The definition of blasphemy in Dictionary.com is: impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things; an act of cursing or reviling God; the crime of assuming to oneself the rights or qualities of God; irreverent behavior toward anything held sacred, priceless, etc. Thus, someone who blasphemes is a blasphemer. Think about the definitions. They are pretty serious. According to these definitions, there is a whole lot of blasphemy going on in society. Even in the church, there is sometimes over-the-top irreverent behavior toward the sacred. Perhaps, things concerning God have become far too casual and we need to think about how we act and speak toward God.
The LORD gives a central principal to all of Torah law, “You are not to profane my holy name; on the contrary, I am to be regarded as holy among the people of Israel; I am ADONAI who makes you holy (Leviticus 22:32).” From this verse, we get two commands according to the sages, called Hillul Hashem—desecrating God’s Name (the only transgression that has no atonement), and Kiddish Hashem—sanctifying God’s Name, an act of faith that may lead to the laying down of one’s life. Since the Israelite people are God’s people (as are we), even their conduct is a reflection of God’s reputation and therefore, either a form of honor or desecration of His Name. One who’s deeds sanctify God’s Name, glorifies God, “And He said to me: you are My servant Israel, in whom I will show my glory (Isaiah 49:3).”
In Leviticus 24:10-11, two men are fighting. During the quarrel, one of the men curses God or uses God’s sacred Name to curse the other. He was taken into custody until Moses could inquire of God how to deal with this man who was not an Israelite, his father was Egyptian. Taking God’s Name in vain was already understood from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:6). The LORDtold Moses to have everyone who heard the man curse lay their hands on his head and take him outside the camp and stone him. In Leviticus 24:15-16, the LORD said, “Whoever curses his God will bear the consequences for his sin; and whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death; the entire community must stone him. The foreigner as well as the citizen is to be put to death if he blasphemes the Name of the LORD.”
A lot of people will say, “Well that was then, this is now. We don’t stone people anymore for cursing God.” Fair enough, but this does not change the seriousness of God’s command or His authority. When we talk about being set apart, the sanctity of our speech is an important part of being holy. How much more care must be taken when using the Name of God. Holiness belongs to all believers, “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Language itself can be holy, such as worship and prayer to God, but also kind words to a hurting heart. James 3 talks about how it should not be that from the same mouth comes the blessing of God and the cursing of men, which are made in the image of the LORD. He says, “My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Lord help us to sanctify your Name in all that we do, and all that we say.
