Significance of Changing /Not Changing Names

[Miss Molly]

I know there are many examples in the Bible of God changing people's names and I think I understand why. I think it's because they are then operating in a more spiritual and God-centered way. So, their old name represents them as a fleshly person and their new name represents them as a spiritual "born again" person - right? This would underscore the reality of the two natures of man as both a physical and spiritual person.

Would it stand to reason that when God changes a person's name but that person continues to be called by their original name the account we read in the Bible about their lives might not be as pleasing to God as it should be?

For instance, I'm particularly hung up on Solomon right now. In 2Sam. 12:24 David & Bathsheba name their child Solomon when he is born. But the scripture says that "The LORD loved him;and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah." So why is it that we still know him as Solomon and he is called Solomon throughout Scripture? Could it be that Solomon, like Jacob, is much loved by our God but he operated in a fleshly way for the most part while he was on this earth. Could it be they both represent the Jew as being much loved and belonging to God while at the same time being spiritually blind to the real message of the Old Testament? :idunno

This is really bugging me and any help is appreciated! :hat

[Biblenuggetlady]

I don't see where Nathan told them to name their child Jedidiah though, do you have the verse on that one? 2 Sam. 12:24 just says they named him Jedidiah, and the heading for that section in my Bible says Solomon is born, and then shows they named their son Jedidiah. I can't find any other references to him being called that in the Bible though. :scratch

[Miss Molly]

Sorry, Biblenuggetlady. I should have said 2SAM. 12:24-25. :doh

[Miss Molly]

Also, do a word search on Jedidiah and you'll find it in just that one scripture. My point is, he is known as Solomon just like we remember Jacob as Israel. This is true for both those men even though God himself changed their names. I think that's important...

[PickensSlim]

The only thing that I can add is this; in the Bible, when you name something, you claim authority over it. Adam and the animals, G-d over Abram. The Babylonians over Daniel and co.

Slim

[Biblenuggetlady]

Sorry, Biblenuggetlady. I should have said 2SAM. 12:24-25. :doh

I read that verse wrong I guess in my KJV, I thought David sent by the hand of Nathan (or rather to Nathan) that he had named his son Jedidiah, indicating the Lord loved this son. Since the previous verses were speaking of David, I thought the 'he' references referred back to David. But when I check the NIV, you are right...it reads a little different, "She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; and because the Lord loved him, he sent word thrugh Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah."

:idunno

I have to work at my son's school today and I also have my cable going in and out today due to some work they are doing in the area...but I will check back this afternoon. :thumb

[Biblenuggetlady]

The only thing that I can add is this; in the Bible, when you name something, you claim authority over it. Adam and the animals, G-d over Abram. The Babylonians over Daniel and co.

Slim

That makes sense too, in another verse I was reading, the reason the Lord took David and Bathsheba's first child was because he would have brought blashpemy against the Lord and trouble to him (the child), but when David repented and then comforted Bathsheba, the Lord forgave David's sin and blessed them with another child and when he did, he used the "wife of David" instead of the "wife of Uriah", indicating their restoration.

[Miss Molly]

thanks for your input everybody! I still think there is more to this. I have a question that's slowly forming in my old, old brain and once I get it in writing I want to run it past you all. If I'm out in left field well, just leave me there - I'm harmless. But please do let me know so I don't stray too far from the truth. :hug

[Miss Molly]

Ok, I’m back and I want to try to ask this question in another way. Please let me know if I’m off track here…

I see the Bible as having two distinct threads running through it. One is a literal, physical or fleshly thread and the other is a spiritual thread. This two-thread “theory” is shown to us in many ways throughout the Book and as far as I know it always deals first with the flesh and then with spirit.

One of the simplest examples of this is with the creation of Adam. First God creates his physical body from the dust of the earth and THEN He breathes the spirit of life into him. A second broader example of this is in Ezekiel 37 where God again is building a body only this time the body is not an actual single body of one man but the “body” of Israel. It isn’t until this body is completed – and it seems that’s about where we actually are today – that He THEN breathes his Spirit into Israel and she comes alive to Him because she is then alive spiritually; first the physical and THEN the spiritual.

There are also many examples in the Bible of the younger rather than the older son inheriting the blessing. The blessing was different from the birthright. The birthright dealt with physical things like property and livestock. But the blessing dealt with the spiritual promise of the Messiah that passed from father to son. Traditionally, the blessing and the birthright would go to the firstborn son. However, there are many times in Genesis where the younger son received the blessing. Ishmael & Isaac, Esau & Jacob, Rueben & Judah and Manasseh & Ephraim are examples of this. The first son was always fleshly while the younger was more spiritual. Again we have the physical first and THEN the spiritual.

Then there’s the Church and Israel. Israel is God’s fleshly wife as the Israelis are Jewish by birth. The Church is Christ’s spiritual bride. Those who are Christians make a choice to be and are spiritually reborn. It is interesting to me that Israel goes by that name when they continue to remember Jacob by his fleshly name. Of course when they finally do awaken spiritually and recognize their Messiah they will then have earned the right to call themselves Israel.

As far as names are concerned, I think it is significant when God Himself changes your name! I also think it’s very interesting to notice when the person who has been given this name is not called by it. Solomon is recorded in the Bible account as Solomon instead of Jedidiah; Jacob is remembered as Jacob instead of Israel. Jacob is interesting though. If you do a search and look for all the times he is recorded as Jacob, you’ll see it is an account of a fleshly nature. When the Bible calls him Israel, he is acting in a spiritual way. I believe the same is true of Peter at least sometimes. Remember when Jesus said “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?” There’s again this feeling of a separation of the flesh and the spirit. How then should we understand Solomon? That is why I think this is an important question.

Remember, we as humans have two natures: physical and spiritual. God has one nature: spiritual. “God is a spirit and those who worship Him worship Him in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) Does that mean we get excited in church and jump up and down cheering the Word like we were at a pep rally on spirit day at the local high school? No, I think it is much more sober, much more simple than that. I think we have to think like God when trying to understand the scriptures. Since as imperfect sinners none of us can do that, we rely on the Word of God to make it all clear. God speaks to us from two perspectives, physical and spiritual, because we are of both natures. When we wake up spiritually we see the scriptures in a deeper way. He is allowing us to understand His Spirit by using our fleshly selves and our many, many shortcomings and mistakes to paint a picture for us.

Understanding this “physical first then the spiritual” perspective has been more than interesting for me. First of all, I’m now convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that every word in the Bible is the truth as it is written. It’s not a book of fables and there are no mistakes. It’s the Truth – all of it; the pieces of the puzzle fit together too well for it not to be. Second, it has caused me to be convinced there is indeed one mind behind the entire Book and that mind lives outside the confines of space and time. There is a God.

So, do you see a significance in Solomon continuing to be called Solomon instead of Jedidiah? I think I do I’m just not sure what it is…or am I losing what’s left of my puny brain???

[Biblenuggetlady]

I think there is a lot to what you have said. I found this verse regarding Solomon too:

1Ch 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.

This could be why he was called Solomon, rather than Jedidiah.

I agree with you, when I started seeing the puzzle pieces or layers in scripture that you speak of, there is no doubt in my mind that the Bible was indeed written with one mind. I love gleaning nuggets from the Word. Not one yot or one tittle will pass until all these things be fulfilled. Even the punctuation has meaning. :yeah