Having been born in the Midwest, but having grown up in Southern California, I was a “valley girl” before it was even a thing. Yes, I just dated myself. I cringe as I remember the “totallys,” the “likes,” and the “dudes.” And what is “tubular” anyway? I digress.

Slang has a way of seeping into our lives. I don’t know if it starts because we’re lazy or because we’re trying to be clever. Instead of saying someone is skilled, accomplished, adept, or adroit, we say they are “great,” “wonderful,” or “awesome.”

As followers of the Most High, we probably shouldn’t be following the crowd when it comes to our word choices.

Yaakov, the brother of Yeshua wrote:

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

Isn’t it interesting that the same words we use to describe the most extraordinary characteristics of the one, true, living God, we also use to describe the most common and ordinary nouns? I find myself doing it way too often.

Lately, I’m reminded about this when certain songs pop into my head. This morning it was, “How Great is Our God.” Yesterday, it was “Mi Chamocha.” It was the Sabbath, but I was home sick singing it by myself instead of with my congregation.

Another reason I was reminded of “Mi Chamocha” is because I studied the torah portion, “Beshalach” (Exodus 13:17–17:16), three weeks ago. Beshalach is the portion where Moshe was so filled with awe and joy at the deliverance of the Lord from the hands of the Egyptians when they drowned in the Red Sea, he burst into song. This song has now become a beloved prayer and a part of the liturgy for many Jewish and Messianic congregations.

מִי-כָמֹכָה מִי-כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יְהוָה, מִי כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ; נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת, עֹשֵׂה פֶלֶא.

Mi Chamocha Mi chamocha Ba’elim Adonai?’ Mi kamocha ne’dar bakodesh; Nora tehillot, oseh pheleh.

Who is like You Who is like You, Oh Lord, among the gods? Who is like You? Lord there is none like You You are awesome in praise Doing wonders, oh Lord

What’s the big deal? Isn’t the entire bible translated? Different translations use different words, so why does it matter as long as people aren’t cursing or taking the Lord’s name in vain?

I’m suggesting that as children of God, we give care to words we use casually so that we don’t mix the Holy with the unholy and so that we don’t unintentionally yield the Lord’s glory or praise to something or someone unworthy.

I’ve spent decades listening to and repeating expressions without giving them any thought. And “old habits die hard” as the expression goes. However, there’s one area where I’m making a bit of progress. When someone compliments me using the words “awesome” or “great” (not because I did anything extraordinary but because those words have become a part of American slang), I’m slowly learning to redirect the praise to God.

Isaiah 42:8, says:

I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.

So, it’s not false humility or false modesty or even “word legalism” (I don’t even know if there’s such a thing, but before any tries to accuse me of it, I thought I’d address it.)

It’s just one way to honor God. Even if I’m made in the image of my creator and even if I have a skill, who made me and who gifted me with that skill? He did. So, shouldn’t He get the praise?

Like it says in Psalm 9:1, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”