DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- NAMES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – NAMES

Do you need some biblical names to suggest for your grandchildren? I Chronicles chapters 1-9 give all kinds of ideas – names like Ziph, or Ibhar, or Gazez. These names stretch all the way from Adam through King David and then through Jeconiah, the last King of Judah before captivity, and his offspring.

Actually, I like the way some Romans named their children. In the New Testament, you find names like Secundus, a Romans name from the word for second (Acts 20:4), Tertius and Quartus (Romans 16:22, 23). Those are numbers 3 and 4. If I had to do it over again, I think I would name my children Uno, Dos, Tres, Quatro – One, Two, Three, and Four. Of course, I don't think it would fly. Mildred likes other names like David or Troy.

Following the genealogies can be a challenge because sometimes people go by different names. But there are some interesting things in the genealogies listed in Scripture. For example, the sons David by Bathsheba are listed –Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon (3:5). Both Nathan and Solomon are of the royal lineage of David. As it turned out in God's divine providence, the kingly line flows through Solomon and the rest of the kings of the Southern kingdom from Rehoboam to Jeconiah, also called Jehoiachin, the last king of Judah before they were carried to Babylon as captives.

Now consider the lineage of the Lord Jesus. In the genealogies of Jesus in the New Testament, Mary is from the line of Solomon (Matthew 1:6) and Joseph is of the line of Nathan (Luke 2:31). Both lines were from the royal line of David, but from different branches of the tree. Jesus was not just of the royal line, but of the kingly line from David. And while Nathan was also of royal lineage, no kings ever came through his posterity. The kingly lineage of David had to be through Mary, not Joseph.

God was in charge of all the particulars, even to the royal and kingly lineage of the Lord Jesus. It was not accident. We have to remember that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. In the study of the Scriptures, names are important and they can give interesting background or color to the story line if a person is inclined to study them. So we dare not neglect the genealogies, especially of the Lord Jesus. He is a rightful King.

Love, Dad