Billboard Idolatry
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7 NASB
In vain – In Paleo-Hebrew the expression lashshawe’ is:
The Paleo-Hebrew pictograph combines the prefixed Hebrew root sh-w with the preposition le and the definite article ha. sh-w is the assumed root of the noun shaw. TWOT notes: “The most familiar use of šāw’ is in the third commandment, ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain’ (Ex 20:7; Deut 5:11). Literally the sentence reads, ‘You shall not lift up the name of the Lord your God laššāwʾ,’ the same construction as noted above in the Jer passages. Before examining the Decalogue reference it will be instructive to observe how the word is used elsewhere. . . That the primary meaning of šāwʾ is ’emptiness, vanity’ no one can challenge. It designates anything that is unsubstantial, unreal, worthless, either materially or morally. Hence, it is a word for idols (in the same way that hebel ‘vanity’ is also a designation for (worthless) idols, for example).”[1] Hamilton’s article in TWOT concludes, “The evidence points to the fact that taking the Lord’s name (i.e. his reputation) ‘in vain’ will surely cover profanity, as that term is understood today, or swearing falsely in the Lord’s name. But it will also include using the Lord’s name lightly, unthinkingly, or by rote. Perhaps this is captured by the LXX’s translation of laššāwʾ as epi mataiō thoughtlessly.”[2]
We need a little background to see how the word “name” is understood in pictographic form. The word is the combination of Shin + Mem. This picture is particularly intriguing. It suggests that a “name” is associated with “what consumes or destroys chaos.” In our contemporary culture, names are merely artificial phonetic attributions. There is no essential connection between a name and the object it identifies. But this is not the case in the Hebrew world. Names have power. They not only represent the objects; they also identify the essential character of the objects. Use of a name is a power proposition, not a simple ostensive declaration. In pictographic symbolism, a name is a covenant agreement. It is as if by using a name I am asserting my authority to use the essential power behind the name. ‘et shem in Hebrew expresses this authority. It is for this reason that YHVH prohibits any misapplication of His name. To use God’s name (YHVH) is to express the right to assert God’s power, and this can be done only where YHVH has granted such a right. In this case, the word “name” means what destroys chaos. To have the authority to use a “name” is to have the power of the name, and in both Egyptian and Hebraic thought, this power is what destroys the threat of chaos.
To lift up the name YHVH requires acknowledging and surrendering to the power in the name. If unauthorized use of the name associates this power with empty and worthless actions or objects, the power behind the name is insulted and discredited. This commandment specifically associates such misrepresentation with what is the equivalent of idolatry.
On 22 May 2011, I arrived at the Cape Town, South Africa airport after a long flight from London. As I exited the airport, I saw this billboard.
This is an example of a violation of the third commandment. It associates the name of the Lord with a false claim. It “guarantees” the claim by an appeal to the word of God. As such it is sheer idolatry.
Topical Index: in vain, lashshawe’, shaw, Exodus 20:7, idolatry
[1] Hamilton, V. P. (1999). 2338 שׁוא. In R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke (Eds.), Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (R. L. Harris, G. L. Archer, Jr. & B. K. Waltke, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (908). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Ibid.
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Oh, thank you! Finally! I live in the so-called Bible Belt of the South, and these billboards dominate many of the main arteries around major cities. I cringe every time I see one. I guess if I were a Catholic, I would want to cross myself. This is bald-faced evil!
You say “To use God’s name (YHVH) is to express the right to assert God’s power and this can be done only where YHVH has granted such a right.”
To me, this whole exercise is an underhanded, devious play on, one hand, the fact, as you point out, that we in this society do not assign the essential characteristics of someone to the use of their name; but on the other hand, sliding in, ipso facto, under the fact that THAT NAME clearly DOES do that, and was given and intended to do that.
This is classic serpent behavior.
Thank you for crying aloud, and avenging His Name!
Isaiah 58:1,2 “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.”
Jeremiah 7:8-11 “Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal,murder, and commit adultery, and SWEAR FALSELY, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, WE ARE DELIVERED TO DO ALL THESE ABOMINATIONS? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.”
Exekiel 33:31 “…for with their mouth they shew much love,but their heart goeth after their coveteousness.”
Malachi 2:17 “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?”
I read this quote in a book that said it square: “The sin of the world’s impenitence lies at the door of the church.” I have thought that it is shenanigans like this that show clearly how that is so.
LIKE!!!! Thumbs up.
Ps. 50:16-17 But to the sinner, God says, What are you doing, talking of my laws, or taking the words of my agreement in your mouth? Seeing that you have no desire for my teaching, turning your back on my words.
Mt 7:23 and then I will acknowledge to them, that — I never knew you, depart from me ye who are working lawlessness.
It is now June 26 where I live but I have not heard of anything drastic happening in Nelspruit South Africa.Can anyone enlighten me?
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain. Exodus 20:7 NASB”
This causes me to ask the question about the practice of swearing an oath on the Bible as required of a witness in a court case or in the opening session of a sitting of parliament. In both of these quite often those who ask for the oath are not righteous people, nor are those pledging the oath. Surely this is violation with the commandment in Exodus 20:7.
“It is for this reason that YHVH prohibits any misapplication of His name. To use God’s name (YHVH) is to express the right to assert God’s power, and this can be done only where YHVH has granted such a right.”
Who, may I inquire has that right? Pastors, self-proclaimed prophets/prophetesses and bishops?
That Billboard clearly is false proclamation, false witnessing, false prophetic word,
often used as a scare tactic in Christian theology to “bring folks to repentance”,
which by itself is not “bad” seeing it is in South Africa where most are ignorant of Who their Creator is, and what He represents, but, it is truly a misrepresentation.
“It “guarantees” the claim by an appeal to the word of God. As such it is sheer idolatry.”
How else would folks like these “prophesy” if not by provoking His Word and His authority to authenticate their claim?
And that is to gullible ones without discernment, nor seekers of truth.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of YHWH.
NASB Heb 10: 31
It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.