The Treasury of Daily Prayer had a passage for today from Luther’s Large Catechism.
Normally, when we think of the second commandment, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain,” we usually think that means either not to preach something in the name of God that God did not say, or for laypeople that we say God’s name flippantly. While that is true, trying to keep that commandment often means being on the safe side and never using God’s name except in the context or church or prayer.
But look what Luther says in Large Catechism, under the second commandment, paragraphs 70-75, especially paragraph 73-74:
For this end it is also of service that we form the habit of daily commending ourselves to God, with soul and body, wife, children, servants, and all that we have, against every need that may occur; whence also the blessing and thanksgiving at meals, and other prayers, morning and evening, have originated and remain in use. Likewise the practice of children to cross themselves when anything monstrous or terrible is seen or heard, and to exclaim: “Lord God, protect us!” “Help, dear Lord Jesus!” etc. Thus, too, if any one meets with unexpected good fortune, however trivial, that he say: “God be praised and thanked; this God has bestowed on me!” etc., as formerly the children were accustomed to fast and pray to St. Nicholas and other saints. This would be more pleasing and acceptable to God than all monasticism and Carthusian sanctity.
So, really, it is OK to, “Thank God!” even when what you are thanking him for doesn’t fall along the normal ideas of providence. Sometimes we might hedge and say, “Thank goodness!” in deference to someone else present who might be offended by the real thing. Perhaps that’s a bigger disobedience against the Second Commandment than saying, “Thank God,” in the first place.
iggyantiochus on 
Dan
