Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us . . . That We Use Your Name Correctly.
by Pastor Edwin Lehmann on June 24, 2023 in Exodus 20:7
Sermon for the Third Sunday after Trinity June 25, 2023
Text: Exodus 20:7 Summer Sermon Series 23:2392
Theme: LORD, THY WILL BE DONE BY US…
That We Use Your Name Correctly.
One day soldiers stationed in one of our posts in the South Pacific were startled to read the following announcement: “American soldiers are requested please to be more careful in their choice of language, especially when native people are assisting them in unloading cargo and erecting buildings. American missionaries spent many years among us and taught us the use of clean speech. Every day, however, Americans use bad words, and the good work your missionaries did in our midst is being undermined by your careless profanity.” To the greater shame of the Americans, this notice was signed by a Polynesian chieftain.
There was a time when we were proud of our traditions. But in our present day it appears that some are ungrateful for the blessings God has lavished upon our land in its history and traditions. Admittedly, not everything done was right. But I wish that people were more humbly grateful for what God has wrought in our land.
How about this American tradition of the past that was endorsed by George Washington. On August 3, 1776, he gave this order to the Continental Army: “The general is sorry to be informed that the foolish and wicked practice of profane cursing and swearing, a vice heretofore little known in an American Army, is growing in fashion. He hopes the officers will by example as well as by influence endeavor to check it, and that both they and the men will reflect that we can have little hope of the blessing of Heaven on our arms if we insult it by our impiety and folly. Besides this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any temptation, that every man of sense and character detests and despises it” (CP,vol.25).
Long before that, our Lord God commanded: “You shall not misuse (or take in vain) the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not permit anyone who misuses His name to escape unpunished.” God is serious and adds a warning of punishment. Oh, that we were as serious and prayed: LORD, MAY THY WILL BE DONE BY US…That We Use Your Name Correctly.
I. It is most important because the misuse of God’s name runs so rampant in society. It’s not just profanity, calling down God’s anger in punishment on people or things by cursing. It’s also swearing falsely, calling down God to behold the truth of what is said, taking an oath, then lying. It’s also speaking His Word falsely. For now, just think of the temptation to use profanity, ungodly cursing.
It’s far too prevalent in our day, if for no other reason than all the unnecessary OMGs people use for no benefit and no heavenly reason at all. Why do we do that? Why is cursing such a problem?
Sometimes it’s force of habit. People have done it as far back as they can remember. Children hear grown-ups salt their speech with profanity because they think it brings intensity to what they say, and before long, children and grandchildren begin to imitate it. It’s not so easy for weak, sinful beings to break evil habits on their own.
Other people are limited in their knowledge of our English language and find it hard to express themselves with better words. It’s easier to just use a curse word. “Everybody knows it; everybody does it.” It’s a handy thing to do, requiring little effort.
To others it’s a favorite way to let off some steam. Like a safety valve on a steam pipe, it’s a quick release of pent-up emotions that we think makes one feel better. Maybe that’s the heart of the problem. And I do mean that literally – the heart, this heart.
Jesus said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies” (Mt.15:19). Blasphemies are words spoken first against God, but also spoken against people, as in gossip when we slander them.
What a cesspool the sinful heart can be! Words have their origin not in the mouth, but in the heart. So, what does the use of profane language say about one’s heart? Do you see why this commandment is most important, especially in witness to Christ?
Who would believe what I have to say about my Savior taking away our sin and giving us life with Him forever if my mouth is full of profanity that stems from my heart? And who would think that my heart actually believes in the Savior when I utilize His name for both angry and trivial reasons? To that end Jesus encouraged, “Simply let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no.’ Anything beyond this comes from the evil one” (Mt.5:37).
The truthfulness of a Christian’s words are not enhanced by cursing or by swearing false oaths. Isn’t Peter’s example of denying Christ by oaths at the time of Jesus’ suffering and death enough to show us that? No one expected language like that to come from a follower of Jesus. As an unbeliever once said, “When I hear about Christ, I want to be a Christian. But when I hear some Christians, I want to be a heathen.”
What an indictment that is! See how it is most important to Use God’s Name Correctly. His name is not just the “handles” we give Him like “God, Lord, Creator, Savior, King of Kings,” and so on. It includes all His saving words to us that are here, in the Bible. For that reason most of all, we wish to Use His Name Rightly.
