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The Name of the Lord is salvation, so that Jesus can promise, “anything you ask in my Name, I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14).
The third commandment, “You shall not take the Name of the Lord God in vain,” is most often applied to cursing or similar abuse of His name, but in the Scriptures “vanity” is consistently used to illustrate worthlessness, emptiness, or futility (see Ecclesiastes). Therefore, rather than something we necessarily do, it is more often something we don’t do.
When we neglect to call on the Name of the Lord when we need help (salvation), we have taken His name in vain. His name lies empty for us. We do not know it or experience it, and so we render it worthless in our lives. This is the fullness of what it means to “take the Name of the Lord in vain.”
For other episodes in this series, visit the Discerning Hearts Sonja Corbitt page
Scripture References for The Show
Luke 1:46-55, the words of the Magnificat
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women,” (Luke 1:28), the angel to Mary.
“Blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42), Elizabeth to Mary
“Holy Mary,” (Luke 1:48), blessed = beatified, holy
“Mother of my Lord,” (Luke 1:48), Elizabeth
Episode Resources
Isaiah 7:14, 9:6, Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Proverbs 18:10, The Name of the Lord is strong tower.
Judges 13, Manoah and his wife see the angel of the Lord. “So Manoah arose and followed his wife. When he came to the Man, he said to Him, ‘Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?’ And He said, ‘I am’” (Judg. 13:11). “Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing is secret?” (13:18). “secret, too wonderful, mysterious”
Exodus 3:14-15, God reveals His Name to humanity.
Exodus 34:5, God reveals His “glory” to Moses in the cleft of the Rock, and His “glory” is His Name.
List of some of the “names” God’s people gave Him throughout the scriptures:
- Jehovah-Nissi (Ex. 17:15) The-Lord-My-Banner (flag)
- Jehovah-Raah (Ps. 23:1) The-Lord-My-Shepherd
- Jehovah-Jireh (Gen. 22:14) The-Lord-Will-Provide
- Jehovah-Rapha (Ex.15: 26) The-Lord-That-Healeth
- Jehovah-Shalom (Judg. 6:24) The-Lord-Is-Peace
- Jehovah-Shamma (Ez. 48:35) The-Lord-Is-There
- Jehovah-Sabaoth (1 Sam. 1:3) The-Lord-Of-Hosts (armies)
- Jehovah-Tsidkenu (Jer. 23:6) The-Lord-Our-Righteousness
- Jehovah-Oz (Is. 12:2) The-Lord-My-Strength
- YAH (Ps. 68:4; poetic form of Yahweh) The-Lord-Is-A-Poet
- Jehovah-Mekoddishkem (Lev. 20:8) The-Lord-Who-Sanctifies-You
- Qanna (Ex. 34:14) Jealous
- Jehovah-Baal (Is. 54:5) The-Lord-Your-Husband
- Jehovah-Derek (Judg. 18:6) The-Lord-Your-Way
- Jehovah-Zimrath (Ex. 15:2) The-Lord-My-Song
- Jehovah-Nasa (Ps. 99:8) The-Lord-Who-Forgives
- El Roi (Gen. 16:13) The-God-Who-Sees
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth” (Phil. 2:9-10).
“‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Deut. 5:11).
This week’s LOVE exercise (interactive scripture meditation, or lectio divina) is based on an Augustinian* personality approach. Go on! Try it!
Listen (Lectio)
As you read through the words of the following verse, imagine Jesus saying these words directly to you.
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
Observe (Meditatio)
Read this verse again, emphasizing each word in turn, like this:
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (Joh 14:13-14).
Emphasize each word in turn until you have stressed the all. What do you notice?
Verbalize (Oratio)
What does a concentration on every one of Jesus’ words, here, tell you personally? What does Jesus want you to know? What does He want you to do now?
Tell Him, now, what’s on your heart.
Entrust (Contemplatio)
Perhaps you’d like to take a few minutes to simply wonder in this extraordinary promise and entrust yourself to Him anew.
.
*Interactive scripture meditations, LOVE Exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.
For more resources and Sonja’s scripture meditation exercise for this episode visit the “Bible Study Evangelista“ website
Sonja’s books can found here
Sonja Corbitt is the Bible Study Evangelista. She’s a Catholic Scripture teacher with a story teller’s gift – a Southern Belle with a warrior’s heart and a poet’s pen.
We’re all sweating and dirty with the effort to love and lift all He’s given to us – those people, duties, callings, and longings that break our hearts and make them sing, sometimes at the same time. But most times, we need to be loved and lifted ourselves.
So her Bible study media are created with you in mind, bites of spinach that taste like cake, to help you make space in your busy heart and schedule for God to love and lift you all the way up into His great lap, where all you’ve been given is loved and lifted too.
Thank you, I needed this today. My nephew whom I love as a son has been entrapped by addictions for 2/3 of his life – and he is only 33! I pray for his complete conversion, a return to the sacraments, to his family and in gratitude ministers to the sick.