Have you noticed how everything in our country has become more casual? People are dressing more casual, even for the workplace and church. Social settings are more casual than in years past. People address one another far more casually than our parents’ generation. There seems to be very little awe and respect in our culture.
The same seems true in respect to God. People refer to the Creator of the universe as “the big guy” or “the man upstairs.” Some who have no tolerance for people combining the name of God in conjunction with curse words have no problem using some slang term to refer to our God. It is mind boggling to me. Exodus 20:7 says “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
In the Jewish faith, the name of God was treated with respect and awe. In regard to transcribing the holy scriptures, Perry Stone said “Writing God’s name was so sacred that if a scribe was copying God’s name on the parchment and a king walked in, the scribe was not permitted to look up until the name of God was completely written. It is reported that before and after writing God’s name, the scribe’s pen was wiped clean, and in ancient times scribes would leave the table and wash in honor of writing God’s holy name on His holy Word.” Many in the Jewish faith would only refer to God as Ha Shem, meaning “The Name” instead of calling Him Yahweh, because they held the name is such high esteem they would not even speak it.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost our respect and awe for the name of God. I think it may be because we don’t have a clear understanding of who our God is. If we did, we would fall with our faces to the ground like Peter [Luke 5:8] or cry out as Isaiah declaring our sinfulness [Isaiah 6:5].
I cannot encourage you enough to dive deep into the Word of God and get to know who your God is. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and you too will be in awe of Him and what His name represents.
Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”