2 Kings 2: 24 Commentary

James R.-… Elijah did not take the name of God in vain! He live a life in consonance with the Name he was carrying although imperfectly. Be careful, we might be the one that is taking the name of God in Vain.

Tot take the name of God in vain is to take that name for granted; to drag it in the mud and never care if it soiled or blasphemed through our action. To take the name of God in vain is to live a lifestyle contrary to the lifestyle required of Him whose name you carry! Here is an example :

source: http://www.achievebalance.com/spirit/cnc/third.htm
When I read a story in the newspaper that says something like, “They searched the swamp for the missing child in vain”, or “He chased the bus in vain”, I conjure up words of failure. Of not accomplishing or doing the thing that was desired. So taking a “name in vain” may be some kind of failure, too.

Next an analogy: When my mother married my father, in Germany back in the 1940’s after World War Two, she took my father’s name. At that time, in their culture, that was traditional. She forsook her parent’s name, and took her husband’s name. The taking of the new name, reflected a change in life, and change in status and a change in priorities. She was no longer a single woman, she was married. She no longer dated men, she was mated to one. She no longer was a young woman, she was a changed woman. She was now responsible for a family and a relationship that would last over 50 years (so far!).

If her lifestyle did not change from that day forward, she would have been ostracized by her community. Few, if any, cultures or societies encourage their married women to live in the same way after the marriage as they did before they married.

In other words, if my mother had taken my father’s name, but not changed her lifestyle, she would have taken my father’s name “in-vain”. She would have had a ceremony, but not a new life, and boy would my father have been . . . upset, to put it mildly.

When we put on a uniform, we take the name of those whose uniform it is. Whether it is a sports team uniform, a work uniform for that employer or a military uniform. When we choose a career, we take the name of the best of everyone in that career field. When we take on a title, we take the name of the best o everyone with that title.

If you take the name of God, at a ceremony, and tell the world that you are now part of the ‘bride of Christ’ as the church is called, yet you do not live like a ‘bride of Christ’, you have taken His name in vain, and you will not be considered guiltless. Live with Jesus as if you are committed to Him for life, not as if He is a friend. A spouse is supposed to be an intimate friend, companion, confidant, friend and a lifetime commitment. To treat Jesus as anything less than that, is to take His name in vain. Ouch. Are you ‘guilty as charged’?

By TIUCHE (wrote 3262 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/4/2011 15:11 pm

Elisha takes God’s name in vain. He “cursed them in the name of the LORD!”

By james richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 9/4/2011 11:09 am

We have two stories in this chapter. Jericho was a cursed city. it was rebuilt by Hiel the Bethelite and he lost his two sons, the first born and the last one, as was prophesied by Joshua. (1Kings 16:34; Joshua 6:26) But the men of the city requested Elisha and he healed the bitter waters of Jericho. They took most of the visit of the prophet of God. It is however something altogether different in the case of Bethel,where the calf and Baal were worshipped.The children of this idolatrous city give bad treatment to Elisha. They are paid for what they did. Bethel was at irreparable loss.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/17/2009 17:12 pm

After directing VBS one year, I adopted this as my life verse.

By Jason (wrote 321 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/11/2009 22:44 pm

Don’t mess with god, or bears will eat you

By J. Arbuckle (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 8/5/2009 14:08 pm