A new name and a new song
“And [I] will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Rev. 2:17).
The name, in biblical times, said something about the person, and its meaning reflected back on him. The names of ancient Hebrews described them or their experience or the experience of others close to them.
“And she [Leah] conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Gen. 29:35). Judah means “Praised.”
“And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.” (Gen. 30:6). Dan means “Judge.”
“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.” (Gen. 30:22-25). Joseph means “He shall add.”
But there were people who got a much better, powerful name in the way of salvation—because they were named by God Himself.
Abraham—“A father of many nations,” and Israel—“He who wrestles with God,” both got their new names decades after being called by God for His great purposes for them. They didn’t receive their new title immediately after being called; but God who sees the end from the beginning knew their ultimate end of faith in Him.
Predestination? Impossible to fall away from God because of His sovereign will? No, neither. But, certainly, divine foreknowledge of their yearning for the God of heaven and earth, that, despite the falling and failing of their human nature, would keep looking to God for mercy and love and righteousness until faith laid hold of Him. The Lord God, the Master Teacher used those men who were subject to like passions as we are to show the after generations and to all the world that He doesn’t give up on anyone if they don’t give up on Him.
But Isaac was named differently than everyone else. He was named before conception. His father Abram and son Jacob were renamed as a result of surrender to God late in life. Isaac was named as born holy, having surrender at conception.
Isaac was to represent the Son of God, the one seed of Abraham. He, like Samson who represented His power and strength to vanquish Satan, must be named before he was conceived. Thus, “while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:20,21). “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” (Lk. 2:21).
Isaac means “Laughter”—both to laugh at and mock, and also to laugh with and rejoice. This is exactly what many did to the Messiah when He came. He was dogged and derided by the religious leadership, and kept at arm’s length by the people as if He might be afflicted and stricken by a delusion, and they finally publicly denied Him and hung Him up to die the most gruesome and brutal of all torturous deaths, the Holy One to die the death of a common criminal.
But afterward many priests were obedient to Him, and multitudes were converted in a day and daily multiplied in number. “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” (Lk. 2:34).
Don’t we all still do the same? We don’t trust Him when He at first reveals Himself to us. We mock Him. But when we finally bow to the truth of what He says, we see His great love in it all, and in the end we laugh with Him—a wonderful laughter, singing a new song, walking humbly with our God.
“Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the Bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the Bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” (Mk. 2:19). All they can do is rejoice.
The name, in biblical times, said something about the person, and its meaning reflected back on him. The names of ancient Hebrews described them or their experience or the experience of others close to them.
“And she [Leah] conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” (Gen. 29:35). Judah means “Praised.”
“And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.” (Gen. 30:6). Dan means “Judge.”
“And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.” (Gen. 30:22-25). Joseph means “He shall add.”
But there were people who got a much better, powerful name in the way of salvation—because they were named by God Himself.
Abraham—“A father of many nations,” and Israel—“He who wrestles with God,” both got their new names decades after being called by God for His great purposes for them. They didn’t receive their new title immediately after being called; but God who sees the end from the beginning knew their ultimate end of faith in Him.
Predestination? Impossible to fall away from God because of His sovereign will? No, neither. But, certainly, divine foreknowledge of their yearning for the God of heaven and earth, that, despite the falling and failing of their human nature, would keep looking to God for mercy and love and righteousness until faith laid hold of Him. The Lord God, the Master Teacher used those men who were subject to like passions as we are to show the after generations and to all the world that He doesn’t give up on anyone if they don’t give up on Him.
But Isaac was named differently than everyone else. He was named before conception. His father Abram and son Jacob were renamed as a result of surrender to God late in life. Isaac was named as born holy, having surrender at conception.
Isaac was to represent the Son of God, the one seed of Abraham. He, like Samson who represented His power and strength to vanquish Satan, must be named before he was conceived. Thus, “while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:20,21). “And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb.” (Lk. 2:21).
Isaac means “Laughter”—both to laugh at and mock, and also to laugh with and rejoice. This is exactly what many did to the Messiah when He came. He was dogged and derided by the religious leadership, and kept at arm’s length by the people as if He might be afflicted and stricken by a delusion, and they finally publicly denied Him and hung Him up to die the most gruesome and brutal of all torturous deaths, the Holy One to die the death of a common criminal.
But afterward many priests were obedient to Him, and multitudes were converted in a day and daily multiplied in number. “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against.” (Lk. 2:34).
Don’t we all still do the same? We don’t trust Him when He at first reveals Himself to us. We mock Him. But when we finally bow to the truth of what He says, we see His great love in it all, and in the end we laugh with Him—a wonderful laughter, singing a new song, walking humbly with our God.
“Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the Bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the Bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.” (Mk. 2:19). All they can do is rejoice.
posted by David | 6:35 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home