Irreverence in Prayer
Exodus 20:7
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.


An aged minister told me, says a correspondent of the Morning Star, that when he was a young man, he had, on a certain occasion, been praying in a family, and in his prayer he had made a very frequent and energetic use of the terms "Good God," and "God Almighty." At the close of his prayer, a little child, about four years of age, came to his mother and said, "Mother, I don't like to hear that minister pray." "Why?" inquired the mother. "Because," replied the child, "he swears so when he prays." This reproof from the child broke the minister of swearing when he prayed. Prayer is petition, and no one would use the name of a ruler to whom he was making a petition in as harsh a manner as many use the name of the great God.



Parallel Verses
KJV: Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

WEB: "You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.




God not to be Trifled With
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