Second Commandment

Second Commandment


You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean?


We should fear and love God so that we do not abuse his name to curse, swear, attempt magic, lie or deceive.  


Instead we should use his name to call upon him for all our needs, to pray, to praise and give thanks. 


A.  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
35.  Exodus 20:7.  You shall not misuse the name of the Lord, your God;  for the Lord will not leave unpunished those who misuse his name.

B.  We shall not use God's name to curse.
36.  Leviticus 24,15-16.  Tell the children of Israel:  Whoever curses his God, he must bear his sin;  whoever abuses God's name must die.

37.  James 3:8-10.  No one can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil full of deadly poison.  With the tongue we praise God the Father and with the tongue we curse our fellow human beings, made in the image of God.  Out from the same mouth proceeds praise and cursing.  This should not be, dear Brothers.

38.  Romans 12:14.  Bless those who persecute you;  bless and do not curse.

39.  1 Peter 3:9.  Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult;  but speak blessings instead and know  that you have been called to inherit a blessing.


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The Latin has "adoremus" which is to pray/praise/adore.  In a way I'd like to see "adore" included somewhere because people know what this means:  "O, I love this.  O,  I simply adore this."  When we say "praise" we think more of praising a little child for performing a task or eating his peas.  "Adore" speaks more to the subject of adoration.  Praise sounds a little more like what we do.