandment, we see how seriously God takes the use of his name. Ecc. 7:1 says very simply that, “a good name is better than precious ointment.” How well we understand this. Companies spend a great deal of energy and financial capital to build and protect name identity and recognition; they go to great lengths to punish those who damage their reputation. Yet our culture has little concern for the honor of God’s name, the name that is precious above all else.
It has been said that “names, once they are in common use, quickly become mere sounds, their etymology being buried, like so many of the earth’s marvels, beneath the dust of habit” (anon). What is our habit? How do we bear God’s name in our daily activities? Do we use his precious name in ways that bring honor or dishonor?
As we prayerfully consider this issue, we need to be reminded that our God takes the use of his name very seriously, and so ought we. May God grant us the understanding and ability to bear his name rightly.
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Westminster Shorter Catechism Q56
Illustrations by John Whitecross – #3 of 6: Ebenezer Erskine, when crossing the Forth from Leith to Kinghorn, had the unhappiness to find himself in the midst of ungodly passengers, who took the most unhallowed liberties with their Creator’s Name. For a time he was silent, but at last, unable to suppress his concern, and eager to curb their blaspheming tongues, he rose from his seat, and taking hold of the mast uncovered his head, and cried loudly, in the manner of a herald or town-crier, ‘O yes, O yes, O yes.’ Having thus secured the attention of the astonished passengers and crew, he proceeded in a solemn and impressive manner to proclaim that commandment of the law of God that they were flagrantly violating: ‘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.’ Without adding a single word, he quitted the mast, put on his hat, and resumed his seat. Soon, however, general talk became as profane and offensive as before. Among the rest, a lady, regardless of all maxims of politeness, seemed to find a malicious pleasure in continuous acts of profanity, accompanied with smiles of derision and contempt. Soon, however, it pleased God to intervene by sending a sudden storm. The heavens became black with clouds, the sea became angry, and the pilot seemed quite unable to control the ship’s helm. This unexpected change of circumstances led to a corresponding change in the demeanour of the passengers. Their sportive gaity gave place to consternation and despair. The same lady who had acted so insolent a part towards Erskine now came to his side as if her only hope of safety lay in her nearness to him, and said, ‘O Sir, if I die here, I will die with you.’ Soon, however, they weathered the storm, reached the harbour in safety, and dispersed to their various destinations. Such is one way of many in which it pleases God to rebuke blasphemy.
John Whitecross – 1828
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WSC Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
Answer: The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment[a].
[a] Deut. 28:58-59; I Sam. 3:13; 4:11
Question 56 asks what the reason is for the third commandment, and answers that the reason for the third commandment is that the Lord our God will not allow those who break this commandment to escape his righteous judgment, although they may escape punishment from men.
Comments and considerations:
We come to a fourth study of the third commandment. We’ve seen that we usually think of using the Lord’s name in vain through foul and abusive language. But as we have observed, it goes far deeper than that; God requires the holy and reverend use of his names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works; he forbids their polluting or abuse, since these are how God makes himself known. The commandment ends with this statement: “for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.”
Notice how our fathers put the proposition: “the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.” Consider the providence of God and his righteous judgments which will certainly come to pass. As Israel was entering into the Promised Land, Moses gave this sobering warning:
Then Moses said to them: “If you do this thing, if you arm yourselves before the LORD for the war, and all your armed men cross over the Jordan before the LORD until He has driven out His enemies from before Him, and the land is subdued before the LORD, then afterward you may return and be blameless before the LORD and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD. But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out” (Num. 32:20-21).
“Your sin will find you out.” What is that old adage? “You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” Well, the fact is we can fool God none of the time; though men may not notice or punish our vain bearing of God’s name, the One who examines the heart will see. There are no more sobering words than what our Lord promised centuries later:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matt. 7:21-23).
As we studied the character trait of honesty in our Christian school, we discussed hypocrisy and counterfeiting. To illustrate the lesson, one of the fifth grade students wrote a clever story about a den of thieves who made counterfeit money and profited as the fake bills were spread around town; in an unexpected twist of events, they received the counterfeit money themselves in a transaction gone bad, and eventually they were caught by the law. The moral: beware, lest your sin find you out.
We sometimes struggle over the apparent prosperity of the unrighteous: “For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked… They have more than heart could wish. They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth” (Ps. 73:3, 7-9). But then the psalmist writes, “When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me—Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment! They are utterly consumed with terrors” (Ps. 73:16-19).
James cautions us this way: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was” (Jam. 1:22-24).
Again, however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment:
Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!
For what good is the day of the LORD to you?
It will be darkness, and not light.
It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him!
Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! (Amos 5:18-19).
As we close this consideration of the third commandment, we must ask, do we hold the Lord’s name in vain? See how the psalmist closes Ps. 73.
Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works (Ps. 73:23-28).
Training Hearts and Teaching Minds Questions:
- Read Rom. 10:12-13. What does it mean that, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved”? (Also see the context of Joel 2:32.) Why is it important to know the name of one who has promised to deliver you from trouble, especially the trouble and condemnation of sin?
- Righteous judgment has as its goal a change in behavior or attitude, the turning away from sin. In Rev. 16:8-9, what is the outcome of God’s punishment in this incident?
- God allows his people to be called, or identified, by his name. In Deut. 28:9-10, what is the outcome of this honor? In Deut. 28:58-59, what ought we to fear if we dishonor his name?
- Being so honored as God’s people, bearing his name, how should God’s people conduct themselves? See II Tim. 2:19.
Harmony of the Standards: WSC Q56, WLC Q114, and WCF XXII.IV
WSC Q56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment[a].
[a] Deut. 28:58-59; I Sam. 3:13; 4:11
WLC Q114. What reasons are annexed to the third commandment?
A. The reasons annexed to the third commandment, in these words, “The Lord thy God,” and, “For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain,”[a] are, because he is the Lord and our God, therefore his name is not to be profaned, or any way abused by us[b]; especially because he will be so far from acquitting and sparing the transgressors of this commandment, as that he will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment[c]; albeit many such escape the censures and punishments of men[d].
[a] Exod. 20:7
[b] Lev. 19:12
[c] Ezek. 36:21-23; Deut. 28:58-59; Zech. 5:2-4
[d] 1Sam. 2:12, 17, 22, 24; 3:13
CHAPTER. XXII.
Of Lawful Oaths and Vows.
IV. An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation, or mental reservation.[i] It cannot oblige to sin; but in anything not sinful, being taken, it binds to performance, although to a man’s own hurt.[k] Nor is it to be violated, although made to heretics, or infidels[l].
[i]. Jer. 4:2; Ps. 24:4
[k]. I Sam. 25:22, 32-34; Ps. 15:4
[l]. Ezek. 17:16-19; Josh. 9:18-19; II Sam. 21:1
Question(s) for further study:
The Shorter and Larger Catechism ask the same question here, but are different, the Larger seeking to answer what? How does our being made in the image of God, to give witness to His name as it were, give weight to the implications reasoned here?
