Jedidiah

I remember listening to the Focus On The Family Radio Theatre’s version of Anne of Green Gables and hearing Anne rant about how awful it would be to be given a name like Jedidiah.  To her, it was just a name that was totally “unromantic.”  However, yesterday when I was reading my Bible, I got a different impression of this name.  Did you know that this was a special name that God gave to Solomon when he was a baby?  I have read the Bible through at least 8 times, and I don’t ever remember picking up on this before.

 

2Samuel 12:24

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

2Samuel 12:25

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the LORD.

I noticed in the margin of my Bible that Jedidiah means “beloved of the Lord.”  Here are the same verses in the Amplified Bible.

 

2Samuel 12:24

David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her; and she bore a son, and she called his name Solomon. And the Lord loved [the child];

2Samuel 12:25

He sent [a message] by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and [Nathan] called the boy’s [special] name Jedidiah [beloved of the Lord], because the Lord [loved the child].

 

This is one of the things I love about the Bible.  No matter how many times you read it, there is always something new that the Lord can bring to your attention.  There is no other book like the Bible, and I’m thankful to be able to have a copy of my own to read, study and love!

 

Abigail Joy

Six days from now, my sweet little niece, Abigail Joy, will be a year old!  I will be out of town on her birthday, so I thought I would write about her now.  Through looking in a name book, I discovered that Abigail means “a father’s joy.”  Abby, as we call her, is the spitting image of her daddy, and I know that she is a joy to him.  She has been a joy to all of us.  My mom watches her 3 days a week, and in this picture, she is sitting in her little pool in the backyard.  I know it has been a joy for my sister and her husband to see all those marvelous “firsts” that come with an infant…………………first smile, first tooth, first laugh, first step, etc.  I know that Abby will continue to bring joy to her family, and it is my prayer that as she grows older, there will be joy in Heaven as Abby chooses to become a partaker of God’s great salvation. (Acts 2:38)

Below is an acrostic poem that I wrote for Abby’s baby shower.  Happy Birthday Abby!

Abigail Joy 

 

Auntie Carol’s long awaited niece 

Bundle of joy from the Prince of Peace 

Immediately, you were enjoyed by all 

God’s special gift, so delicate, so small 

Ann’s long awaited promise child 

Imagine dad’s joy when you first smiled 

Long slender fingers and cute tiny toes 

Just waiting to be held by all, I suppose 

Overflowing, our hearts, with thanks to God above 

You, sweet Abby, we shower with love. 

 

 

 

 

God hears, God knows, God delivers!

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphalet? Who are these seemingly obscure characters of the Bible?  These are the last 3 sons of king David.  David was the man whom God used to kill Goliath, writer of many of the psalms, the man who sinned so greatly, but repented so deeply, and the one whom Scripture calls “a man after God’s own heart.”  Elishama means “God hears.”  Eliada means “God knows.”  Eliphalet means “God delivers.”  David is basically summing up his life and what he has learned in his relationship with God.  It’s a truth that is just as real today.  God hears.  God knows, and yes, God does deliver!

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphalet

Elishama, Eliada and Eliphalet

proclaim a message we should never forget

Through all your supplications and prayers

Just remember that our God surely hears

Though you may seek for an answer day after day

Rest assured child, it’s already on its’ way

And when it seems you can’t stand, and no hope is shown

Don’t doubt, this trial by God is known

He won’t put on you more than you’re able to bear

But He’ll give you the strength to persevere

Sometimes things may seem bleak

And your faith may quiver

Hold on to the calm assurance

That our God does deliver

Just like ol’ Daniel in the lions’ den

He will rescue you again and again

Yes, trials will come, and trials deeper yet

But Elishama, and Eliada and Eliphalet!

 

What’s In A Name?

2Sa 5:16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

When was the last time you heard a sermon or Bible study concerning these 3 names?  Did you know that these names, as well as many others in the Bible have a meaning? Would you like to know what these names mean, and why they’re significant? More will follow a little later.