INTRODUCTION

There are certain areas where the Lord shows some of His greatest care and concern. He takes great offence and moves swiftly in their defence when men abuse these areas. For instance, the Bible says that the Lord is jealous for His “holy name” (Ezekiel 39:25Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;
See All...). Perhaps, with this in mind, the Lord said, “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 20:7Thou 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.
See All...). The Bible also says that God is jealous for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:14So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
See All...; Zechariah 8:2Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
See All...), which is His land (Joel 2:18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
See All...). When people abuse His name or His land, God takes these things particularly personally. Unfortunately, in these last days, men are increasingly abusing both His name and His land.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): The Bible says that the Lord’s name is holy and reverend (Psalm 111:9He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
  See All...c). To take His name in vain means to use it in a useless way. He does not take this lightly (Exodus 20:7Thou 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.
  See All...; Leviticus 24:10-16 [10] And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; [11] And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) [12] And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. [13] And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, [14] Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. [15] And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. [16] And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.
  See All...; Deuteronomy 5:11Thou 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.
  See All...; 2 Chronicles 32:13-21 [13] Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? [14] Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? [15] Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? [16] And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah. [17] He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. [18] Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. [19] And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. [20] And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. [21] And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword.
  See All...).
• (For everyone): All the earth belongs to the Lord, but He specifically claims Jerusalem as His land. How do people provoke the Lord to jealousy concerning His land?
• What are some ways in which men take the name of the Lord in vain? Do you ever use His name in any vain ways? How is this an attack upon God’s name and upon His character?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for taking such care for His great name.
• Ask the Lord to help you become jealous over the things that make Him jealous.

HYMN

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