A. W. Pink writes of The Third Commandment: “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” (Exodus 20:7).
Let us first endeavour to point out the scope and comprehensiveness of this commandment. By the Name of the Lord our God is signified God Himself as He is made known to us, including everything through which He has been pleased to reveal Himself: His Word, His titles, His attributes, His ordinances, His works. The Name of God stands for His very nature and being, as in Psalms 20:1; 135:3; John 1:12 etc. Sometimes the Name of God is taken for the entire system of Divine Truth: “we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God” (Micah 4:5) — in that way of Truth and worship which He has appointed. “I have manifested Thy Name unto the men Thou gavest Me” (John 17:6) — instructed them in the Heavenly doctrine. But usually, and more specifically, the Name of God refers to that by which He is called and made known to us. To “take His Name” means to employ or make use of the same, as the Object of our thoughts or the Subject of our speech. Not to take His Name “in vain” is the negative way of saying it must be held in the utmost awe and used holily in thought and word and deed.
About the Author:
Arthur Walkington Pink (1886) was born in Nottingham, England. Arthur W. Pink: Biblical Christian Evangelist, was known for his staunchly Calvinist and Puritan-like teachings in an era severely dominated by opposing theological traditions. In 1940, A. W. Pink took up residence on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, and remained there until his death some twelve years later. Most of Arthur W. Pink’s works first appeared as articles in the monthly Studies in the Scriptures, published from 1922 to 1952.