03/20/2019 BALANCE
Proverbs 11:1 A FALSE balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is HIS delight. [King James translation]
Summary:
Proverbs is a collection of the wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David and the third King of Israel. Many associate the name “Solomon” with wisdom because Solomon was renowned for his great wisdom. However, the name Solomon was actually given to him by his father David. According to 2 Samuel 12: 24:
And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay
with her: and she bares a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the
LORD loved him.
The name Solomon (Shelomoh) comes from the Hebrew word for peace (Shalom). The Aramaic form of the word peace is “Shlomo.” The Arabic name “Suleiman” or “Sulaymon” also means peace.
Although his parents named him peaceful, GOD re-named him Jedidiah:
The LORD loved him; and because the LORD loved him, HE sent word
through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
The name Jedidiah means “loved by the LORD” or “beloved of the LORD.” Some believe that the name derives from the Hebrew name “Yedidyah,” which means “Friend of GOD.”
There has been a great deal of speculation among scholars, historians and commentaries as to why his parents called the child “peaceful” and why GOD re-named the child “beloved.” Some speculate that the old soldier David, who had fought many past battles, was looking forward to a time of peace.
Others compare Solomon’s name change by GOD to the other times in Old Testament Biblical history when GOD made a “name change” ----as when GOD changed the name of Abram’s to “Abraham,” Sarai’s name to “Sarah” and Jacob’s name to “Israel.” Some speculate that each name change was to be a constant reminder of GOD’s true intention for that person’s life. It was a reminder of each person’s GOD-given identity for them. Some even speculate Solomon’s failure to use the name GOD gave him cause Solomon to forget his love of GOD and to turn to idolatry. They conclude that when Solomon married many women for the sake of peace he failed to understand that the “so-called” peace and bargains the world “offers” is never a substitute for GOD’s love.