Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"

This song proves how important a person's name is. Some parents give their child a name which becomes a stigma for the poor child. Such is the case in this country hit which you can hear here.

Unlike the father in the song, our heavenly Father understands the value of a person's name. As he inspired Solomon to write in Proverbs 22:1 (Bible in Basic English), "A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold."

And unlike that absent father, our Father doesn't deliberately anger his spiritual children. As Paul advised human fathers in Ephesians 6:4 (BBE), "And, you fathers, do not make your children angry: but give them training in the teaching and fear of the Lord."

God, with good reason, is protective about his name. Look at what Leviticus 19:12 (BBE) warns. "And do not take an oath in my name falsely, putting shame on the name of your God: I am the Lord."

Back when the scriptures were penned, children were given meaningful names. We read of one example in Genesis 27:36 (BBE) when Esau found out how Jacob swindled him out of his birthright blessing. "And he said, 'Is it because he is named Jacob that he has twice taken my place? for he took away my birthright, and now he has taken away my blessing.' And he said, 'Have you not kept a blessing for me?'"

Johnny Cash: "A Boy Named Sue"Another example of a meaningful name was given by the wife of Phinehas when she gave birth. We read in 1 Samuel 4:20 and 21 (BBE), "And when she was very near death the women who were with her said, 'Have no fear, for you have given birth to a son.' But she made no answer and gave no attention to it. And she gave the child the name of Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has gone from Israel': because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband."

If the name above all names hasn't returned by Thursday, I expect to post about a reporter headed for Vietnam back in the seventies.