Just because “Oh my God!” is abused in our culture—a case of taking great God’s name lightly and in vain—doesn’t mean we should refrain from the vocative “O my God!”
Note in the Bible how often it is used in conjunction with imploring God to listen, to see, to remember, to arise, and to save.
2 Chronicles 6:40
Now, O my God, let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place.
Ezra 9:6
“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.
Nehemiah 5:19
Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.
Nehemiah 6:14
Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.
Nehemiah 13:14
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.
Nehemiah 13:22
Then I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.
Nehemiah 13:29
Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.
Nehemiah 13:31
I provided for the wood offering at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Psalm 3:7
Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
Psalm 22:2
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.
Psalm 25:2
O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.
Victor Travison says
July 6, 2011 at 10:42 amYou are absolutely right. People use “O my God” when they’re not even talking about Him, much less to Him. It’s just a thing to say in surprise or shock, not a plea for Him to act. I’m especially appalled at the abbreviation OMG. Such is the corruption of our world. All too many people don’t see the contradiction here.
~ VT
Katie says
July 6, 2011 at 10:59 amVictory is absolutley right. But now I will use “O My God” when I pray. It is a beautiful way to approach our Holy God!
Robin says
July 6, 2011 at 3:07 pmMy trainer and I were having a discussion about say Jesus vs Jesus and other expressions like Good God or O Lordy be. He was asking me if these expressions were taking God’s name in vain. I said most likely then thought about it and realized yes it is. I told him to correct me when I make these comments. It will help in making me aware of what I say.
Christy Bell says
July 6, 2011 at 3:27 pmI will gladly let all of my (frequent!!) emotional exclamations be a cry to the Good Lord for his help!