“David comforted his wife Bat-Sheva, came to her and went to bed with her; she gave birth to a son and named him Shlomo. Adonai loved him and sent through Natan the prophet to have him named Y’didyah [loved by God], for Adonai’s sake.”-2 Samuel 12:24-25
Solomon’s name in Hebrew is SHLOMO or שְׁלֹמֹה.
Have any idea what it might mean?
Well, think about how the word sounds.
It kind of sounds like SHALOM, doesn’t it?
If that’s what you were thinking…
You’re on the right track, homie.
SHLOMO indeed can be translated to something like “he is peace” or simply “peaceful.”
His name is fitting.
Why?
His rulership was marked by peace, prosperity, and the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem.
However, that wasn’t the only name Solomon was given.
Through the prophet Nathan, God also gave him the name Y’DIDYAH.
This means “loved by God.”
But if you keep reading the Bible…
You’re gonna notice something strange…
Solomon is only ever called SHLOMO.
No homie ever uses the name Y’DIDYAH.
Why?
Here’s what may be going on.
SHLOMO was his actual name…
Like the one on his birth certificate.
But Y’DIDYAH was more like a title, reassuring this son was loved.
Given that the first son had just died…
I think David and Bathsheba needed that reassurance.
Biblically speaking, the word “love” means to be accepted by God…
While the word “hate” is the exact opposite.
It means rejection.
God was telling David…
“This is the son I’ve chosen.”
He’s the one I accept.
He’s going to be the next king.”
So here’s the takeaway I’m getting from this.
Every human being on the planet…
Whether rich or poor…
Famous or unknown…
Young or old…
Deep down inside…
Every person wants to be ACCEPTED by God.
They want to be LOVED by Him.
And to be rejected by the Lord is their worst nightmare.
Here are some key events in Scripture when God ultimately REJECTED certain individuals because of their disobedience.
Cain’s Offering Rejected
“But for Cain and his offering,
he had no regard.”
-Genesis 4:5
Cain brought an offering, but God didn’t accept it.
Saul Rejected as King
“For rebellion is like the sin of sorcery,
stubbornness like the crime of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of Adonai,
he too has rejected you as king.”
-1 Samuel 15:23
Saul disobeyed God’s clear command regarding the Amalekites.
Even though he tried to justify himself…
God told him through the prophet Samuel that he was rejected from being king.
Eli and His Sons Rejected from the Priesthood
“I promised that your house
and your father’s house would
minister before me forever.
But now the Lord declares:
Far be it from me!
Those who honor me
I will honor,
but those who despise
me will be disdained.”
-1 Samuel 2:30
God rejected Eli’s family line from continuing in the priesthood because his sons were wicked, and he didn’t restrain them.
King Jeroboam’s Line Rejected
“Rather, you have committed
more evil than anyone before you!
You went and made other gods
for yourself and images of cast metal
to make me angry,
but me you shoved behind your back!
Therefore, I will now bring disaster
on the house of Yarov‘am.
I will cut off every male of Yarov‘am’s line,
whether a slave or free in Israel;
I will sweep away the house of Yarov‘am
as completely as when someone
sweeps away dung until it’s all gone.”
– 1 Kings 14:9-10
Jeroboam led Israel into idolatry.
As a result, God rejected his descendants from ruling.
Israel Rejected the Lord as King
“They have not rejected you,
but they have rejected me
from being king over them.”
-1 Samuel 8:7
Israel wanted a human king like other nations.
God allowed it…
But made clear that this was a rejection of Him as their true king.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel Rejected by God
“Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests.”
-Hosea 4:6
Though originally chosen, the northern tribes fell into idolatry and rebellion.
God eventually said He would no longer be their God in the same covenant way.
Now here’s the thing.
In every one of the examples I shared above…
God did NOT automatically reject the individuals or tribes in question…
They were originally on good terms with the Lord.
But He ended up rejecting them because they rejected Him first.
How so?
By disobeying His commands…
Or committing idolatry.
There’s a huge lesson there, don’t you think?
Let those who have ears to hear, LISTEN (shema).
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“On that Day, many will say to me,
‘Lord, Lord!
Didn’t we prophesy in your name?
Didn’t we expel demons in your name?
Didn’t we perform many miracles in your name?’
Then I will tell them to their faces,
‘I never knew you!
Get away from me,
you workers of lawlessness!’”
-Matthew 7:22-23
“Strive to enter through
the narrow door.
For many, I tell you,
will seek to enter and will not be able…
Then you will begin to say,
‘We ate and drank in your presence,
and you taught in our streets.’
But he will say, ‘I tell you,
I do not know where you come from.
Depart from me,
all you workers of evil!’”
-Luke 13:24-27
“If anyone comes to me and
does not hate father and mother,
wife and children,
brothers and sisters
—yes, even their own life—
such a person cannot be my disciple.”
-Luke 14:26
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