Name, Please (Part One)
When my husband and I were in Kenya recently, we spent most of our time at the Light of Hope Home and School for Girls. When we arrived we were given the sweetest welcome with all the girls singing as we arrived. As part of our welcome we were given nametags with names for us in Kiswahili. My husband’s nametag said, “Gitonga” which means “the rich one” and mine said, “Nyawira” which means “hardworking one”. I guess I’m supposed to work hard to make my husband rich. 🙂 I actually love knowing what people’s names mean. As each of my grandchildren have arrived, I’ve been sure to do a little research to discover what their first and middle names mean. From those definitions I have written a blessing for each of them that ties the two meanings together with a faith-filled hope that I pray over them regularly. I also speak it over them and remind them at least once a year as I write the blessing in their birthday cards.
Do you know what your given name means? My nickname, Laurie, and my given name, Laureen (OK, now you all know), mean “the laurel”. A laurel was a wreath or crown fashioned from a plant and it was a symbol of triumph or victory. At first I didn’t really think this was anything significant, but it now holds great meaning for me. I am a daughter of the King and I can live in victory because I know that my Father has overcome the world and all its hardships. “In the world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
In the Bible there are MANY names for God and His Son Jesus. Some of my favorites are the Hebrew names that begin with “Jehovah”, which by itself is the name for God that is so holy that some very devout Jews do not even say it, replacing it with the name “Adonai”, meaning “Lord”. I am going to list some of these names here for us to ponder. (Keep in mind that there are a few variations out there, but the spirit of these meanings is captured below.) Our God is…
Jehovah Elohim – Creator and self-existent one
Jehovah Jireh – The Lord who provides
Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals
Jehovah Nissi – The Lord is my banner
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace
Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts/Armies
Jehovah Mekoddishkem – The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah Raab – The Lord is my Shepherd
Jehovah Tsidkenu – The Lord is our righteousness
Jehovah Shammah – The Lord is present
Just read over that list a few times and let it sink in. This is the God I serve and I pray that you have put your trust in this One True God as well. We can all have access to this all-powerful One who loves each of us more than any human can ever comprehend. That access, of course, is through His Son Jesus Christ. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.'” (John 14:6) And–OH–the power in the name of Jesus! “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phillipians 2:10-11)
If you don’t know what your name means, I hope you’ll do a little research and find out. How about your children’s names? Your grandchildren’s? Discover meanings. Make them meaning-FULL. Turn them into prayers to our great Jehovah God. There’s much more I want to say about names. Stay tuned for “Name, Please” Part Two. It may include some humorous teaching stories.
