Names In Scripture M____ wrote: Hi Mike! It has been awhile since I have written to you. Just wanted to let you know how appreciative I am of all the work you and you family (spiritual and physical) do for so many of us so far away. Psalms 50:23 "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God." It is truly a blessing to be helped in understanding this great knowledge which has brought much sought after inner peace. I do find myself more aware of every action and thought and how it influences others. With Christ in us we can speak with boldness and it changes those around us even if it is only in a small way. [I was sent] an email sharing your thoughts on some upcoming study's. I am quite pleased you are going to do a series on the spiritual significance of names in scripture. You mentioned several times how the law of the offerings used to bore you. I just finished reading I and II Chronicles and found myself skipping through the endless genealogies which I find extremely tedious. I know all names have a spiritual significance which I have been meaning to look into but have not quite found the time. A great lesson which you have helped me to understand and take to heart is to look within myself and not at others which has left me with a greater compassion for others and where God has them in this age. The beast within is sufficient to overcome without pointing to others. Psalms 55:9 Destroy them, Lord, and confuse their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. :10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. May God continue to bless you, M____ Hi M___, It is good to hear from you. I seriously doubt that my study on Biblical names is going to make the reading of endless genealogies any less boring. But I do hope that it will give you a better understanding of the mind of God and Christ. For example, look at the name Adam: Here is Hitchcock's Dictionary Of Names definition of Adam: Adam - earthy; red And here is Strong's definition: aw-dawm' From H119; ruddy, that is, a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.): - X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
But now notice what is the Hebrew word behind the word translated 'ground' in this verse: Gen 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought [them] unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that [was] the name thereof.  H127 ×דמה 'ădaÌ‚maÌ‚h ad-aw-maw' From H119; soil (from its general redness): - country, earth, ground, husband [-man] (-ry), land. Seeing all these definitions together makes it clear that Adam is very closely associated with the earth. And so we are told: 1 Cor 15:47 The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. 1 Cor 15:48 As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. 1 Cor 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. That is the sort of thing I hope to accomplish with this coming study of Biblical names. There really is much to be learned by the names God gives to His servants; good or evil. I have never seen Psalms 55: 9-10 in the version you quote here: Psalms 55:9 Destroy them, Lord, and confuse their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city. :10 Its walls are patrolled day and night against invaders, but the real danger is wickedness within the city. I went to the King James to see how it read and I was amazed at the verses which follow: Psa 55:9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Psa 55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Psa 55:11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. Psa 55:12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither [was it] he that hated me [that] did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: Psa 55:13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. Psa 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. In the past couple of years I have come to understand those verses both inwardly and outwardly. When Christ warned us that our enemies would be "they of thine own household" He was giving us a spiritual warning. Yes, your own physical family can indeed turn on you, but what hurts the most is when you see the enemy within, both within your own heart and mind and within the hearts and minds of your own spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, turn on you and want you dead. But that is our calling, and it is an honor to be evil spoken of.
Thank you for bringing those verses to my attention. Mike