BLASPHEMY . . .
“All day long my name is constantly blasphemed.” Isaiah 52:5
There lived a wicked king in Assyria named Sennacherib, who was preparing to invade Jerusalem. However, he first sent his commander ahead of him to deliver a message. In that message he mocked God by asking, “Can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (Isaiah 36:20). Upon hearing those words King Hezekiah of Judah prayed that the Lord would take revenge on Sennacherib for insulting God. The next day, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers lay dead in the camp, and soon after Sennacherib died.
The Lord is very protective of his name. He demands complete respect in word and deed. Speaking evil of God, being defiant or irreverent, insulting, slandering, or taking God’s name in vain are called blasphemy. In the Old Testament blasphemy was punishable by stoning.
The Apostle Paul was ashamed of his past when he frequently blasphemed God. First Timothy 1:13 says, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” When Jesus was on trial, he was accused of blasphemy because he rightfully claimed he was God. We know that to be true because he is the true God. But we read in Matthew 26:65, “The high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy.’”
Whenever we hear people recklessly call on God in their speaking, they are insulting God’s name. We ask God to help us control our tongues and thoughts so that we are not led to blaspheme our loving and gracious Lord.
From: Precious Words of the Bible by Reynold R. Kremer