When Your Name Is Called?
What’s in a name? We all have them. Maybe our name is very common or like one fellow from W VA our names may be unique. Seems they put names in a hat and drew out the size tag, 6 7/8 and that is what they named him 6 7/8 Jones. Whatever our name is it has meaning now and in eternity. Let’s read about one man and the effect his name had on the people gathered. I am going to read the passage with the names translated into their meaning.
2 Chronicles 20:12-19
12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
13 And all the Celebrated stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
14 Then upon Beheld of God the son of Jah has remembered, the son of Jah has built, the son of Carried away by God, the son of the gift of Jah, a Attached of the sons of Collector, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
15 And he said, Hearken ye, all Celebrated, and ye inhabitants of Flowing Safety, and thou king Jehovah judged, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Bloom; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness Founded of God.
17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Celebrated and Flowing Safety: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
18 And Jehovah judged bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all the Celebrated and the inhabitants of Flowing Safety fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
19 And the Attached, of the children of the Allied, and of the children of the Ice (or Shaved or made bald), stood up to praise the LORD God of He will rule as God with a loud voice on high. (KJV)
Here is a message within a message that may go something like this.
The celebrated people stood before the Lord and were beheld of God and Jah has remembered that Jah built this people that were carried away by God and that this land is the gift of Jah. They are attached to it and to Him and have been collected as precious jewels by Him. Therefore the celebrated people must realize that they are living in the benefits of His free flowing safety because God has judged the situation and will fight the battle for them. They will bloom in the cliffs because even their wilderness was founded of God. Because He is attached to His people He is allied with them and they will be slippery and dangerous as ice to their enemies. They will shave their enemies bald and the LORD will rule as God amidst His people and they shall praise Him.
These folks were in a tight spot and needed to hear a word from God. They needed some encouragement. God chose one man whose name and lineage brought remembrances of who God was and who they were and by that man calling the name of both king and the people he comforted them in such a way that even the ones who stood up to praise had names of encouragement. Their praise pointed the people to their God who was on the throne and was willing and able to rule and defend them. What a service that must have been!
What a different message it would have been if Great Sorrow, the son of defeat, the son of judgment, the son of burning had stood up!!!! There would have been weeping and tearing of clothes and not praise and rejoicing.
We don’t name children like we once did. For the most part, we stick to relative’s names not thinking of their meaning or a character trait that they might inspire. Some might do Biblical names or historical ones. Others make up names according to sounds or find different ways to spell common names. That can be tough as kids often want to know what their name means and if it has no meaning or they find out it means something maybe less than honorable or uplifting they go by nicknames or initials.
Had I been a Christian when my children were born, my daughter might have been named Abigail meaning a father’s joy and my son Matthew meaning a gift of God. However, while both of my children like the meanings both are glad they are not named that. Go figure.
I looked up a few names of folks we have here in church.
Daniel - judge of God Derek - a path Jerrell - keen minded Bruce - persistent
Sandra - helper Edith - tall, stately Karen - from Greek for grace Deborah - Bee idea of orderly motion and systematic instincts sometimes translated busy.
Dallas means dweller at the waterfall field, which is interesting since we have nothing even close to a waterfall around here, but we do have plenty of fields.
Names can show trends. In the UK in 2000 the 27th most popular name for girls was Leah whereas the 27th name for boys was Mohammed and that was up 2 from 1999.
Now some names I tried I did not find a meaning for, but if I did some more research I might find one. Even if you can’t find a meaning for your name in history it has a meaning for you. Each time someone thinks of or hears your name they think something about you and that thought is what your name means to them.
I will list some character traits and don’t call them out but think of someone you know that has that trait.
Humility. Grace. Mercy. Helpful. Kind. Endurance. Godly. Generous. Bold.
The name that came to mind has that meaning to you and possibly others. Ok, let’s try these.
Angry. Dishonest. Gossip. Mean. Materialistic. Money hungry. Proud. Arrogant. Lazy.
Someone might have a name that means ’umble, but they can be very proud. Another might have a name that means horse beater but they love animals. I was in the USAF with a lad whose last name was Killer, but he was as meek and mild as you would ever find.
You name is more than letters. It is your character and personality. That is why
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (KJV) means more than just mental assent or speaking the name Jesus. You must receive or welcome Him for Who He is and what He did to truly believe on His name.
That is why His name is above all names and
Phil 2:10-11
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(KJV)
Some people have changed their names for various reasons. Jesus changed Simon and Saul’s names and so can He change your name. Simon (Hearing with attention) was a believer that trusted too much in himself feeling strength that he did not have but received and became in character what his new name meant a piece of the rock and that Rock is Jesus. Saul (asked) was a religious but lost man zealous and knowledgeable, but he attained the zeal of love and true knowledge after he received Christ. Though his new name meant little he became great in the power of God. It also comes from a derivative to mean cease or stop and Paul stopped looking for God through the law and his own righteousness but now found God through grace and Jesus’ righteousness.
Brother John told me of a person who was saved here and went out and bought some T-shirts that said, "I’m different. Ask why!" The man in the song, "The Night Old Jack Daniels Met John 3:16", had a new name amongst his own running buddies. They said he was different and he told them why. At one point he was probably known as a good old boy that was good at shooting pool, telling good jokes and maybe even known to buy a round now and then. After his conversion, some probably called him a fool that just got religion but others admired and respected him and maybe came to faith themselves.
My Brother or Sister in Christ, what do people think your name means? Are they blessed when they hear it? Do they think good of you? Of course, if a person is backslidden then a good Christian’s name will not mean the same to them as to someone walking with the Lord. If you are taking a stand and are being bold in preaching the Gospel some lost folks and the backslidden might put a negative meaning on your name, but others will respect you and want to know more about why you are who you are.
There are some in this very congregation that suffer great stress and even abuse because they stand for the name of Jesus. Some even bear the marks of this. Some have great family struggles, but still they hold on. Some have seen fruit of their stand as family members have been saved and now look to them for spiritual guidance instead of mocking them. They had a name for standing for Jesus and Jesus has stood by His name. For those in that category, let me assure you that you have a name in Heaven as well. One day, you will be walking the streets of gold and saint and angels will say. "There goes Yvonne, Carolina and Alonzo. What a stand they took for His name and oh what a name they have in Heaven." Better yet, when you approach the throne of God, He has promised to give us a white stone with a name on it that only He and us know. He will look at you dear Sisters and Brother and say, "Ah, here comes my meeha or meeho, and the name" He has just for you. How glorious will that day be when we hear that name called to us from the One who loved us, died for us and redeemed us from Hell and the grave! The suffering will all be gone and will seem as nothing when we gaze into His loving eyes!!!!!! Glory!!!!
Now, visitors, you may be here today and you are wondering if God has a name for you. He does. If you have been born again, you are His child and a saint and there is a white stone waiting for you. If you have never been born again then God’s name for you is lost sinner and there is a white throne of judgment waiting for you. The good news is that can change!!!! Jesus Christ took your place on a Cross, suffering, dying and rising the third day that you might have the opportunity to become a child of God having your sins forgiven and your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. It is up to you!
When your name is called here, what do people think of you? What meaning does you name have to the folks around you? When God calls your name at death and then at the judgment will it be a blessing or a curse? You can have a great name here and there if you will come and allow Him to change it and you. Maranatha!!!
