There were 12 guys from the bottom tier at tonight’s Bible Study.
Each week I normally have the guys say their first name as we go around the circle. Tonight I made it a bit more complicated. (This is always risky) I had them also say the name of the man on either side of them, as in “This is Tom, I’m Dick, and that’s Harry.” It was reasonably successful.
I then asked those that wished to share what they knew about their name: what did it mean, were there other family members who had the same name, etc. There was some good sharing. Some of the guys with unusual or ethnic names talked about the troubles that caused. One of the guys said in school he refused to answer if they pronounced his name wrong. The teacher thought there was something wrong with him. It wasn’t until his father explained to the teacher how to properly say the boy’s name that things got straightened out.
We talked about how the COs (correctional officers) always referred to them by their last name. In court they were seldom referred to by name. It was usually “the accused”, “the defendant”, or sometimes just by the case number. In the experience of these men only a friend was allowed to call you by your first name.
We then read the first part of our study:
Isaiah 43:1-2
But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
But now…
I explained that “But now” meant a lot of bad news had been talked about up to this point. The complaints had been filed. The charges had been read. Up to this point it had all been bad new.
The Lord who created you… and He who formed you…
Created for a purpose. One man talked about how he had been born premature and had spent months in the hospital as a newborn. He wasn’t expected to survive, but he is still here. He believes he is here for a purpose. We are here for a purpose.
Redeemed.
The best explanation was that it was like trading up: turning in something of no value for something of value. Exchanging our fear for God’s peace.
I have called you by your name;
This wasn’t an anonymous, blanket invitation. It isn’t like crashing a party. This isn’t just showing up uninvited. We were specifically invited – by name.
You are Mine.
You belong. You are selected on purpose.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
They could relate to the waters and the river being like the cares, concerns, and troubles that we encounter. They can overwhelm us and sweep us away. The analogies that resonated with them were: we can hold onto Jesus as we go through deep, swift waters, or we could fully depend on Him by riding on his shoulders.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
In the trials of life the unimportant things get burned away: material things, jobs, status. Who am I when those extraneous things are gone? Who is it that God is calling out to?
We then looked at:
Isaiah 62:1-2
For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace,
And for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
And her salvation as a lamp that burns.
2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness,
And all kings your glory.
You shall be called by a new name,
Which the mouth of the Lord will name.
God is doing the work. God is pursuing us.
You shall be called by a new name,
Our names, which we have tarnished and sullied, are made clean and new. The men cited some examples of people who used to be known for one thing, that God and radically transformed. It was now hard to believe that this was the same person.