Day2
1Samuel 25
Week 41
“Abigail fell at his feet and said, “Sir, please let me talk to you. Listen to what I say. Blame me for what happened. I didn’t see the men you sent. Sir, don’t pay any attention to that worthless man, Nabal. His name means ‘Foolish,’ and that is what he is.”
1 Samuel 25:24-25 ERV
Cross references
1 Samuel 25:17;
2 Samuel 18:32;
Genesis 20:6
The Name Game
How much time did you spend choosing a name for your child?
How many times do you suppose that you spoke that name over them?
Oftentimes we use endearing nicknames for our children.
In our culture, we tend to give names because we like how it sounds or admire a person who has had that name.
In other cultures, names are given by meaning or descriptions.
Example:
Jacob name meaning and origin
From the Hebrew Ya'aqov, Jacob can mean "to follow, be behind," but it can also mean "to supplant, overreach" or come from the Hebrew word for "heel." It can also mean "may God protect."
Traditionally Nabal is euphemistically translated as fool, for which a Hebrew synonym is kesil (literally meaning fool).
The name game certainly is important in a culture where a name’s meaning is well known.
How would you like to grow up being called “a fool” or “behind” every time someone spoke to you?
In our culture, I believe the tone used when speaking a name is much more important to the esteem of the child growing up.
We tend to use the full name only when our child is in trouble or maybe a shortened cute name, “Petey or Johnny” when a child is young.
Revelation 2:17
“…and on the stone a new name written that no one knows except he who receives it.”
All this to say that I believe God will re-name each of us in accordance with the transformation of our nature into the likeness of his Son, to reflect the new and altogether unique identity each has received by grace and the irrevocable destiny we have in Christ. My new name, like yours, will reflect the character of the new creation in which I am a participant, as over against the old or original creation corrupted by sin and death.
To sum up, there is an identity you have in God, reflected in your new name, that transcends whatever shame or regret or disappointment is wrapped up in who you are now. There is a very private and personal place of intimacy with him that brings hope and freedom and joy that none can touch or taint or steal away. Paul said it best when he declared that “your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3b). Peter echoed much the same thing in saying that we have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for us (1 Peter 1:4).
*Referenced from the link below.
Action Step
Listen to the hymn,
A New Name In Glory at the link below
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