Sunday
July 8
1. THE MEANING OF GOD’S NAME
a. How did God express His name to Moses, and how is this significant for us? Exodus 3:13–15.
“I AM means an eternal presence; the past, present, and future are alike to God. He sees the most remote events of past history, and the far distant future with as clear a vision as we do those things that are transpiring daily. We know not what is before us, and if we did, it would not contribute to our eternal welfare. God gives us an opportunity to exercise faith and trust in the great I AM.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E.G. White Comments], vol. 1, p. 1099.
b. Regardless of the language in which references to the Eternal One may be expressed, what should we realize about Him and about His name? Psalms 99:1–3; 111:9; Jeremiah 10:6, 7.
“Holy angels have been displeased and disgusted with the irreverent manner in which many have used the name of God, the great Jehovah.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 410.
“We are never in any manner to treat lightly the titles or appellations of the Deity.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 106.
Monday
July 9
2. CARE TO BE EXERCISED
a. Explain the depth of the principle God has given us in the third commandment of the Decalogue. Exodus 20:7.
“[Exodus 20:7 quoted.] This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, but it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner, without regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him. ‘Holy and reverend is His name’ (Psalm 111:9). All should meditate upon His majesty, His purity and holiness, that the heart may be impressed with a sense of His exalted character; and His holy name should be uttered with reverence and solemnity.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 306, 307.
b. What do many professed believers often fail to realize about the Creator and His name? Hebrews 10:31.
“Those who take the name of the Lord in vain will find it a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”—My Life Today, p. 282.
“Angels mention that sacred name [of God] with the greatest awe, ever veiling their faces when they speak the name of God; and the name of Christ is so sacred to them that they speak it with the greatest reverence. But how opposite the spirit and influence attending the 1854 time movement. Some who are still under the same influence speak of God as they would of a horse or of any other commonplace thing. In their prayers they use the words God Almighty in a very common and irreverent manner. Those who do this have no sense of the exalted character of God, of Christ, or of heavenly things.”—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 410.
“I saw a light coming from the glory that encircled the Father, and as it approached near to me, my body trembled and shook like a leaf. I thought that if it should come near me I would be struck out of existence, but the light passed me. Then could I have some sense of the great and terrible God with whom we have to do. I saw then what faint views some have of the holiness of God, and how much they take His holy and reverend name in vain, without realizing that it is God, the great and terrible God, of whom they are speaking.”—Early Writings, p. 70.
Tuesday
July 10
3. ADDRESSING GOD IN PRAYER
a. How are we to address our heavenly Father in prayer? Matthew 6:9.
“To hallow the name of the Lord requires that the words in which we speak of the Supreme Being be uttered with reverence. ‘Holy and reverend is His name’ (Psalm 111:9). . . . In prayer we enter the audience chamber of the Most High; and we should come before Him with holy awe. . . .
“This name is hallowed by the angels of heaven, by the inhabitants of unfallen worlds. When you pray, ‘Hallowed be Thy name,’ you ask that it may be hallowed in this world, hallowed in you. God has acknowledged you before men and angels as His child; pray that you may do no dishonor to the ‘worthy name by which ye are called’ (James 2:7).”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 106, 107.
b. Name some irreverent prayer practices that we need to avoid. Matthew 6:7, 8.
“While praying, many use careless and irreverent expressions, which grieve the tender Spirit of the Lord and cause their petitions to be shut out of heaven.”—Early Writings, p. 70.
“Let not those who kneel around the family altar put their faces in their hands close down to the chair when they address God. Let them lift up their heads and with holy awe speak to their heavenly Father, uttering their words in tones that can be heard.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 381.
“Reverence should be shown . . . for the name of God. Never should that name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its frequent or needless repetition should be avoided.”—Education, p. 243.
“God’s holy name should be used with reverence and awe. The words God Almighty are coupled together and used by some in prayer in a careless, thoughtless manner, which is displeasing to Him. Such have no realizing sense of God or the truth, or they would not speak so irreverently of the great and dreadful God, who is soon to judge them in the last day. Said the angel, ‘Couple them not together; for fearful is His name.’ Those who realize the greatness and majesty of God will take His name on their lips with holy awe. He dwelleth in light unapproachable; no man can see Him and live. I saw that these things will have to be understood and corrected before the church can prosper.”—Early Writings, p. 122.
Wednesday
July 11
4. THE TAKING OF OATHS
a. In regard to oath taking, what distinction did Jesus clarify in Matthew 5:34 and 26:63 (first part)?
“The Jews understood the third commandment as prohibiting the profane use of the name of God; but they thought themselves at liberty to employ other oaths. Oath taking was common among them. Through Moses they had been forbidden to swear falsely, but they had many devices for freeing themselves from the obligation imposed by an oath. They did not fear to indulge in what was really profanity, nor did they shrink from perjury so long as it was veiled by some technical evasion of the law.
“Jesus condemned their practices, declaring that their custom in oath taking was a transgression of the commandment of God. Our Saviour did not, however, forbid the use of the judicial oath, in which God is solemnly called to witness that what is said is truth and nothing but the truth.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 66, 67.
b. What basic principle did Jesus teach, and what are its implications for our everyday life? Matthew 5:37.
“Jesus proceeded to lay down a principle that would make oath taking needless. He teaches that the exact truth should be the law of speech. ‘Let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one’ (Matthew 5:37, RV).
“These words condemn all those meaningless phrases and expletives that border on profanity. They condemn the deceptive compliments, the evasion of truth, the flattering phrases, the exaggerations, the misrepresentations in trade, that are current in society and in the business world. They teach that no one who tries to appear what he is not, or whose words do not convey the real sentiment of his heart, can be called truthful.
“If these words of Christ were heeded, they would check the utterance of evil surmising and unkind criticism; for in commenting upon the actions and motives of another, who can be certain of speaking the exact truth? How often pride, passion, personal resentment, color the impression given! A glance, a word, even an intonation of the voice, may be vital with falsehood. Even facts may be so stated as to convey a false impression. And ‘whatsoever is more than’ truth, ‘is of the evil one.’ ”—Ibid., pp. 67, 68.
Thursday
July 12
5. GLORIFYING HIS NAME
a. How do we glorify God’s name? Psalm 96: 8, 9; Revelation 15:4.
“Let those who pray and those who speak pronounce their words properly and speak in clear, distinct, even tones. . . . Prayer is not what it should be, because of the defective voices of those who utter it. Satan rejoices when the prayers offered to God are almost inaudible. Let God’s people learn how to speak and pray in a way that will properly represent the great truths they possess. Let the testimonies borne and the prayers offered be clear and distinct. Thus God will be glorified.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 382.
“In every act of life you are to make manifest the name of God. This petition [to hallow His name] calls upon you to possess His character. You cannot hallow His name, you cannot represent Him to the world, unless in life and character you represent the very life and character of God.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 107.
b. How can we continually reap the benefits of God’s holy name? Proverbs 18:10; John 14:13, 14; 1 John 3:22. Explain how God’s glory is manifested by those who are to receive His seal in their foreheads. Revelation 14:1.
“Preserve a clear conscience before God. In all you do glorify His name. Divest yourselves of selfishness and selfish love.”—Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 71.
“Unless the name of God is written in your forehead—written there because God is the center of your thoughts—you will not be meet for the inheritance in light.”—Counsels on Stewardship, p. 46.
Friday
July 13
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What does God’s name imply?
2. How might we be subtly breaking the third commandment?
3. List some points we should remember about prayer.
4. Explain oath taking, as clarified by Jesus.
5. How can we fully glorify the name of God?