Text Isaiah 48:9-11.
There is need to revisit the above topic in order to have a vivid understanding of the word Name.Our world is characterizes with social menace, political atrocities, injustice, where hooliganism and thuggery remain the source of revenue. The word name according to Webster
Merriam dictionary means "a word or pharse that constitute the distinctive designation of a person or thing".In essence Name reveals, identity,origin, source and significances. It gives recognition and attention.God named Adam and the word in Hebrew mean "man, human being, Adam;is a plural form.God delegated the authority to Adam to name all creatures by God,Gen 2:19-20. We may wonder why God permitted Adam to give them names, the essence of the assignment was for proper identification. By this very fact,any unruly or good attitude demonstrate by individual can easily be traced by the virtue of the name.Therefore,let me highlight the importance's of name.
1. Names are given to establish authority over another. It means and indicate a new beginning or new direction in a personal life. Going through the book of Gen 18, the Divinities that visited Abraham and Sarah named not yet born boy as Isaac which means laughter - Gen 17:17. But before the encounter God deemed it necessary to change their names which propelled a new beginning, a new direction and purpose discover names Gen 17:5, 15.
There is a wide difference between the names that Abram and Abraham, Sarai and Sarah
2. Another reasons is to establish an affiliation with God - This remain biblical and some cultures borrow from the prospective of the Bible. Isaiah revealed to us the name given to Isaiah 9:5-6.
3. Biblically, Names are used to communicate messages, let me submit that names are easy means to reveals circumstances that surrounds the birth of a child, and the prevailing condition as at the time of birth - for example in Yoruba land, A child can be named as Babatunde that is "You have given birth to a return dead father or Bidemi, that is the father is not around as at the time of the birth of the child.
4. Names are used to secure solidarity of family ties - The word Judah means Praise - All the names given to Jacob sons reflected the solidarity ties of the lineage. In our contemporary world, a specific name was given to reflects your Tribe, and family identity. Names sometimes express the parent reaction to the birth of a child. For example a couple decided not to have a child again after four children and they medically resolved it, but along the line, the woman realised that she is five months pregnant, and eventually when they deliver the baby they named him "Boluwatife" that the wish of God prevailed. There is need to prayerfully solicit for a name.
Name reflect the circumstances that surround the birth of a child. Consider the case of Jabeez in the book 1Cho 4:9-10 - Because He was born with pain, therefore, He was named Jabeez that is sorrow. Another unique case in the Bible is the immediate revocation of the name Rachel gave to her newly born baby Gen 35:18. As Rachel was breathing her last breath and named Benoni - son of my sorrow but Jacob without wasting time reversed the name and declared Benjamin that is "son of the right hand". From the above two instances in the Bible, circumstances named the children. What of Nabal? 1Sam 25, Nabal means "fool". Name reflects character, reputation, Integrity and vivid relevances of a man.
Biblical Names sometimes express the parents reaction to the birth of a child. Having a particular gender and suddenly another gender emerged and named Okanlawon that is the "only male child".
* Oh Lord is there a need to have a changed of my name, let your will be reveal over this matter.
* Oh Lord, I pray to reveal my secret name
* Oh Lord, henceforth I will operate by the revealed name.
Thank you for reading
Pray all times.