To that end we daily pray with David: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps.51). A clean heart leads to a clean mouth. Thank goodness that looking to Christ as the Savior who washes away all sin, our mouths and hearts are cleansed daily. As an angel once told God’s prophet: “This has touched your lips (“this” refers to a sign of that sacrifice which Jesus would make on the cross). Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for” (Is.6:7). Thank God for such a blessing that flows to us in Jesus’ name. When it is used correctly and revealed in us,…
II. …then His Name blesses us. Then the Gospel sings with a sweet sound of salvation, full and free, unhindered in the true use of Jesus’ name. And there is the sure hope of greater things to come. These are the blessings of His name for which it is important that we use it correctly, otherwise the blessings can’t flow. Our tongues play such a big part in it.
James wrote, “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal” (Ja.33).
When I was a boy we would go to the county fair at the end of summer. Even now the same is true. One of my favorite places to go is the stables and arenas where the horses are kept – horses of all kinds, sizes, and colors. But the ones that impress me the most are those monstrous Clydesdales and coal black Shires. They pull the big, heavy wagons. You can feel the beat of their hooves, pounding on the dirt floor as they circle the arena. Their backs broad and sturdy, quivering with tight muscles. Such proud and magnificently powerful animals. Yet, they can be controlled and directed in the way they should go by a little bit placed into their mouths. Such a little instrument compared to those huge bodies! It has great impact on the direction in which they go.
James continued, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts….With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”
You see, dear friends, on the one hand people hear us disgrace the name of God in cursing, false swearing, lying and deceiving about what God says in His Word. Some use superstitious arts that are of the devil instead of God’s Word to reveal the present and future. On the other hand, people can hear us honoring God’s name through speaking of the saving blessings in Christ, thanking Him for His great goodness in our lives, praying to Him because we trust Him to help us in all of our needs. Such things reveal to others a heart of love, devotion, gratitude, appreciation, and care of God’s name. Either we reveal that by what our tongues say as we lift His praise to the heights of heaven, or people hear us fling His name in the mud. When we honor and revere His name and use it correctly, it will prove to be a blessing not just to us, but it will have a great influence on their lives too, an influence that lasts to eternity.
To that end we pray, LORD, THY WILL BE DONE BY US…That We Use Your Name Correctly. It is most important that we do for then Your Name will bless us and others. God grant it in our lives of faith for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
The Third Sunday after Trinity June 25, 2023
Welcome in the Savior’s name. We are happy to have you worshipping with us today as we continue in the first part of the Trinity Season to consider different angles of God’s love.
On the first Sunday after the Trinity Festival the lessons centered our attention on the Christian surrounded by God’s love. Last Sunday are attention was drawn to the Christian’s response to God’s love. Today we think of God’s love in relation to sin and His forgiveness. That is what we call grace.
In truth love and grace are not two qualities but one. However, when love is manifested in what God does, that is grace. Love is the eternal fountain within; grace is the stream that flows from it. Love is the fire; grace is the heat and warmth. The Greek word for grace, charis, expresses the outward beauty and attractiveness of grace. It is especially used to express the manifestation of God’s love in the person of Christ, our Savior.
In the sermon text we continue in our study of the Ten Commandments with the Second Commandment. As the First Commandments instructed our hearts and taught us faith towards the one true God alone, so the Second Commandment leads us outward as it trains our lips and tongue towards God, for words issue from and reveal what is in the heart.
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“God’s Loving Grace for All Who Hope In Him”
The Preparation
Opening Thoughts on the Service
The Entrance Hymn: “When All Your Mercies, O My God” #604
The Order of Service: Morning Prayer (Matins) Hymnal pg.207
Prayer of the Day
The Ministry of the Word
(The Lessons for the Day are taken from the Historic Pericope Series of the Christian Church.)
Psalm of the Day: #103 “The LORD Is Kind and Merciful”
Isaiah 12:1-6 Isaiah sings a song about God’s salvation. Like one who is dying of thirst, the believer will draw refreshment for His soul from the wells of salvation that spring from the heavenly Father’s fountain of grace. In Christ, God’s anger is turned aside, and we find cause to sing for joy.
1 Peter 5:6-11 Although they are God’s dear children by faith, Christians will find that they will suffer while they are in this world. In such sufferings, resist the devil, stand firm in faith, and look to your heavenly Father’s care for you. He will graciously sustain you.
Hymn Response: “The First Song of Isaiah” #810
Luke 15:1-10 Jesus’ parables of The Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin teach God’s loving care and gracious concern for those who are lost in sin without Him. The worth of each to Him is great for God would have all to be saved. All heaven erupts in joy over each lost sinner that is found and returned to Him.
The Sermon Hymn: “Praise the Almighty, My Soul, Adore Him” #619
The Sermon: Lord, Thy Will Be Done By Us…
That We Use Your Name Correctly.
