Exodus 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. (NKJV) "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. (NIV) “You must not use the name of the Lord your God thoughtlessly, the Lord will punish anyone who misuses his name.” (NCV)

When a man copied Scriptures during Bible times he would take this commandment very seriously. Coming to the name of God, he would rise, wash, change his clothes and begin writing the name of God with a brand new quill. He would do this every time he came to the name of God, even if found multiple times in a single verse. That is how respected the name of God was.

Compare that attitude with the attitude of many today. The world has influenced the church in so many ways, and this is especially true when it comes to our language. Years ago many would teach that terms such as “golly”, “gosh”, “gee”, or “geez” were nothing more than euphemisms of the name of God and Jesus, and would condemn such use. Now, the phrase “Oh My God” has become such a popular phrase that not only do teens, but adults use it as well. We have become so casual with the name of the ALMIGHTY GOD that we have made his name part of a catch phrase. And, in “texting” the initials OMG stand for Oh My God!

Can we be that casual with the name of anyone else as we are with God? Have we lost the capacity to respect others, but most of all, God, that we cannot rise up to show reverence for our Heavenly Father? Have we done this so much that it doesn’t bother us anymore?

We need to consider that fact that God is holy, and being holy, we must reserve the use of his name for holy reasons. God deserves the respect of all men for him – even for his holy name!

Notice, if you would, the use of the names of God in a few passages of Scripture:
ELOHIM: God (a plural noun, more than two, used with singular verbs); Elohim occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong. Eccl., Dan. Jonah use Elohim almost exclusively. See Gen. 17:7, 6:18, 9:15, 50:24; I Kings 8:23; Jer. 31:33; Isa. 40:1.

EL SHADDAI: God Almighty or "God All Sufficient." 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. First used in Gen. 17:1, 2. (Gen. 31:29, 49:24, 25; Prov. 3:27; Micah 2:1; Isa. 60:15, 16, 66:10-13; Ruth 1:20, 21) In Rev. 16:7, "Lord God the Almighty." The Septuagint uses Greek "ikanos" meaning "all-sufficient" or "self-sufficient." The idols of the heathen are called "sheddim."

ADONAI: Lord in our English Bibles (Capitol letter 'L ', lower case, 'ord') (Adonai is plural, the sing. is "adon"). "Master'' or "Lord" 300 times in the OT always plural when referring to God, when sing. the reference is to a human lord. Used 215 times to refer to men. First use of Adonai, Gen. 15:2. (Ex. 4:10; Judges 6:15; 2 Sam. 7:18-20; Ps. 8, 114:7, 135:5, 141:8, 109:21-28). Heavy use in Isaiah (Adonai Jehovah). 200 times by Ezekiel. Ten times in Dan. 9.

JEHOVAH: LORD in our English Bibles (all capitals). Yahweh is the covenant name of God. Occurs 6823 times in the OT First use Gen. 2:4 (Jehovah Elohim).

JEHOVAH-JIREH: "The Lord will Provide." Gen. 22:14. From "jireh" ("to see" or "to provide," or to "foresee" as a prophet.) God always provides, adequate when the times come.

JEHOVAH-ROPHE: "The Lord Who Heals" Ex. 15:22-26. From "rophe" ("to heal"); implies spiritual, emotional as well as physical healing. (Jer. 30:17, 3:22; Isa. 61:1) God heals body, soul and spirit; all levels of man's being.

JEHOVAH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner." Ex. 17:15. God on the battlefield, from word which means "to glisten," "to lift up," See Psalm 4:6.

JEHOVAH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies" Lev. 20:8. "To make whole, set apart for holiness."

JEHOVAH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" Judges 6:24. "Shalom" translated "peace" 170 times means "whole," "finished," "fulfilled," "perfected." Related to "well," welfare." Deut. 27:6; Dan. 5:26; I Kings 9:25 8:61; Gen. 15:16; Ex. 21:34, 22:5, 6; Lev. 7:11-21. Shalom means that kind of peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship to God and to one's fellow man.
Taken from http://ldolphin.org/Names.html accessed August 2, 2008

God is serious. He deserves respect. May we respect him in word and in deed daily.
Adapted from OMG, Ron Cobb, Roebuck Parkway Church of Christ, July 23 2008