Names are something unique, something special. We use them all the time. Names are words that at one time expressed meaningful identities. They conveyed meanings that the individual was meant to live up to. For example, my name is Ethan Joel Bearden. Of course Bearden isn’t in the Bible, but Ethan and Joel both are.
Ethan means “steadfast”. Joel means “in the Lord”. Combine the two and you get “steadfast in the Lord”, quite a name to live up to.
Other notable names in the Bible include:
- Jacob, meaning “heel catcher”, because he reached out and grasped Esau’s heel at birth;
- Abraham, meaning “father of a multitude” — this was the promise made to him; and
- Paul, meaning “little”, the name given to Saul of Tarsus after his conversion, probably to remind him that, without God’s strength, he was weak and little.
And so, in the spirit of names, and in the light of today’s events, we have read, in 1 Samuel 1, the story of Hannah. In this story Hannah is confronted by Eli while she is praying. Note the power of this prayer, how fervent she was. Have you ever been fervent in prayer? Praying so hard that you can’t hold it in your heart; it has to escape through your lips? Imagine, praying so fiercely that you even sway a little, unable to keep still, because the power of your prayer is so strong that keeping it inside is too much. This is the kind of prayer that Hannah prayed.
Eli, the high priest comes to her:
“How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee” (v 14).
Of course we know that Hannah wasn’t drunk or under any sort of influence other than her own prayer. Still, she remains calm as she replies to Eli:
“No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto” (vv 15,16).
Note the word Belial. It is capitalized, like a name, signifying importance, suggesting that Hannah emphasized this word. According to Strong’s, Belial means “unprofitable, worthless, ungodly, especially in regards to man.” Hannah was pleading not to be considered a worthless or ungodly person, but rather one favored by God. How do we know this? Why, look at what the concordance says about Hannah’s name. Hannah means “favor, or favored.” She was asking not to be considered a daughter of Belial, but rather Favored (Hannah) by God.
Now how does this play into the issue of baptism? The key is in her prayer, and in her gift from God:
“She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (vv 10,11).
She prayed for a son, fervently, with tears and sorrow, eagerly asking for a child. But more than that, she prayed for a child so that she could give him back to God.
When a woman gives birth, the connection is so strong that one could say the life of the mother and child are intertwined, almost as one. Thus Hannah was praying for life, but only to give that very life back to God.
What do we see here then? It is a baptism, the very reason we are here today! After all, what is it to be baptized?
But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life” (Rom 6:22).
Baptism is a confession of sins, a plea with God to become His servant, and thus to give back that life, just as Hannah gave back her son, the one thing she so dearly wanted. Hannah speaks to us all in this respect, for we too have come before God, praying through the high priest, begging for a new life, a new beginning that we may devote to God. We are not asking for a child when we are baptized, but rather we are asking that we become the child, born again. Born again we become children of God, as opposed to followers of men.
What a beautiful image we have here. And what a lovely name is born out of this prayer. Hannah was asking, in effect, to be baptized, just as our Hannah has asked, to gain new life in order to give it back to God, to prove she is worthy of the name “favored by God”.
And that is why we are here today. We have another Hannah, who has also confessed her faith, who has prayed to God that He might give her a new life to be given back to Him. It is not a child she prays for, but rather to be a child, a servant favored by God. She has separated herself from the ways of Belial, the ways of man, and instead has chosen to be like Hannah of old, fulfilling her name, and beginning her new life in the Lord. In this moment, we can rejoice in seeing a beautiful event unfolding: another young one choosing God over man.
In a few moments, Hannah, you are going to be immersed in the waters of baptism. This symbolizes the death and resurrection of Christ, and your rebirth as well, born again as a servant of God. Before we go I would like to end on a few words of advice for you — and of course we all may benefit from these things.
You are taking a big step. Great responsibility has been placed upon you. You are choosing a path of righteousness, of getting rid of the ways of sin. Bear in mind that this is the beginning: it is a rebirth, not an ultimate salvation. You are just getting started, just setting out. Until now, you have been packing, getting ready. Now you are beginning your journey. It is not easy. Being baptized, taking on the saving name of Jesus Christ, does not remove hardships and trials. You will be tempted and, Lord willing, you will overcome. The path is narrow, but it is a good path, a favored path. It is a wonderful opportunity you are choosing, the chance to serve God, forever, in his Kingdom. Always keep that in the forefront of your mind.
Never be afraid to pray for help, to pray for guidance, even in the simplest of issues. Rely on God fully.
We are here for you. Just as you reach out to others with helping hands, never hesitate to reach out to us for help. We are your family in Christ Jesus. There will always be a lot to learn. You are now a role model more than ever before, to the young people as well as the older. We have just as much to learn from you as you have to learn from us.
Above all, seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness. And so many wonderful things will be given to you.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One