Exodus 20:7
Our Response to the Word
The Te Deum Laudamus pg. 210
The Offering
The Closing Order of Morning Praise: Hymnal pg.213-214
The Kyrie (“Lord, Have Mercy”)
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer
The Lord Blesses Us
The Benediction: Hymnal pg.214
Closing Hymn: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #617
Silent Prayer
This Month’s WELS Connection
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The Organist: Jane Rips
The Preacher: Pastor Edwin Lehmann
Point to Ponder: “When something evil happens, why do people say: ‘Devil take it!’ (It was a manner of expression used in the Middle Ages to express a curse when some evil befell a person)? Why don’t you instead say, ‘Come, help, O God! Counsel me!’ Then the curses will disappear…. This anybody can grasp. If you can learn a song of twenty stanzas, you can learn this: ‘God help me! God bless me! Yes, God save me!”…. Oppose Satan with the name of God! It is certain that this does help as soon as it is uttered in time of need…. (Satan) hears God’s name very unwillingly and cannot remain long where it is invoked from the heart…. I say, we should constantly have (God’s) holy name in our mouths, so that (Satan) cannot injure us, as he is eager to do.”
— Martin Luther in a sermon on the Second Commandment
The Third Sunday after Trinity – Historic Series
Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 12:1-6 – A Song of Salvation.
1 In that day you will say:
I will give thanks to you, Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you comfort me.
2Surely God is my salvation. I will trust him and will not be afraid, because Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song, and he has become my salvation.
3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say:
Give thanks to the Lord! Proclaim his name. Declare among the peoples what he has done.
Proclaim that his name is exalted!
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done amazing things! Let this be known in all the earth!
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, daughter of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!
Epistle Lesson: 1 Peter 5:6-11 – Regarding Humility and Trust in God.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under God’s powerful hand so that he may lift you up at the appointed time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him by being firm in the faith. You know that the same kinds of sufferings are being laid on your brotherhood all over the world.
10 After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. 11 To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Lesson: Luke 15:1-10 – Joy Over the Lost Who Are Found.
1 All the tax collectors and sinners were coming to Jesus to hear him. 2 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3 He told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, if you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls together his friends and his neighbors, telling them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.
8 “Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found the lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
Sermon Text: Exodus 20:7 The Second Commandment
7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not permit anyone who misuses his name to escape unpunished.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2019
The Second Commandment
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
(You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.)
What does this mean?
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name. But call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
How this commandment is transgressed.
He who swears unnecessarily or frivolously;
He who takes a false oath or breaks his vow;
He who curses by the name of God;
He who indulges in silly talk concerning God or recklessly perverts the words of Scripture;
He who fails to call upon the name of God in the time of trouble and to praise Him in evil days and in good days, in adversity and in prosperity;
He who seeks glory, honor and fame through his piety, wisdom, or other endowments;
He who engages in a false worship of God as is done by the heretics and all vain-glorious saints;
He who does not praise the name of the Lord regardless of what comes to pass;
He who does not oppose others who abuse and revile the name of God or use it for evil ends.
How the commandment is fulfilled.
Praise, honor, blessing, and worship of God’s name with absolute abasement of one’s own name and honor, so that only God is glorified, who is everything and from whom everything comes.
All that the Scriptures teach concerning God’s glory and honor, concerning the gratitude which is His due, concerning the name of God and our joy in the Scriptures, all pertains to this commandment.
— Treatise on the Law, Faith, and Prayer of 1520 by Martin Luther
Why Are There Different Numberings to the Ten Commandments?
I’m sure that if you have made a visit to a local Bible bookstore and looked at plaques having the Ten Commandments, you’ve been puzzled by the numbering. If you grew up within the Lutheran Church, Roman Catholic Church, and a few others, you know the Second Commandment as: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” But that’s not what you see on the plaque. You probably see, “Thou shalt not make any graven images….” Then, the commandment you know as the Second Commandment is listed as Commandment Three. When you get to the end of the commandments you also note on most plaques that there is only one commandment that forbids coveting instead of the two you learned. So, what gives with this different numbering?
There are two versions of the ten commandments (Decalogue) given in the Bible. The first is in Exodus 20, the second in Deuteronomy 5. All churches have preferred to use the version given in Exodus. According to Exodus 34:28 and Deuteronomy 4:13, God wrote upon the tablets “ten commandments.” Exodus 20 is to be divided into ten parts. However, God didn’t state which number was which, and the division was done differently by different writers.
