THIS is a solemn commandment, which hundreds and thousands break every day, without thinking that they are guilty of misusing God’s name, or what a great sin they are committing. Remember it does not only mean—Thou shalt not blaspheme the name of the Lord, nor speak disrespectfully of God! No; thou shalt not utter this holy name vainly, needlessly, in connection with unimportant and trivial things. In other words—thou shalt always utter this name with deep reverence and holy fear.
It is told of the mother-in-law of Oberlin the famous pastor of the Steinthal that she had the evil habit; of using the name of God heedlessly on every occasion. If she heard anything new, or was frightened, or wished, to emphasize what she said, she always used God’s name without thinking what she did. Oberlin was much grieved at this, and, as his otherwise kind and good mother-in-law paid no heed to his gentle remonstrances he thought of another means to break her from her evil habit.
One afternoon the old lady seated herself in her favorite spot in the arbor that stood in the parsonage garden for some little rest. Oberlin followed her and occupied himself gathering the caterpillars that had been very numerous that year, and had done damage to the vegetables. The first he found he cried out: Mother-in-law, I have got a caterpillar!”
“Kill it,” answered the old woman shortly. At the second and third he cried again:
“Mother-in-law, another! Mother-in-law, another!” and thus he continued; at every new caterpillar, sounded out: “Mother-in-law, another!”
At last the mother-in-law said, “My dear Oberlin, do kill the caterpillars and don’t be always calling me in that way!” Oberlin replied, “Dear Mother, I don’t mean to annoy you. You can be assured that I love you much—Mother-in-law, another!”
Thus it went on for a time. Finally the old lady jumped up angrily and went into the house saying, “I am an old woman and won’t be made fun of.” Oberlin followed her and said with great earnestness. “If you who are but a poor simple creature, cannot bear to have your name used unnecessarily how will God accept it, when you take His holy name into your mouth and misuse it.”
This remarkable warning fell on good ground. The old lady was brought to sober reflection, and from that moment on, fought honestly against the bad habit, and through God’s help she succeeded in overcoming.
ML 02/25/1912