The oldest method, found in the writings of Philo and Josephus (first century A.D. Jews), takes verse 3 as the first commandment (“no gods before…), verses 4 through 6 (“no graven images…”) as the second, and so forth. This is called the Philonic division. It was adopted by the Greek Orthodox Church and by most Protestant Churches, except Lutheran. Later the Jewish Talmud (third century A.D.) treated the preface in verses 1 and 2 (“I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt”) as the first of ten “sayings” and combined verses 3-6 (“no gods” and “no graven images”) as the second saying. This is called the Talmudic division and was adopted by all Jews. However, with their division the first is not a commandment but rather a divine statement.
In the fifth century, Saint Augustine (A.D. 354-430) listed the ten commandments by beginning with the Talmudic second saying as the first commandment, and by following the word order of Deuteronomy 5:21 (combining “no gods and no graven images” as one commandment). He made the ninth commandment a prohibition of the coveting of a neighbor’s wife, and the tenth a prohibition of coveting his house and other property. This is known as the Augustinian division. The Roman Catholic church accepted Augustine’s method, and Luther also continued in this tradition with one modification: he preferred to follow the word order of Exodus 20. Therefore, his ninth commandment became a prohibition against coveting the house and his tenth prohibited coveting the wife, slaves, and animals. Lutherans continue to follow this method.
So, why are there different numberings to the commandments? For the most part, it comes down to tradition, of which there are at least 3 major divisions to the numbering. But no matter which division is followed to get to the number ten, the content of God’s commands remains in each.
Calendar & Announcements for Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
A member congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4717 S Farm Rd 135 (Golden Avenue), Springfield, MO 65810
Church phone: 417.887.0886 www.zionluthchurch.com
Pastor’s cell phone: 417.693.3244 email: revelehmann@gmail.com
You can also find us on Facebook
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Thursday
June 29 |
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June 30 |
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July 1 |
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July 2 |
| 9:00 am
Divine Worship Service online -Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
3rd Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 4) |
Confirmation Class recessed for summer
Summer Family at Heit’s Point. through |
Camp-out Sunday pm Tuesday pm. |
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11 am Midweek Bible Class
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9:00 am
Divine Worship Service with Holy Communion online – Facebook 10:15 am Fellowship & Bible Study
4th Sunday after Trinity (Pentecost 5) |
A Brief Bible Study on God’s Word for Today
“Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can. Found seldom in a woman, never in a man.” A cute little saying, and yet how true. Even those of us who claim to be patient people reach a point where we can be patient no more. What a blessing it is that we have a God who is always patient with us, forgiving our many sins, rejoicing in our repentance, and promising to take us to heaven!
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 15:1-10 (the answers are found on the back side)
- What was ironic about the statement that the Pharisee’s and teachers of the law muttered?
- What do these two parables spoken by Jesus emphasize?
Those We Remember In Our Prayers: Greg Miller; William & Laurie Moon; Pauline Jaeger; Kirsten Jaster (Laurie Moon’s sister); Greg Pierson (the Long’s son-in-law); Libya, Jodi Milam’s granddaughter; Barbara Long; Lois Wiese; Barbara Breidel; John, Elisha & Isaac Covey; Lucille Huston, after a fall in the nursing home.
Lord, May Thy Will Be Done By Us Today we continue in our journey through the Ten Commandments with Commandment #2. Each Sunday we will review a commandment and Martin Luther’s Catechism explanation of it. We would encourage each member and friend to read through the sections of each commandment from the Catechism the week before it is the sermon text for the day. What a good review of your precious confirmation instruction that would be! If you don’t have a catechism, see Pastor for one. Next Sunday we look at the Third Commandment.
Family Camp-out If you and your family wish to join some of the members of our other WELS/ELS congregations in Missouri at Heit’s Point, near Lincoln, MO, for the summer campout, it begins today through Tuesday afternoon, June 27, please see Pastor Lehmann. You will not be “camping” in a tent, but in a lodge with motel-like accommodations. The days will be filled with Bible study and lots of recreational/outdoors time.
Upcoming Services and Events
June 25-27 – ELS/WELS Family Campout 2023 at Heit’s Point near Lincoln, MO
The Week in Review
Last Sunday Worship: 25; Bible Class 19; Midweek Bible Class: 5; Offerings: $998.
Next Sunday’s Lessons:
4th Sunday after Trinity: Is. 65:17-19,24,25; Rom. 8:18-23; Luke 6:36-42 (Historic Pericope Series); Commandment 3
Answer to Today’s Gospel Lesson Brief Study:
- The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were amazed that Jesus would eat with “sinners” like prostitutes and tax collectors. What they failed to see was that they were just as guilty of sinning against God as the other “sinners” were.
- These parables emphasize God’s grace and the value that He places on each soul. May we be led to value people’s souls just as much and share the soul-saving news of the free forgiveness and life that is found in Christ for all people!
This week I am praying for……
